Oliver Zweigle on autonomous robots
From Oliver Zweigle, Innovation Manager, FARO tells about a robot that does 3D scanning · · Geospatial World
“The robot drives completely autonomously to the next scan point and has obstacle avoidance, driving through people without collisions or problems. It is very reactive and safe, always trying to find the best way around obstacles.”
On , Oliver Zweigle, Senior Vice President of Engineering & Chief Technology Officer at FARO TECHNOLOGIES INC, spoke about autonomous robots during Oliver Zweigle, Innovation Manager, FARO tells about a robot that does 3D scanning on Geospatial World.
About Oliver Zweigle
In 2016, Oliver Zweigle, then Innovation Manager at FARO, demonstrated a robot designed to automate the 3D scanning process. He stated that the robot was developed to reduce the time operators spend waiting during scans, which typically take eight to ten minutes. According to Zweigle, the robot autonomously moves to pre-set scan points, stops to capture a 3D scan, and then proceeds to the next position, using sensors including a camera and laser scanners for navigation and obstacle avoidance. He described the robot as "very reactive and safe," capable of navigating through crowds without collisions. Zweigle also noted that the robot could be remotely controlled for use in hazardous environments such as nuclear power plants. He explained that users could create a 2D map of the environment via a graphical interface, set scan points, and then initiate an autonomous scanning session. The robot's battery life was cited as six to eight hours, and its speed was set at approximately 0.8 meters per second for safety, though it could theoretically reach two meters per second. Additionally, Zweigle presented a new indoor version of the robot, which he described as lightweight, foldable, and portable in a rucksack for easy transport to scanning projects.