3D laser scanner for computer-aided design and geometric modeling research

本提案申请资助一台三维激光扫描仪及其控制计算机和一个相关数据处理软件的教育许可证。激光扫描仪用于从物理对象的表面收集密集的数据点（点云）。扫描的点云需要支持拟议的研究计划，旨在发展先进的计算机辅助设计（CAD）和几何建模技术。尽管现有的CAD技术在实践中得到了广泛的应用，但它们并不能完全满足设计人员对所需产品几何形状的精确建模的需求，更重要的是，它们对在CAD环境中促进人类创造力的不断需求。为了准确地建立模型并模拟人类的认知设计过程，提出了一种基于扫描点云的基于点的几何建模方案。该开发将引领革命性的CAD设计过程，从而产生卓越的产品设计并大大缩短设计周期时间。所要求的激光扫描设备支持的拟议研究计划是独一无二的，并针对现有CAD技术的重大进步。这项先进的研究计划将使不列颠哥伦比亚大学（UBC）成为CAD研究领域的世界领先机构之一。加拿大工业将大大受益于开发的技术，并能够更有效地设计出更好和功能增强的产品。未来技术的发展需要对研究生进行大量的培训。他们将接受最新3D扫描技术的培训，并获得在工业以及许多应用领域（如地质和医学图像处理）急需的技能。激光扫描仪还将有助于建立一个新的快速产品开发研究设施，价值超过25万美元。对于这个计划中的网络设施，高价的快速原型机已经在UBC机械工程系获得并可用。

This proposal is to request the funding for a 3D laser scanner together with its control computer and one educational license of the associated data processing software.  The laser scanner is used to collect dense sets of data points (point clouds) from the surface of a physical object.  The scanned point clouds are needed to support the proposed research program aiming at developing advanced computer-aided design (CAD) and geometric modeling technologies.  Although the existing CAD technologies have been widely used in practice, they do not completely meet the designers' demand for accurate modeling of the desired product geometry and more importantly, their constant demand for facilitating human creativity in the CAD environment.  To enable the accurate model creation and mimic the human cognitive design process, a point-based geometric modeling scheme based on the scanned point cloud is proposed.  The development will lead the way in revolutionizing the CAD design process, resulting in superior product designs and greatly reduced design cycle times.The proposed research program supported by the requested laser scanning equipment is unique and directed at major advancement in the existing CAD technologies.  This advanced research initiative will put the University of British Columbia (UBC) as one of the world's leading institutions in CAD research.  Canadian industries will benefit significantly from the developed technologies and be able to design better and functionally enhanced products much more effectively.  Development of the prospective technologies will involve considerable training to the graduate students.  They will be trained in the latest 3D scanning technologies and obtain skills that are in great demand in industry as well as in many applied fields such as geology and medical image processing.  The laser scanner will also enable the establishment of a novel Rapid Product Development research facility, valued over $250,000.  For this planned networked facility, the high-priced rapid prototyping machine has already been acquired and available at UBC Department of Mechanical Engineering.