One advantage of body scanning is that a customer can be measured once, typically in the store, and then use their recorded measurements through an online portal for subsequent purchases, thereby ensuring a perfect fit every time. Thullex is just one example of how a company can follow this philosophy to create a business. The start-up’s solution, which it calls the 3D Butler, used a technology called RealSense to create body scanner than can measure a customer with an accuracy of within 2mm in a matter of seconds. It uses multiple sensors to capture the data in three dimensions, which is subsequently used to create a two-dimensional cutting pattern. By mixing modern measuring methods with traditional tailoring techniques, the company hopes to bring the benefits of body scanning to the world of bespoke fashion.

Coded light

As mentioned, the system is based on RealSense, a technology platform developed by Intel that brings together image capture sensors and infrared laser projecting capabilities. It can be used to enable a wide range of applications, including facial analysis body tracking and robotics.

RealSense can be used to create virtual, augmented or mixed reality experiences, as well as provide the processing power behind robotics or drones. As already demonstrated, it can form the basis for 3D scanning solutions for use in the home or retail environment, or even for surveillance. The rise of automation is also an application area in vertical industries such as logistics and transportation.

The primary technique employed by RealSense is coded light; an enabling technology for all the applications outlined above. Coded light involves projecting a known pattern onto an unknown surface and detecting how that pattern is deformed, from which the 3D shape of the object being viewed can be inferred.

One of the core components of RealSense is the SR300 subassembly (see figure 1), which comprises an infrared projector and camera, a colour camera and a dedicated imaging ASIC for controlling the component parts and pre-processing the captured data before passing it to a more powerful host processor over a USB3 interface.