Artec 3D Unveils AI-Based Handheld 3D Scanner

Artec 3D has unveiled the Artec Leo, a “smart” device that is said to be one of the fastest handheld 3D scanners, capturing data at up to 80 frames per second (FPS), the company reports.

Building on last year’s release of Autopilot, an artificial intelligence-based feature within the Artec Studio 11 software that automatically processes raw 3D data into high-quality 3D models, Artec has created a 3D scanner that can autonomously select and process data onboard, without connecting to a tablet or computer. On Artec Leo’s multi-touch, half HD screen, a user can watch while its object is digitized into a full-color 3D model in real time. The built-in battery pack, ergonomic grip and balanced design of the scanner allows for wireless operation and access to hard-to-reach locations.

Artec Leo “is intuitive, mobile, and using our AI algorithms, it captures and automatically processes huge amounts of data, all on a single device that requires minimal training to master,” says Artyom Yukhin, president and CEO of Artec 3D. “Our goal is to make professional 3D scanning as easy as shooting video for any industry and the Artec Leo is the next big step in achieving that goal.”

The Artec Leo features a large field of view and impressive 80 FPS 3D reconstruction rate, making scanning large objects or scenes a straightforward task. At the same time, users can bring the scanner closer to particular areas of interest in order to pick up intricate details with a 3D point accuracy of 0.1 mm.

Built on the NVIDIA Jetson platform, the Artec Leo is capable of processing large volumes of 3D data onboard, according to the company. The scanner also includes a 9 degrees of freedom (DoF) inertial system (accelerometer, gyro and compass), which provides precise information about its position and environment.

“Our Jetson embedded computing platform pushes the limits of visual and AI computing and, through our work with Artec, real-time 3D capture, modeling and visualization is now possible in a handheld scanner,” said Lazaar Louis, product management lead for Tegra and business development for VR/AR products at NVIDIA.

Using a two-in-one optics system, with a 3D camera and color camera combined as one, the Artec Leo reportedly can achieve precision in texture mapping at a resolution of 2.3 mp. Additionally, this advanced technology has allowed Artec 3D to create a flash system that can be adjusted based on the surrounding light conditions for enhanced 3D capture.

While the user can see the scan on the Artec Leo’s screen, it can also be streamed to other devices, such as tablets or laptops. The scanner has a built-in SSD drive to store 256GB of captured data, while micro SD cards can be used to extend the capacity of the device, something that can be especially handy for field conditions. Once scans are completed, data can be uploaded to a computer via a Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection, or directly to the cloud.

For more information, visit Artec 3D.

Sources: Press materials received from the company.