CSIRO developing a handheld mobile 3D thermal mapping device

July 23, 2014
Australia’s national science agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), has developed a prototype of a 3D imaging device called the HeatWave, which is a lightweight mobile device that can generate real-time 3D models overlaid with temperature information.

Australia’s national science agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), has developed a prototype of a 3D imaging device called the HeatWave, which is a lightweight mobile device that can generate real-time 3D models overlaid with temperature information.

The HeatWave 3D system is comprised of an infrared camera and a 3D camera. The infrared camera used in the system is a Thermoteknix Miricle 307K camera, which images in the long-wave infrared range. The Miricle 307k has a 640 x 480 alpha silicon uncooled microbolometer focal plane array with a 25 µm pixel pitch. The camera features a spectral range of 7-14 µm, a 14-bit dynamic range, and a USB 2.0 video interface. In addition, it achieves a maximum frame rate of 240 fps.

The 3D camera used for the device is an ASUS Xtion Pro Live RGB-D, which is similar to the Microsoft Kinect. The ASUS Xtion Pro Live features a color and range sensor captures 640 x 480 images at 30 fps and 320 x 240 images at 60 fps, and has an effective range of 0.8 to 4 meters. Furthermore, the Xtion Pro Live features a USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 interface and has a field of view of 58° H, 45° V, 70° D.

These cameras are used to acquire data while in motion, providing multiple points of view, which are then combined to show a thermal profile map overlaid onto a 3D model of the area scanned. It uses SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) technology and proprietary 3D software that processes the data to generate the 3D models. The 3D model can then be viewed in either independent modules of with each layer combined using a software program called Spectra, a program which claims to be the world’s first 3D visualization software of its kind that enables both thermal and color information to be displayed simultaneously as a composite 3D image, rather than as a set of multiple images that must be interpreted separately.

CSIRO expects the HeatWave device to be used in multiple industries, including energy, building, manufacturing, construction, emergency services, and health.

View more information on the HeatWave device.

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About the Author

James Carroll

Former VSD Editor James Carroll joined the team 2013.  Carroll covered machine vision and imaging from numerous angles, including application stories, industry news, market updates, and new products. In addition to writing and editing articles, Carroll managed the Innovators Awards program and webcasts.

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