3D mapping backpack assists with military planning

Research leading to the development of the reconnaissance backpack was funded by the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the Army Research Office under the guidance of programme managers Dr Jon Sjogren (AFOSR) and Dr John Lavery (ARO).

The backpack is the first of a series of similar systems to work without being strapped to a robot or attached to a cart. Its data-acquisition speed is claimed to be very fast, as it collects the data while the human operator is walking; this is in contrast with existing systems that take days or weeks to acquire data.

Using this technology, air force personnel will be able to collectively view the interior of modelled buildings and interact over a network in order to achieve military goals such as mission planning.

Under the direction of Dr Avideh Zakhor, lead researcher and UC Berkeley professor of electrical engineering, the scientists have been able to use this more portable method of mapping by way of sensors, or lightweight laser scanners that weigh less than 8oz.