Abstract: A 3D measuring device is provided. The device includes a measuring head with a light transmitter and a light receiver. A control and evaluation device is coupled to the light transmitter and light receiver and determines the distance to the object. An accessory interface allows an accessory device to be mechanically connected to the measuring head and can be electrically connected to the control and evaluation device. The accessory interface includes a receiving section and a contact section. The receiving and contact sections are arranged such that the accessory device can be inserted into the accessory interface in an insertion direction in order to electrically and mechanically couple the accessory device to the accessory interface. A support structure having an integral slot is coupled to the measuring head. The slot has the receiving section for the mechanical connection and the at least one contact section.

Abstract: A motorized mobile platform includes a robotic articulated arm and a triangulation scanner for performing three-dimensional measurements, the robotic arm and the triangulation scanner removably coupled with connectors.

Abstract: A tracker includes a retro-follow mode that causes a beam of light from the tracker to follow a retroreflector while locked onto the retroreflector with the beam of light turned on or, alternatively, using target cameras with the beam of light turned off.

Abstract: An articulated arm coordinate measuring machine includes a laser line probe. The laser line probe includes a camera that can acquire metrology data and color data. A laser line probe is coupled to a probe end of an articulated arm. The laser line probe having a projector and a camera, the projector being operable to project a line of light at one or more predetermined wavelengths, the camera having a lens assembly optically coupled to a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly has a photosensitive array and a filter disposed between the photosensitive array and the lens assembly. The filter includes a plurality of red, green and blue pixels in a predetermined arrangement. A controller is coupled to the laser line probe and causes the camera to acquire a metrology image and a color image. The controller assigns a color to the three-dimensional coordinate points based on the color image.

Abstract: A noncontact optical three-dimensional measuring device that includes a projector and a camera; a processor electrically coupled to the projector and the camera; and computer readable media which, when executed by the processor, causes the first signal to be collected at a first time and the second signal to be collected at a second time different than the first time and determines three-dimensional coordinates of a first point on the surface based at least in part on the first signal and the distance and determines three-dimensional coordinates of a second point on the surface based at least in part on the second signal and the distance.

Abstract: A method and system of combining 2D images into a 3D image. The method includes providing a coordinate measurement device and a triangulation scanner having an integral camera associated therewith, the scanner being separate from the coordinate measurement device. In a first instance, the coordinate measurement device determines the position and orientation of the scanner and the integral camera captures a first 2D image. In a second instance, the scanner is moved, the coordinate measurement device determines the position and orientation of the scanner, and the integral camera captures a second 2D image. A common feature point in the first and second images is found and is used, together with the first and second images and the positions and orientations of the scanner in the first and second instances, to create the 3D image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting errors in a bearing cartridge used in a portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine (AACMM) is provided. The method includes providing a cartridge having a first bearing and a second bearing arranged in a fixed relationship to define an axis, the cartridge further including an angle measurement device configured to measure a rotation of a portion of the cartridge about the axis. A plurality of angles is measured with the angle measurement device. A first plurality of displacements is determined at a first position along the axis, each of the first plurality of displacements being associated with one of the plurality of angles. Compensation values are determined based at least in part on the plurality of angles and the first plurality of displacements.

Abstract: A system and method of generating a two-dimensional image of an environment is provided. The system includes a 2D scanner that comprises a light source, an image sensor and a controller. The controller determines a distance value to at least one of the object points. An inertial measurement unit is coupled to the scanner and has a first sensor. The first sensor has a first characteristic. A mobile computing device is removably coupled to the 2D scanner, the mobile computing device having a second sensor, the second sensor having a second characteristic. Processors are provided that are responsive to compare the first characteristic and the second characteristic and select one of the first or second sensor based on the comparison. The processors are further generate an image of the environment based on a signal from the selected first or second sensor.

Abstract: Technical solutions are described for generating an augmented reality map of an environment. An example method includes obtaining, by a 2D scanner, a 2D scan set including 2D coordinates of points in the environment. The method further includes capturing and displaying, by a portable computing device, a live video stream of a field of view, the portable computing device being fixed at a relative position with respect to the 2D scanner. The method further includes displaying a selection marker overlaid on the live video stream at a location in response to a user input. The method further includes projecting a beam of visible light on an object point in the field of view, corresponding to the location on the display of the selection marker. The method further includes receiving, via the portable computing device, a selection input and in response generating and storing an annotation at the object point.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a virtual reality scene from scanned point cloud data having user defined content is provided. The system includes a coordinate measurement device operable to measure three-dimensional coordinates. A computing device having a processor is operably coupled to the coordinate measurement device, the processor being operable to generate a point cloud data and insert user defined content into the point cloud data in response to an input from a user, the processor further being operable to generate a virtual reality data file based at least in part on the point cloud data with the user defined content. A virtual reality device is operably coupled to the computing device, the virtual reality device being operable to display the virtual reality data file to the user.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a manufacturing cell is provided. The system includes an articulated arm having a plurality of arm segments, each of the arm segments having a transducer. An end effector is coupled to an end of the articulated arm. An electronic circuit is configured in operation to determine a position and orientation of the end effector. A sensor measures in operation a position of an operator. A tool is removably coupled to the end effector. A three-dimensional (3D) scanner is configured in operation to determine three-dimensional coordinates of a surface of an object, the 3D scanner being removably coupled to the end effector. A controller determines when the operator is within a predetermined distance of the articulated arm and altering a speed or a movement of the articulated arm to avoid contact or reduce the impact of contact between the operator and the articulated arm.

