How would you like to shoot a virtual tour with a 360 camera with built-in LiDAR for 3D scanning? ArrayDAR is a LiDAR scanner for the Aleta S2C, a high resolution 66mp 360 camera. Here are the specifications and a sample. Here is a video of the ArrayDAR in action:
360 photos are an excellent way of presenting virtual tours but customers sometimes complain that they don’t get a good sense of how rooms are connected to each other. There are virtual tours that use 3D models to show the rooms are positioned vis-a-vis each other, such as Matterport, which uses a scanning camera. However, it requires a costly monthly subscription and has limited options for editing photos.
Another option that may be emerging is to use a 360 camera with LiDAR (which is like radar but with lasers). That’s the option used by Google for its Street View cameras, which is not available for purchase. There are a few industrial cameras with LiDAR for 3D scanning, such as the Leica BLK360 ($18,900) and BLK2go (around $49,500), but their cost is prohibitive. Now an analogous option may be available for prosumers.
The ArrayDAR is a LiDAR accessory for the Ultracker Aleta S2C, a high resolution 360 camera. By combining the 360 photo from the Aleta with the point cloud generated by the ArrayDAR, a user can generate a 3D model.
Here are the specifications of the ArrayDAR:
| Wavelength | 808nm |
|---|---|
| 3D FOV | 360° x 340° |
| Working distance | 1m to 6m |
| Accuracy | +/- 1% |
| Frequency | 4.2 Mhz |
| Modes | Normal, High resolution, High speed |
| Scanning points | 30000 pts/sec (Normal) 60000 pts/sec (High Res./Speed) |
| Connector | USB Type C |
| File format | PCD, OBJ(by APP) |
| Battery | 1500 mAh |
Here is a sample 3D model from a prototype
Hi Mic,
You’re welcome! 😉
You rock! And your work will be very helpful to the industry. Thank you!
Looks interesting and a shame the camera isn’t available in the UK also I can’t find any links online to the ArrayDAR unit.
Needs some software to support the building of a tour and place the hi res photospheres in the rights spots in the 3D model so still a way to go before being any competitor to Matterport.
Uhuh I hope this is further refined, and other 360 camera manufacturers start to follow with their own models.
Yes agree it would be cool. Giroptic the 360CAM guys were experimenting with a photogrammetry system from their devices before they had to close when their backer pulled out. Such a shame as I had a pre-release version of the software and it was pretty good.
Any info on the LIDAR being used?
Thanks David. I don’t know what lidar they’re using but re Giroptic, the adapa360 guys are doing something like that. https://360rumors.com/360-drone-photogrammetry/
Hi Mic, yes saw that but reserving judgement till we see the model and the workflow. 😉