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| CAD, CAM, CAE, design, technical drawing, drafting, delineation, visualization, manufacturing | ISSN 1442-2255 |
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MAGLEV, Inc. Captures the Original Tyrannosaurus rex with Leica LR200 Laser Radar ScannersLaser Radar Metrology and Paleontology Meet For the First Time
Norcross, GA - April 5, 2004 - The Metrology Division of Leica Geosystems announced today MAGLEV, Inc. has successfully captured the original Tyrannosaurus rex (T. Rex) using two Leica LR200 Laser Radar systems. T. rex resides in the Dinosaur Hall at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History (Pittsburgh, PA) where a team of metrology experts from MAGLEV, Inc. (McKeesport, PA), Leica Geosystems, and MetricVision, Inc. gathered to scan every inch and surface of the world's most famous dinosaur. A pair of networked LR200 coherent Laser radars were placed upon six-foot towers and navigated around the perimeter of the historic skeleton in order to collect accurate 3D data sets, otherwise known as point clouds. The LR200 is the ideal industrial measurement device for precisely measuring large objects with scan rates up to 1000 points per second at volumes up to 48 meters with accuracy up to 20 microns. The end result will be the most accurate, complete digital model of Tyrannosaurus rex to date. The Leica LR200 is the first non-contact measurement device to combine radar, laser and 3D software technologies. MAGLEV will use the point clouds gathered by the two LR200's to measure and build a three-dimensional computer solid model, an exact digital prototype of the 17-foot tall dinosaur. A physical prototype will be created by a 3D printing process that uses metals, ceramics, or metal ceramic composites for rapid part production. The ProMetal Division of Extrude Hone Corporation (Irwin, PA) is the exclusive provider of this technology. Paleontologists now believe the Tyrannosaurus species carried its tail high in the air, thus Carnegie wishes to not only remount T. rex in this position, but also wants to pose the dinosaur facing a second Tyrannosaurus rex. With an exact computer digital replica, the museum will be able to easily model the 3D skeleton in different configurations, choose the most appealing positions, and then design the required support. This high precision data can also be used further down the road for scientific analysis of the fossilized bones. Steve Hand, an expert metrologist at MAGLEV, Inc. and project manager, states, "Using a direct measurement instrument, we are capturing very high precision T-rex surface data, in contrast to less accurate artistic methods. The laser radar has enabled us to acquire accuracy up to 250 microns. Using the resultant 3D computer model, Carnegie paleontologists will be able to take T. rex apart in sections, even vertebrae by vertebrae, to reposition the dinosaur. But the benefits of the scan do not stop here. The precise model will serve as the foundation for scientific analysis, comparisons to other fossils, and more. Based on the same level of precision, we will use the laser radar technology to build highly accurate guideway beams for high-speed magnetically levitating trains." The famous dinosaur hunter Barnum Brown discovered this Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton (the world's first) in the Montana badlands in 1902. The specimen was mounted at the American Museum of Natural History (New York City), where it was displayed until 1941, when it was sold to Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Today, the dinosaur is estimated to be worth over 50 million dollars. In 1895, the famous Pittsburgh industrialist Andrew Carnegie established the Carnegie Institute, which has evolved into four museums serving 1.6 million visitors every year -- Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Science Center, and The Andy Warhol Museum. www.carnegiemuseums.org/carnegie/index.htm About MAGLEV, Inc. Incorporated in 1990, MAGLEV's mission is to create an integrated Pennsylvania Industry/Government partnership and implement manufacturing, construction, and deployment of a Transrapid International magnetically levitated high-speed transportation system beginning in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company acquired their coherent laser scanner through a contract with the Office of Naval Research for a study of weld distortion in steel beams for shipbuilding applications. The collaborative endeavor between MAGLEV and U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR) provides the research and testing groundwork to perform weld distortion analysis for the manufacture of highly accurate large steel curved beams using the LR200 laser radar. About Leica Geosystems Leica Geosystems is an internationally leading developer, manufacturer and distributor of solutions that capture, visualize, and process spatial data using the most advanced technologies in the marketplace. Leica Geosystems holds the foremost position in the world market in several high technology sectors. The company has 10 offices in the United States, and has representatives in over 100 countries worldwide. The firm's corporate headquarters are located in Switzerland. Leica Geosystems registered shares (LGSN -SWX) are quoted on the SWX Swiss Exchange in Z�rich. About the Metrology Division of Leica Geosystems The Metrology Division of Leica Geosystems is a global supplier of comprehensive hardware and software packages to the industrial metrology market. These products integrate with popular CAD programs, various build-and-inspect tools, and reverse engineering software. Using state-of-the-art laser technology, Leica's industrial measurement products make quality control, part mating, assembly and construction of large and small parts easier and more accurate than ever. Leica's laser tracker technology is most widely used with 1300 installations worldwide, in addition to over 1500 theodolite installations. www.leica-geosystems.com/metrology
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