Slashdot Mirror

Most of Roland the Plogger's "exclusive pictures" can be seen on the Neptec web site and other NASA-related sites. Someone commented on Roland's site, "Exclusive? Other than the fact that I've seen them on every news channel in the USA?"

The Neptec site is more useful, because it has the scaling info, showing how deeply the tile is damaged. The hole is through to the orbiter's skin underneath.

look at the "3D Video of Endeavour Tile Damage" video on this page [of nasa's website]

Or on Neptec's own website.

Why can't slashdot accept stories that directly link to the content, instead of forcing us to go through Roland's inane commentary?

Now that Discovery astronaut Steve Robinson has successfully removed two pieces of fabric poking out of the shuttle's heat shield, a question remains: how did NASA discover these anomalies in the first place? In this article, Forbes.com writes that NASA can say thank you to a private Canadian company, Neptec, and its Laser Camera system (LCS). Neptec is working with NASA for ten years now, but it was the first time that its vision technology was used for external damage assessment of a shuttle. As NASA says it may cancel some future shuttle flights, Neptec plans to implement its 3-D imaging technology in military situations and on the battlefield. But read more...

Let's first look at some images of this laser camera system (Credits for images and captions below: Neptec).

Neptec's Laser Camera System (LCS) will be deployed at the tip of a new 50-foot (15-metre) inspection boom being deployed for the first time aboard Discovery for the Return to Flight mission. Manufactured by another Canadian company, MD Robotics, the boom is stored on the opposite side of the Shuttle's cargo bay from the Canadarm.

Neptec's Laser Camera system inspecting the nose of the shuttle

This 3-D rendering depicts Neptec's Laser Camera System, deployed on the Canadarm, scanning the nose cone of the Space Shuttle Discovery for potential damage to the Shuttle's heat shield tiles. NASA is harnessing Neptec's technology to detect tiny fractures in the Shuttle's heat shield before the crew risks re-entry.

Neptec's Laser Camera system deployed on its boom

[And below is] a close up of Neptec's Laser Camera System prior to the application of reflective Teflon tape. The picture shows the large radiator on the top of the enclosure that ensures the scanner will not overheat on orbit.

Neptec's Laser Camera system

The top image was extracted from this Macromedia Flash animation. Larger versions of the two other images are available here and there. Finally, you'll find other images in the gallery accessible from this page.

Now, here are some technical details given by the Forbes.com article.

Discovery's "bread-box sized" laser camera system (LCS) is one example of Neptec's advanced technology. It doesn't relay information through video. Instead,it transmits the information to a computer, which then creates a model accurate to a few millimeters. Unlike radar or video imaging, the model can integrate the data according to set parameters: It "knows" if something looks different or has changed.

Iain Christie, director of research and development at Neptec, says it is the equivalent of "intelligence in three dimensions."

As I noticed above, future shuttle flights have been put on hold -- and might be canceled for a while. So what Neptec will do if it loses a customer like NASA?

These highly accurate 3-D image scans can be implemented in numerous military situations as well. Next-generation, truly "smart" laser cameras have already performed well in testing. On the battlefield, they could identify approaching vehicles to prevent friendly fire incidents and could alert soldiers to irregularities in surrounding environments. "Wi

Now that Discovery astronaut Steve Robinson has successfully removed two pieces of fabric poking out of the shuttle's heat shield, a question remains: how did NASA discover these anomalies in the first place? In this article, Forbes.com writes that NASA can say thank you to a private Canadian company, Neptec, and its Laser Camera system (LCS). Neptec is working with NASA for ten years now, but it was the first time that its vision technology was used for external damage assessment of a shuttle. As NASA says it may cancel some future shuttle flights, Neptec plans to implement its 3-D imaging technology in military situations and on the battlefield. But read more...

Let's first look at some images of this laser camera system (Credits for images and captions below: Neptec).

Neptec's Laser Camera System (LCS) will be deployed at the tip of a new 50-foot (15-metre) inspection boom being deployed for the first time aboard Discovery for the Return to Flight mission. Manufactured by another Canadian company, MD Robotics, the boom is stored on the opposite side of the Shuttle's cargo bay from the Canadarm.

Neptec's Laser Camera system inspecting the nose of the shuttle

This 3-D rendering depicts Neptec's Laser Camera System, deployed on the Canadarm, scanning the nose cone of the Space Shuttle Discovery for potential damage to the Shuttle's heat shield tiles. NASA is harnessing Neptec's technology to detect tiny fractures in the Shuttle's heat shield before the crew risks re-entry.

Neptec's Laser Camera system deployed on its boom

[And below is] a close up of Neptec's Laser Camera System prior to the application of reflective Teflon tape. The picture shows the large radiator on the top of the enclosure that ensures the scanner will not overheat on orbit.

