Sunday, August 14, 2022
  • About us
    • Write for us
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms of use
    • Privacy Policy
  • RSS Feeds
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us
DefenceTalk
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
DefenceTalk
No Result
View All Result

New 3-D scanner makes impact at Eglin

by Air Force News Agency
May 28, 2012
in Technology News
2 min read
0
New 3-D scanner makes impact at Eglin
14
VIEWS

When the 46th Test Wing’s Air Force SEEK EAGLE Office purchased a 3-D laser scanner system six months ago, they had no idea how much of an impact this system would make.

“This is state of the art,” said Mark Hillman, lead engineer at the SEEK EAGLE. “We are breaking ground for the military.”

The approximately $150,000 Leica HDS 7000 3-D laser scanner and Rapidform reverse engineering software program was purchased to quickly build accurate digital models of Air Force aircraft and weapons for use in aircraft-weapon compatibility analyses.

“Before, we had to implement the real tests to determine how capable a system would be,” said Paul Collins, lead contract engineer for SEEK EAGLE. “Now we build models for use in simulated test environments for a good indication of the outcome, before we go into actual testing, which can save hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

After one month of trial scans, they were able to use it to quickly scan an entire aircraft.
“Four years ago, it took six people two weeks to manually collect 3-D data for the A-10 aircraft,” said Collins. “With the laser scanner, two people can collect the same amount of data in two days, a 93 percent reduction.”

Additionally, the accuracy of the laser is +/- 0.01. Using the manual method, the accuracy was at best +/- 0.03, according to Collins.

The data collection process involves positioning the scanner at various positions around the airplane. The scanner automatically sweeps a laser beam across the aircraft to generate a 3-D point cloud.

“Any areas where good data is not collected, such as shadows, are depicted as black holes in the scanner software requiring the scanner to be re-positioned for optimal results”, said Collins.

After scanning an aircraft, SEEK EAGLE engineers use Rapidform reverse engineering software and the 3-D point clouds to construct solid digital models.

“Improvements in using Rapidform to construct the solid models from the scanned data have been significant”, said Collins.

The SEEK EAGLE engineering team didn’t go into this venture lightly. They started with requirements from the entire Air Force SEEK EAGLE Office and did an in-depth comparative analysis of the viable systems before choosing their current combination of hardware and software. Overall, the scanner and software has reduced their costs by about 75 percent.

Word of the success and benefits of the system spread to others.

“Other military services have started contacting us to use the system,” said Collins. “Two weeks ago, we scanned 13 Navy aircraft in eight days.”

Tags: 3Dair forcelaser scannerScanner
Previous Post

AeroVironment Introduces Digital Wasp AE Small Unmanned Aircraft System

Next Post

Congress to spend more on tanks than US military wants

Related Posts

US moves closer to retaliation over hacking as cyber woes grow

Finnish parliament website targeted in cyber attack

August 10, 2022

Finland's parliament said Tuesday its website came under cyber attack, as the Nordic country applies for NATO membership following Moscow's...

US DoD Working to Improve Cybersecurity for Its Industrial Base

USCYBERCOM Releases IoCs for Malware Targeting Ukraine

July 21, 2022

FORT GEORGE E. MEADE: In close coordination with the Security Service of Ukraine, USCYBERCOM’s Cyber National Mission Force is disclosing...

Next Post
Gunnery training goes digital

Congress to spend more on tanks than US military wants

Latest Defense News

Philippines cancels Russia helicopter deal over US sanctions

Philippines cancels Russia helicopter deal over US sanctions

August 10, 2022
West eyes more pressure on Russia after Ukraine nuclear plant attack

13 killed in Russian strikes near nuclear plant

August 10, 2022
Iran to hold new wargames in key oil waterway

Iran navy says repelled attack on ship in Red Sea

August 10, 2022
China will ‘take the gloves off’ over Taiwan: media

Taiwan FM says China using drills to ‘prepare for invasion’

August 10, 2022
US moves closer to retaliation over hacking as cyber woes grow

Finnish parliament website targeted in cyber attack

August 10, 2022
People displaced by the fighting in Burma's Laukai approach a rescue convoy

Mounting proof of crimes against humanity in Myanmar: UN probe

August 10, 2022

Defense Forum Discussions

  • Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates 2.0
  • Fantasy RAN thread (Carriers only)
  • The Indonesian Army
  • The Russian-Ukrainian War Thread
  • General Aviation Thread
  • Royal Air Force [RAF] discussions and updates
  • Australian Army Discussions and Updates
  • Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF] News, Discussions and Updates
  • Indo Pacific strategy
  • Spectacular RAF Typhoon Display at RAF Coningsby - Demonstration Practice
DefenceTalk

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com

Navigate Site

  • Defence Forum
  • Military Photos
  • RSS Feeds
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com