Laser scanning robot creates 3D map of silver mine

Apparently, Mexico is the place to be if you're a laser-equipped robot with 3D scanning on the brain. Just 11 months after the DepthX robotic submarine mapped the El Zacatón Cenote, the 3D-R1 has managed to collect over 5GB of map data in 3.5 days which was then used to create a "comprehensive 3D plan of the underground mining operation." The mine in question was the San Jose silver mine in Mexico, and while on duty, the robot scooted across some 2.2-kilometers of underground drives and access ramps in order to conduct over 240 total scans. There's no word on whether the mechanical creature is scheduled to map out any other nooks and crannies around the world, but given the accuracy exhibited in this run-through, we don't foresee it taking any kind of extended vacation.

[Via Robots]

[Looozer @ Apr 17th 2008 11:34AM]

Did you say this thing is called the 3D-R1? I think they've got some Star Wars fans on staff.

[Andrew @ Apr 17th 2008 11:40AM]

I'm hoping this can help in game map development. That would be SWEET. Is this what the folks that made Resistance used to get that cathedral? We need more stuff like that.

Piss off to the whiny buggers that say they shouldn't. My religious beliefs come from the Bible, where the whole church system is denounced, so using a church as a virtual killing ground to save a virtual mankind is a moot issue. If you haven't read the Bible, please just scoot on over this comment. I'm not trying to troll bait. If you are Jack Thompson... I have words for you I cannot say here, please attempt to sue me so I can say them directly to you you lunatic.

[Nick @ Apr 17th 2008 1:05PM]

i think it would have been better if you'd have just kept your mouth shut :x

[Lance @ Apr 17th 2008 1:09PM]

EA Sports uses this technology to develop the maps of the stadiums in Madden etc, they are also using a scanner to map golf courses for downloadable content on the upcoming Tiger Woods titles.

[monkfishbandana @ Apr 17th 2008 11:47AM]

On-topic: This technology would be great to precisely recreate real-world locations for use in video games.

Off-topic: What the heck did Engadget do with the 'Lowest Ranked' and 'Highest Ranked' indicators? They've just disappeared!

[monkfishbandana @ Apr 17th 2008 11:49AM]

I just realised that I have just repeated what Andrew said. Maybe that's where I got the idea from...

[Dan @ Apr 17th 2008 11:52AM]

And we don't even have a lowest ranked indicator anymore with which to tag your post...

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 17th 2008 11:56AM]

I'm thinking they made each click count less towards the low and high end of the ranking spectrum.

[LEE SIXTA @ Apr 19th 2008 11:37PM]

.......NA......NOT ON CRACK......JUST LIKE WATCING.........BLOGING IDIOTS.......LIKE U......L

[Wyldskydog531 @ Apr 17th 2008 1:18PM]

I want one of these for no other reason than it looks cool.

[Gleidus @ Apr 17th 2008 2:00PM]

Hell yeah! The map making possibilities are endless.

[Ben @ Apr 18th 2008 8:38AM]

Ey anyone wants to give it a shot, I work for Riegl USA Inc, perfectly willing to give anyone a shot with the technology.... and I totally assure you the level of geometry you could pull in in a point cloud is mind blowing... its just not cheap ;)

-B