FARO Technologies, Inc.
USING VIRTUAL LANDMARKS DURING ENVIRONMENT SCANNING

Abstract:

Generating a three-dimensional (3D) map of an environment includes receiving, via a 3D-scanner that is mounted on a moveable platform, a 3D-scan of the environment while the moveable platform moves through the environment. The method further includes receiving via a two-dimensional (2D) scanner that is mounted on the moveable platform, a portion of a 2D-map of the environment, and receiving first coordinates of the scan position in the 2D-map. The method further includes associating the scan position with the portion of the 2D-map as a virtual landmark. In response to the movable platform being brought back at the virtual landmark, a displacement vector for the 2D-map is determined based on a difference between the first coordinates and a second coordinates that are determined for the scan position. A revised scan position is calculated based on the displacement vector, and the revised scan position is used to register the 3D-scan.