Abstract: A collaborative virtual reality (VR) online meeting platform that includes a three-dimensional (3D) point cloud data defining a virtual space, identifiers of a plurality of meeting participants, and meeting data that includes positions in the virtual space of a plurality of avatars that correspond to meeting participants. The system includes a processor that includes instructions to initiate an online meeting of the plurality of meeting participants. The initiating includes providing an address of the 3D point cloud to each of the meeting participants and transmitting a copy of the 3D point cloud data and meeting data to each of the meeting participants. A current location of each of the avatars in the virtual space is communicated to all of the meeting participants.

Abstract: An actuator utilizes a voice coil motor with one or more voice coil windings supported on a light weight moveable bobbin that connects at one end to move an object rapidly up to a small number of millimeters translationally along a system axis. The bobbin moves over a distal portion of a center pole of a stator, which supports the voice coil motor magnets. The pole, which acts as a flux path for the voice coil motor, also provides a thin film of air in a gap between the pole and the bobbin via an air path and corresponding holes at the distal end of the pole. The bobbin moves translationally relative to the pole on the thin film of air under the control of the voice coil motor.

Abstract: A device and method for scanning and measuring an environment is provided. The method includes providing a three-dimensional (3D) measurement device having a controller. Images of the environment are recorded and a 3D scan of the environment is produced with a three-dimensional point cloud. A first movement of the 3D measurement device is determined and then an operating parameter of the 3D measurement device is changed based at least in part on the first movement.

Abstract: A method for optically scanning and measuring an environment using a 3D measurement device is provided. The method includes steps that are performed prior to operation. These steps include positioning a near-field communication (NFC) device adjacent the 3D measurement device. An NFC link is established between the NFC device and the 3D measurement device. An identifier is transmitted from the NFC device to the 3D measurement device. It is determined that the NFC device is authorized to communicate with the 3D measurement device based at least in part on the identifier. Commands are transferred to the 3D measurement device from the NFC device based at least in part on determining the first NFC device is authorized. At least one communication path is activated. The 3D measurement device is connected to a network of computers and measurement data is transmitted from the 3D measurement device to the network of computers.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for controlling a measurement device remotely through gestures performed by a user. The method includes providing a relationship between a command and a gestures. A gesture is performed by the user with the user's body that corresponds to the user gesture. The gesture performed by the user is detected. A command is determined based at least in part on the detected gesture. Then the command is executed with the laser tracker.

Abstract: A method for optically communicating, from a user to a laser tracker, a command to direct a beam of light from the laser tracker to a retroreflector with steps including: projecting a first light from a light source disposed on the laser tracker to the retroreflector; reflecting a second light from the retroreflector, the second light being a portion of the first light; obtaining first sensed data by sensing a third light, the third light being a portion of the second light, wherein the first sensed data is obtained by imaging the third light onto a photosensitive array disposed on the laser tracker and converting the third light on the photosensitive array into digital form; generating by the user, between a first time and a second time, a predefined temporal pattern, the predefined temporal pattern including at least a decrease in optical power of the third light followed by an increase in the optical power of the third light, the predefined temporal pattern corresponding to the command; determining by the

Abstract: A photogrammetry system and method is provided. The system includes a two-dimensional (2D) camera operable to acquire a 2D image and a 2D video image. A user interface is provided having a display. A controller having a processor that performs a method for determining locations where photogrammetry images should be acquired and displaying an indicator on the user interface indicating to the operator a direction of movement to acquire the next photogrammetry image.

Abstract: A method for scanning and measuring using a 3D measurement device is provided. The method includes providing the 3D measurement device having a light emitter, a light receiver and a command and evaluation device. The 3D measurement device is further includes a first near-field communication (NFC) device having a first antenna. A second NFC device having a second antenna is positioned adjacent the 3D measurement device. An NFC link is established between the first NFC device and the 3D measurement device. An identifier is transmitted from the second NFC device to the 3D measurement device. It is determined that the second NFC device is authorized to communicate with the 3D measurement device. Commands are transferred to the 3D measurement device from the second NFC device based at least in part on the determination that the second NFC device is authorized to communicate with the 3D measurement device.