3D-Wärme

Today, the area-based three-dimensional recording of structures plays an important role in all sectors of industry, e.g. in quality assurance, human-machine interaction, the digitization of art objects and even criminalistics. Here optical-contactless 3D measuring techniques are used. Up to now, the possible applications have been limited to objects with so-called cooperative surfaces, i.e. to objects with surfaces that are diffusely reflecting ("mat") in the broadest sense of the word and do not have a high penetration behaviour or even transmission of light. Complex, transparent objects can so far only be detected in a complex tactile way or often not at all in three dimensions.

With the research work of the 3D-Wärme research group, on the one hand, an optical 3D detection system is to be developed which, based on infrared light heat pattern projection, pursues a novel approach to detecting such transparent objects. Transparent objects (e.g. glass and transparent plastics) are optically measured by heating them in a structured manner with a series of heat patterns (non-destructively by a few Kelvin). Instead of reflected light, the re-emitting patterns are recorded with a far infrared camera (LWIR, MWIR). By using two such cameras in stereo arrangement, the 3D coordinates are then to be determined precisely and robustly by means of correlation methods.

The subtasks of the Biomechatronics Group in this research group are

• To derive gripping and handling concepts for fragile, in particular brittle, transparent objects or workpieces by using knowledge about gripping, reaching and manipulation processes in nature and to develop them under bio-mechatronic system development aspects.

• to develop and test a new type of gripper for use on a robot arm using these concepts.

• With the help of the data obtained from the measurement (position of the object, shape, dimensions and surface structure) to control a robot (arm) equipped with this gripper and to ensure the safe handling of the addressed objects.