“Infrared 3D scanners have been used in video games for quite some time. Whereas in video games the scanners are, for example, only able to identify if a player throws his arms up in the air while playing virtual volleyball, the new 3D scanner of the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF is able to be much more precise. With a resolution of one million pixels and real-time data processing, numerous applications are possible with this new device. The measuring technology works in a similar way to human vision. However, instead of two eyes we are using two near-infrared cameras«, Stefan Heist from the Fraunhofer IOF explains. »In order to detect the object, we project a-periodic patterns onto the surface using a specially developed near-infrared projector.« A sequence of different patterns is projected in rapid succession in order to record as many measurement points as possible by the two cameras. Within a few milliseconds, the software then calculates the 3D data from the images.”