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Using Lasers And Range Finders To Digitize Objects

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the now-isn't-that-clever dept.

esoteric0 writes: "Those boys at Stanford are at it again: They created some new algorithms for 'combining multiple range and color images, allow us to reliably and accurately digitize the external shape and surface characteristics of many physical objects.' " It's not just a mouthful -- they've created a cool digitized version of buildings, maps, and Michelangelo's David. Ever wonder what his toe looks like when digitized at .05mm?

7 of 50 comments (clear)

  1. Flashback... by Paradigm+Lost · · Score: 3

    Whoa! Did anyone else have a sudden flashback to Tron? I can almost see Michelangelos David in one of those glowing blue outfits.

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    -Dead Lesbian Witches! Think about it!
  2. If we only could... by The+Grammar+Jew · · Score: 4

    digitize certain young actres...and then release the data under an open source license...the possibilities are, shall I say, endless...

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    .sigs ain't funny
  3. Pragma: nocache & don't email it by h2odragon · · Score: 3
    From the "more images" page:

    "The images of Michelangelo's statues that appear on this web page are the property of the Digital Michelangelo Project and the Soprintendenza ai beni artistici e storici per le province di Firenze, Pistoia, e Prato. They may not be copied, downloaded and stored, forwarded, or reproduced in any form, including electronic forms such as email or the web, by any persons, regardless of purpose, without express written permission from the project director Marc Levoy. Any commerical use also requires written permission from the Soprintendenza. "


    Hmph. Let's email the picutes to HIM. :)
    1. Re:Pragma: nocache & don't email it by The+Grammar+Jew · · Score: 3
      Yes, they own the right to those electronic reproductions of Michelangelo sculptures because they produced those creproductions. It did cost them time and money. Please don't expect they'll share these reproductions with you.

      If you want your own reproduction, go and make one. Michelangelo's copyright, if any, has expired. No one is hoarding David. It's here, open for everyone to copy.

      OTOH Harry Potter's hasn't, so you can't OCR his books. Sorry.

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      .sigs ain't funny
  4. Ars Technica has a feature by Segfault+11 · · Score: 3

    Ars Technica has a feature on this subject entitled: `Michelangelo Goes Digital'

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    I registered my hate for Jon Katz

    1. Re:Ars Technica has a feature by tcomeau · · Score: 3
      And NPR did a wonderful interview with Marc Levoy last month, available on their web site as David's Eyes which includes things that the laser scan missed, and the news that all of the art history books are wrong.

      tc>

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      tc>
      Most Americans don't understand science, and they wouldn't like it if they did.

  5. meshing for fun and meshing for science by penguin_nipple · · Score: 3
    It seems that these guys are attempting to use their meshing and modelling routines to find inconsistencies and texturing details in the actual stone

    This type of work (attempting to detect very small scale irregularities in materials) is far different than modelling an item and creating a 3 dimensional picture of that object, or creating a flashy new quake 3 skin .

    Kudos to these guys for using (and creating) some really complex algorithms. Being in the field of 3D visualizations , I can appreciate the amount of time, energy and brainpower which go into a project such as this.

    *penguin_nipple stands and applaudes*