Saab and C3 displays cities in 3D
Eniro is launching a new map service that displays detailed 3D images of streets and town squares. Saab and the spin-off company C3 Technologies are behind this groundbreaking product.
Image: The system for detailed 3D street panoramas consists of cameras on the car roof for taking images, a GPS receiver in order to know where the cameras are located and an IMU to know which direction the camera is looking in.
12/11/2009 |
The new service is being launched in Sweden, Finland and Denmark, and an important aspect is the new 3D street panorama giving the user extremely detailed and sharp images. Concealed behind the images are lifelike 3D models created by the Saab spin-off company C3 Technologies in Linköping, Sweden.
Exact coordinates
The models are based on coordinates, which means that the user can click anywhere on the image and navigate there. You can walk up the street, turn into a side street or look up to a balcony. The images have been taken by C3's specially equipped cars, whose technologies have been mainly developed by Saab Bofors Dynamics. The 3D street panorama system consists of cameras on the roof for taking images, a GPS receiver in order to know where the cameras are located and an IMU to know which direction the camera is looking in. Once the images have been taken, advanced algorithms measure the depths and heights in the photographs and construct the surroundings in three dimensions.
Record time development and production
The development and journey towards the finished product has been rapid, and Saab Bofors Dynamics, together with C3, has achieved the following in just about 6 months;
Image: Photographs of an area are taken by multiple cameras in a camera system. The algorithms then make stereo calculations and obtain a height value for each pixel. The 3D model is first constructed as a wireframe using triangles. These are then draped with images that match the angle of observation.
- developed the world's most advanced 3D street panorama system
- produced the system
- purchased vehicles
- installed and tested the system
- gathered approximately 3,000,000 panoramas from 6 countries in 5 months
- developed stitching software
- processed the images
- delivered
- developed a viewer
- supported Eniro
"I am extremely impressed and proud of the skills and tremendous commitment shown by the Saab Bofors Dynamics and C3 team, which has enabled the development and production of this unique product in record time," says Leif Haglund, Program Director New Business, Saab Bofors Dynamics.
C3 today consists of nearly 20 employees with offices in Linköping, Sweden. The company was formed in 2008, with Saab holding a 59 % stake.