Portable 3D Scanning: Occipital Raised over $1 million on Kickstarter

With the resurgence of 3D, we have been inundated with new technology. It is everywhere, we find it in our homes and our workplaces. We have 3D movies, 3D televisions and 3D printing. Is it any surprise that newest in 3D technology is scanning?

Occipital has created a 360 Panorama app for iOS devices (and a few others that we will ignore for now). The Occipital Structure Sensor was inspired by the motion sensing Kinect for the Xbox 360, and is the first 3D sensor for mobile devices. It detects depth and motion anywhere you take your iPad 4.

This new sensor attaches via a bracket to your iPad and once attached will illuminate with an infrared light which you aim at the structure you wish to scan. It will then record what it sees in full 3D color, or if there is insufficient light, the map will be rendered in infrared. There are plans to include demo applications which will allow your to create 3D models of objects or rooms.

Scanning with this application is fairly simple and straightforward, simply zoom in and out to define your boundary then start moving around the object. It doesn’t matter if your hands shake or you stumble over a podium, the scanner is smart and can figure out if it is duplicating something.

The Occipital Structure Sensor has a range between 1.3 and 11.5 feet, and comes with its own power source that has about 4 hours of battery life.

The potential for this app are boundless. It can be used in the construction industry for mapping and measuring areas, or the medical field can use it to design custom fit prosthetics. Imagine being able to look at priceless artifacts close up in full scale 3D imagery instead of behind glass barriers. There are even countless uses for personal use, after all wouldn’t it be nice if you didn’t have to go home and measure the window for curtains? Now you can just pull out your iPhone and look at the measurements on the 3D scan of your home, it’s all there at your fingertips.

If this was originally designed for the iPad 4, just imagine what it could do with the faster iPad Air.

The Kickstarter program raised well over the intended $100,ooo and the program now on the way to final development. Keep watching for information on the Structure Sensor by signing up for their updates.

Image courtesy of Occipital Kickstarter Program Video

Originally posted 2013-11-01 17:00:42.