Neptec's Laser Camera system

The top image was extracted from this Macromedia Flash animation. Larger versions of the two other images are available here and there. Finally, you'll find other images in the gallery accessible from this page.

Now, here are some technical details given by the Forbes.com article.

Discovery's "bread-box sized" laser camera system (LCS) is one example of Neptec's advanced technology. It doesn't relay information through video. Instead,it transmits the information to a computer, which then creates a model accurate to a few millimeters. Unlike radar or video imaging, the model can integrate the data according to set parameters: It "knows" if something looks different or has changed.

Iain Christie, director of research and development at Neptec, says it is the equivalent of "intelligence in three dimensions."

As I noticed above, future shuttle flights have been put on hold -- and might be canceled for a while. So what Neptec will do if it loses a customer like NASA?

These highly accurate 3-D image scans can be implemented in numerous military situations as well. Next-generation, truly "smart" laser cameras have already performed well in testing. On the battlefield, they could identify approaching vehicles to prevent friendly fire incidents and could alert soldiers to irregularities in surrounding environments. "Wi

The Eyes of the Space Shuttle

Now that Discovery astronaut Steve Robinson has successfully removed two pieces of fabric poking out of the shuttle's heat shield, a question remains: how did NASA discover these anomalies in the first place? In this article , Forbes.com writes that NASA can say thank you to a private Canadian company, Neptec , and its Laser Camera system (LCS). Neptec is working with NASA for ten years now, but it was the first time that its vision technology was used for external damage assessment of a shuttle. As NASA says it may cancel some future shuttle flights, Neptec plans to implement its 3-D imaging technology in military situations and on the battlefield. But read more...

Let's first look at some images of this laser camera system (Credits for images and captions below: Neptec).

Neptec's Laser Camera System (LCS) will be deployed at the tip of a new 50-foot (15-metre) inspection boom being deployed for the first time aboard Discovery for the Return to Flight mission. Manufactured by another Canadian company, MD Robotics, the boom is stored on the opposite side of the Shuttle's cargo bay from the Canadarm.

This 3-D rendering depicts Neptec's Laser Camera System, deployed on the Canadarm, scanning the nose cone of the Space Shuttle Discovery for potential damage to the Shuttle's heat shield tiles. NASA is harnessing Neptec's technology to detect tiny fractures in the Shuttle's heat shield before the crew risks re-entry.

[And below is] a close up of Neptec's Laser Camera System prior to the application of reflective Teflon tape. The picture shows the large radiator on the top of the enclosure that ensures the scanner will not overheat on orbit.

The top image was extracted from this Macromedia Flash animation. Larger versions of the two other images are available here and there . Finally, you'll find other images in the gallery accessible from this page .

Now, here are some technical details given by the Forbes.com article.

Discovery's "bread-box sized" laser camera system (LCS) is one example of Neptec's advanced technology. It doesn't relay information through video. Instead,it transmits the information to a computer, which then creates a model accurate to a few millimeters. Unlike radar or video imaging, the model can integrate the data according to set parameters: It "knows" if something looks different or has changed.

Iain Christie, director of research and development at Neptec, says it is the equivalent of "intelligence in three dimensions."

As I noticed above, future shuttle flights have been put on hold -- and might be canceled for a while. So what Neptec will do if it loses a customer like NASA?

These highly accurate 3-D image scans can be implemented in numerous military situations as well. Next-generation, truly "smart" laser cameras have already performed well in testing. On the battlefield, they could identify approaching vehicles to prevent friendly fire incidents and could alert soldiers to irregularities in surrounding environments. "With the IEDs [improvised explosive device] we see being used, this could warn them of even small changes," Christie said.

Neptec is a small company with a revenue of about $20 million in 2005, but

The Eyes of the Space Shuttle

Now that Discovery astronaut Steve Robinson has successfully removed two pieces of fabric poking out of the shuttle's heat shield, a question remains: how did NASA discover these anomalies in the first place? In this article , Forbes.com writes that NASA can say thank you to a private Canadian company, Neptec , and its Laser Camera system (LCS). Neptec is working with NASA for ten years now, but it was the first time that its vision technology was used for external damage assessment of a shuttle. As NASA says it may cancel some future shuttle flights, Neptec plans to implement its 3-D imaging technology in military situations and on the battlefield. But read more...

Let's first look at some images of this laser camera system (Credits for images and captions below: Neptec).

Neptec's Laser Camera System (LCS) will be deployed at the tip of a new 50-foot (15-metre) inspection boom being deployed for the first time aboard Discovery for the Return to Flight mission. Manufactured by another Canadian company, MD Robotics, the boom is stored on the opposite side of the Shuttle's cargo bay from the Canadarm.

