An automation system for industrial 3-D laser digitizing

An architecture and prototype implementation of an automation system for industrial 3D digitization is described. Facilities for automated view planning, collision avoidance and 3D data management are combined with a graphical user interface to give the operator control of an integrated virtual digitizing environment. Primary objectives for the design are to increase the speed of practical digitizing tasks, while ensuring that requirements on sampling density and uniformity are respected. An important design principle is that repetitive and well defined procedures are managed by the system, while the operator is encouraged to influence digitizing strategy at a high level. The prototype implementation using Hymarc's Hyscan 45C laser digitizer is described, and early experimental results are reported.