PanScan 3D Scanner

Panscan is an experimental 3D scanner

A DSLR camera is positioned on a precise linear actuator on which it pans from left to right. An Canon 7D can be used for its superb FullHD recording capabilities (or Canon 600D).

Alternativly, an firewire/USB camera can be used, such as DMK 41BF02 made by The Imaging Source. The micro-controller of the actuator controls the moment of the camera exposure which takes place multiple times on certain positions on actuator while panning from left to right. The individual frames are captured by laptop where the processing can take place in real-time. I chose consumer DSLR camera for the wider availability, great lenses, ability to use without laptop, so the processing can take place off-site.

According to previously determined movement of each pixel we could calculate where should we look for that particular pixel in each new image. With each new image we can recalculate relative movement of every pixel more accurately. After all images have been analyzed, program calculates 3D position of every pixel.

First test

Simple plane test

3D Head test:

PanScan was a personal project. Further development of PanScan is on hold because there is always something more interesting to do. If I ever make a version ready for public I will release it here.