NavVis, a company that has become a prominent player in reality capture and digital twin technology over the past decade, has introduced the NavVis MLX, a handheld dynamic laser scanning tool designed for professionals. This new device aims to set a new benchmark for data quality, portability, and user comfort, making it an ideal choice for projects requiring high-precision results in challenging environments.
Founded in 2013 as a startup with support from the Technical University of Munich, the German enterprise made a major impact in 2020 with the launch of its flagship wearable laser scanner, the NavVis VLX. By showcasing how a SLAM-based device could serve as an essential tool for reality capture and surveying professionals, NavVis quickly positioned itself as a pioneer in the wearable laser scanning market.
In the past four years, NavVis customers and resellers around the world have digitized hundreds of millions of square metres. Now, with the addition of the NavVis MLX to its LX-Series, the company is once again poised to redefine another category in reality capture.
Redefining handheld laser scanning
Felix Reinshagen, co-founder and CEO of NavVis, emphasized the company’s commitment to delivering portable laser scanning solutions that meet the needs of industries such as AEC, surveying, and reality capture. “Our customers have emphasized the need for a professional, affordable tool that can scan in narrow, hard-to-reach places that complements NavVis VLX,” said Reinshagen. The NavVis MLX was developed to offer a lightweight, portable option for confined spaces, maintaining NavVis’s renowned usability and data quality. Overcoming the engineering challenges to create this device, he added, was no small feat, and he is incredibly proud of the team’s achievement.
With the MLX, the company seeks to significantly reshape the perception of handheld laser scanning tools, which have often been seen as limited due to issues with low-quality data, poor ergonomics, and unreliability. The MLX addresses these concerns by delivering high-quality point cloud data through a 32-layer Lidar sensor, along with 270- and 360-degree panoramic images for an intuitive understanding of the environment. The scanner is designed to optimally position the Lidar for superior data capture, and its harness system ensures comfortable, extended use, enabling long scanning sessions while providing full flexibility for detailed environmental capture.
Form follows function
Georg Schroth, CTO and co-founder of NavVis, emphasized that the design of the MLX is driven by its core function of delivering high-quality data. “Form follows function, and the function of a reality capture tool is to deliver excellent data. The form of NavVis MLX has been meticulously designed for this purpose,” he said. He explained that since the device often operates in a stationary position, it reduces the need to carry it continuously, making it more ergonomic. When movement is required, the device can be easily repositioned, and its ability to capture 360-degree panoramic images even when held in front of the body adds versatility for various use cases and project partners.
The lightweight and compact NavVis MLX is crafted to function either independently or in tandem with the NavVis VLX, offering a highly flexible and accessible solution for both indoor and outdoor environments. In the office, the geospatial data captured by both devices integrates seamlessly with NavVis IVION, providing a solid foundation for creating digital twins and enabling smarter collaboration and decision-making. As the latest addition to Lidar-based reality capture, the NavVis MLX is poised to significantly accelerate scanning workflows and elevate the reputation of handheld laser scanning tools.
