A lidar-equipped robot that can create detailed 3D models of its surroundings has been developed by researchers who believe it could be used to assess areas deemed too dangerous for humans.
In disaster zones following a chemical plant incident or flooding, emergency services need ways to quickly get an overview of the situation. But in many cases, they are not permitted to enter the scene itself in order to avoid putting themselves at risk.
Lidar, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote-sensing technology that uses laser pulses to create 3D models of its surroundings.
The new robot, developed by a team at German research institution Fraunhofer, uses lidar to produce geometrically accurate 3D environments that are then coloured in using camera images.
The end result is a virtual 3D environment that combines a vivid representation of the potential danger zone with precise geometric information. Remote users can then move around freely in the virtual scenery.
Timo Röhling...