Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, has strengthened its partnership with Boston Dynamics, the leader in mobile robotics. This collaboration has made the Leica BLK ARC the first officially certified reality capture device for Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot. The update also introduces software integrations that create a seamless laser scanning workflow for the agile mobile robot, streamlining data capture in dynamic environments.
Throughout their four-year partnership, Leica Geosystems and Boston Dynamics have collaborated to deliver solutions that amplify each other’s effectiveness. The new seamless laser scanning workflow takes the integration to another level: Users can now initiate an Autowalk that includes laser scanning in the Spot app and execute it without human intervention.
Streamlining robotic capture
By integrating this workflow into Boston Dynamics’ Orbit robot fleet management software and Spot app, customers can seamlessly manage and execute BLK ARC reality capture missions as part of an extensive suite of autonomous robotic capabilities, alongside other payloads. This workflow empowers users to efficiently document and capture site conditions in plants, warehouses, and enclosed structures, while supporting a wide range of applications such as asset management, BIM modeling, fire investigation, and more.
Additionally, operators have the flexibility to select specific positions along the mobile scan path to perform static scans for greater detail. Leica Geosystems’ robust software and cloud-based applications streamline the export of mobile and static scans, along with panoramic images, enabling efficient team collaboration, data processing, and the creation of digital twins.
“Our customers are already collecting data about equipment health with Spot, and now, they will be able to capture detailed 3D spatial data using the same workflow,” said Tim Dykstra, director of strategic partnerships, Boston Dynamics. “Our partnership with Leica Geosystems offers another way dynamic industrial facilities can create and maintain digital twins with agile mobile robots.”
“Our technology partnership with Boston Dynamics played a vital role in accelerating the use of autonomous reality capture on robots as a foundation for creating digital twins,” stated Simon Mark, vice president strategic innovation at Hexagon’s Geosystems division. “Integrating our industry-leading technologies underlines our shared dedication to simplifying workflows, promoting autonomy in reality capture and unlocking new applications for robotic scanning.”