This 3-D rendering depicts Neptec's Laser Camera System, deployed on the Canadarm, scanning the nose cone of the Space Shuttle Discovery for potential damage to the Shuttle's heat shield tiles. NASA is harnessing Neptec's technology to detect tiny fractures in the Shuttle's heat shield before the crew risks re-entry.

[And below is] a close up of Neptec's Laser Camera System prior to the application of reflective Teflon tape. The picture shows the large radiator on the top of the enclosure that ensures the scanner will not overheat on orbit.

The top image was extracted from this Macromedia Flash animation. Larger versions of the two other images are available here and there . Finally, you'll find other images in the gallery accessible from this page .

Now, here are some technical details given by the Forbes.com article.

Discovery's "bread-box sized" laser camera system (LCS) is one example of Neptec's advanced technology. It doesn't relay information through video. Instead,it transmits the information to a computer, which then creates a model accurate to a few millimeters. Unlike radar or video imaging, the model can integrate the data according to set parameters: It "knows" if something looks different or has changed.

Iain Christie, director of research and development at Neptec, says it is the equivalent of "intelligence in three dimensions."

As I noticed above, future shuttle flights have been put on hold -- and might be canceled for a while. So what Neptec will do if it loses a customer like NASA?

These highly accurate 3-D image scans can be implemented in numerous military situations as well. Next-generation, truly "smart" laser cameras have already performed well in testing. On the battlefield, they could identify approaching vehicles to prevent friendly fire incidents and could alert soldiers to irregularities in surrounding environments. "With the IEDs [improvised explosive device] we see being used, this could warn them of even small changes," Christie said.

Neptec is a small company with a revenue of about $20 million in 2005, but

Looks like NASA finally ran out of acronyms. SVS is also used for their Space Vision System.

If you mean the foam, yes, that's the point. NASA knew about it, but didn't consider it to be serious because it had been seen a number of times before without damaging the wing, and therefore is withing "engineering experience".

What nobody paid attention to was the seriosness of this danger, and the logical fallacy of the "it hasn't caused significant damage yet, therefore it must be ok" belief.

At the time, there was no way to get it working, but not for lack of trying

Actually, it was in large part due to lack of trying. Nobody considered it a priority or a serious problem. That's a major point in the CAIB report. Part of the problem was also that the technology didn't exist to detect the damage they need to look for. The high precision 3D sensors they are putting on the shuttle for inspection (as low as 1/4" holes and 0.03" wide cracks) didn't exist at the time.

It's ridiculous to change our tune this late in the game

What?!?!?! So you're telling me that once a serious risk has been identified, and that we've been putting things at great risk for years, that it is wrong to now recognize it is a serious risk and act accordingly. Does this make the least bit of sense? It's a serious risk. People's lives are in danger. Billions of dollars are at risk. Whole space programs could shut down if another shuttle is lost. We've been doing it wrong for years, and you seem to think this is justification for continuing to do it wrong. That just baffles me, and makes me glad you are running any high-risk programs that I'm involved with. Perhaps you should re-think your case here.

Keep in mind though that you've lumped all "3D devices" or "3D cameras" into Lidars, i.e., time-of-flight (and variations). Short range, small to medium volume, 3D imaging is doing quite well using triangulation and structured light techniques, with much higher precision than Lidar. Markets range from the automotive assembly to scanning shuttles on orbit for return-to-flight. In general, they're good for inspection, 3D modeling (e.g., artifacts), metrology, and close-range navigation. But you're right, long range technology (10's of meters to kilometers) mature enough for military imaging and full-sized vehicle navigation is still a few years away.

Most laser scanners for close scanning (cm to several meters) use triangulation. Wide FOV versions can have ~1 mm precision and cover medium volumes. Narrow FOV versions can be precise to ~0.025-0.1 mm but often can only see at very close range (~10 cm to 1 m) over small volumes. One exception is the autosyncronous scanner from NRC of Canada that can measure on the order of 25 microns (~0.025 mm) over large volumes and a wide FOV, by using a narrow FOV camera that automatically follows the laser spot across a wide FOV. This also makes it "random access" which means it doesn't have to do raster scans (but can) but can trace out any shape you want.

Neptec Design Group has developed one of these for use in space. Right now, Neptec's laser scanner is being included as a required 3D scanner for analyzing the shuttle thermal protective system on orbit (tiles, RCC panels) for return-to-flight, as a result of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board report.

A good review of TOF and triangulation scanners (and structured light / fringe), including commercially available ones, is given in this paper, and here is a good list of some scanners and their type.