A Fast and Low-Cost Human Body 3D Scanner Using 100 Cameras

Abstract

The human body is one of the most complicated objects to model because of its complex features, non-rigidity, and the time required to take body measurements. Basic technologies available in this field range from small and low-cost scanners that must be moved around the body to large and high-cost scanners that can capture all sides of the body simultaneously. This paper presents an image-based scanning system which employs the structure-from-motion method. The design and development process of the scanner includes its physical structure, electronic components, and the algorithms used for extracting 3D data. In addition to the accuracy, which is one of the main parameters to consider when choosing a 3D scanner, the time and cost of the system are among the most important parameters for evaluating a scanner system in the field of human scanning. Because of the non-static nature of the human body, the scanning time is particularly important. On the other hand, a high-cost system may lead to limited use of such systems. The design developed in this paper, which utilizes 100 cameras, facilitates the acquisition of geometric data in a fraction of a second (0.001 s) and provides the capabilities of large, freestanding scanners at a price akin to that of smaller, mobile ones.