How would you like to create a virtual tour that enables your client to walk around in VR, with 6 degrees of freedom? Leica BLK2Go is a handheld laser scanner that enables you to capture a space in true 3D. Unlike other LiDAR scanners, the BLK2Go promises to make scanning faster, easier and more intuitive.
As 6DOF VR headsets such as the Oculus Quest (reviewed here) become more popular, there will be a greater need for virtual tours where clients can walk around the space. There are some virtual tour systems that use computer vision to combine several 360 photos to construct a space in 3D (such as Matterport or Benaco), but the 3D models that result are usually not sufficiently detailed. One method to capture a 3D space in detail is to use a laser LiDAR (light imaging, detection and ranging) scanner.
With typical LiDAR scanners such as the Leica BLK360, the camera is on a tripod and rotates to scan the environment for that point. The user then has to move the camera at various points around the room in order to capture the environment.
With the new BLK2Go, you’ll be able to walk around the room, as the camera scans the environment. Since you won’t have to reposition the camera several times, capturing will be much faster. It is also more convenient because you won’t need to bring a heavy tripod with you.
Here are a couple of product videos, including a demo of how it’s used:
Here’s a spokesperson talking about the BLK2Go.
Pricing and availability haven’t been announced yet. What do you think of the BLK2Go? I’ll update this post as I find out more info.
It’s bleeding edge but it’ll cost ya!
well it is leica after all… 🙂
So what? I find leica in defensive with faro scene latest iterations being so good that cyclone in comparison i find very unfriendly as main characteristics. The same goes for their scanners, even with the latest one – the ammount of data it produces… rubbish.
What i mean is, leicas are not cheap 😂
Amen to that
I always thought a 3D 360/180 camera moving along a similar path should, in principle, be able to make a similar model of a scene. But reconstructing 3D information from featureless surfaces (eg a white wall) isn’t possible with optical images so this is where LIDAR solves the problem. Or it can be solved by real world reasoning – rooms have ceilings. walls, etc. I’d love to see how it handles mirrors. Will be interesting to follow. Thanks for the posting
Thanks Fred! There was a project to convert 360 video into a 3d model. But it’s only been in the lab so far
Thanks Fred! There was a project to convert 360 video into a 3d model. But it’s only been in the lab so far https://360rumors.com/software-institut-pascal-converts-360-video-3d-model-vr/
Just doing some research on the BLK2GO and came across this.
If you’re looking for software to convert 360° stills or video video into a 3D models are you aware of Cupix?
Worth checking out. https://www.cupix.com/
GeoSLAM Zeb Revo is similar, it has been around for a while now. Not quite as stylish as this kit though B)
Wow cool! Thanks Ben!
Seems very useful, but i saw the price for a used one – $28,000 – is that for real? 😯
Probably a different unit since the BLK2GO won’t be available until October. But, yeah, I expect it to be $20k-$35k.
Thanks Chris!