Photofly

[zeykr]

This sounds interesting. I've not had time to read through it in detail yet.

3d Mesh from photos to be released next week, looks like it's a trial good through Dec 2012.


http://news.discovery.com/tech/transform-your-photos-into-3-d-models-110527.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9jU-VUBhSQ

http://labs.autodesk.com/technologies/photofly/overview/

[phd1658]

Wow, Ken. That looks exciting! Thanks for posting/

[gc3]

Yes, Thx for the links!

[myxpykalix]

If you have a Kinect controller from Xbox at some point you will be able to use it someday to make 3d files also according to the guys at vectric:
http://www.vectric.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=11319

I have been reading the microsoft hacking site for the kinect box trying to see if there was a better software solution to run my 3d scanner since what it uses is older and found out these guys are playing with an app to do just that. It sounds like a part time effort so don't go run out and buy a xbox kinect just yet, but eventually who knows?

I did not read the article on the photofly, just breezed thru the pics but if your abject is small enough why couldn't you use the bot with a specialyy mounted camera to make your camera rig? You could program it to shoot pictures in a specific angle and degree, so as to be able to sew the photos together without overlap.

[supertigre]

Photogrammetry is not new. It's been around for quite some time and there is mature software available. What is new is that Autodesk is temporarily giving free access to this Beta version to work the bugs out and create a marketable product. Compared to the current crop of photogrammetry software it seems to require an inordinate number of photographs to build the 3D model. But that said it is free (for now) so enjoy.

[joe]

Excellent pick up Ken.

Can't wait to see how this is done. If you get more info please post it so all of us can stay up to speed.

Joe Crumley
www.normansign.com (http://www.normansign.com)

[Brady Watson]

Just a quick reality check...Photogrammetry really doesn't work well on detailed reliefs, and most of the things that we would want to use it for. It works well on larger models and things that do not have a lot of detail to them. This is why most of the examples that you see are of buildings, larger things and plain objects with little detail, that would be hard to digitize otherwise.

This is a great technology for creating 3D models of HUGE objects, but really not so hot for sub-automobile sized items that have enough interest to even consider scanning...In my experience, it is often easier to create a clean model from your own photos & then model in Rhino or something like that. Then of course, you'll need the software (ArtCAM or Aspire) to convert that full 3D object into something that your Bot can machine, if you are looking to do a relief (tricking the eye into thinking it is thicker than it is), rather than machining full 3D.

The Kinect controller is a pretty neat little toy, but I seriously doubt, due to inherent limitations of the hardware, that it will become that high resolution digitizer we'd all hope it could be. Most video game characters are low poly count models with photos wrapped around them...more or less. I don't say all this to pop anyone's ballon...just sayin, don't be fooled.

-B