Samsung Unveils New Galaxy Note 10 Model With "Instant" 3D Scanning Capabilities

Samsung has unveiled its range of high-end Galaxy Note 10 smartphones, one of which is equipped with 3D scanning capabilities. Described as a “revolutionary first for the note,” the Galaxy Note10+ comes installed with a DepthVision camera, allowing users to scan objects for instant 3D rendering.

Samsung demonstrated the 3D scanning technology at the Note 10 launch event, where it was used to create a photorealistic 3D model of a pink soft toy named Bobby. During the unveiling, the Samsung presenter explained that the scans can also be used to make copies of the object in a 3D printer.

ToF camera on the Samsung Note10+

The DepthVision camera implemented in the Note10+ works using 3D Time-of-Flight (ToF) technology. ToF scanning measures the distance between the camera and an object by recording the time it takes for a beam of infrared light to reflect off the camera. The depth of a scene is then captured and mapped using this pulse of light.

On the Note10+, the ToF capabilities of the DepthVision camera are limited to a radius of 10x10x10cm by 80x80x80cm and consist of two sensors. To use 3D scanning on the Note10+, users need to download Samsung's 3D Scanner app.

During the demo at the launch event, Samsung's DepthVision camera was used to scan the 'Bobby' plush toy by pacing it. The 3D Scanner app includes an on-screen circular guide, asking users to keep the item in that area of ​​the phone and helping them point the camera in the optimal direction for a 3D scan. Once the user walks a full circle around the object and captures all angles, the phone produces a 3D model of the object.

In addition to using the scans for 3D printing, they can also be used as mobile AR 3D renders in videos, and can be created to mimic user movements with body tracking. You can watch a video of the live demo below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYCr4TPE0sc

3D scanning in smartphones

In 2015, Google unveiled its Smartphone Project Tango, which housed Intel's RealSense 3D scanner. Since then, various companies specializing in 3D scanning have created apps and devices to turn your phones into more advanced 3D scanners. New Orleans-based mobile scanning specialist Scandy, for example, has created software that allows users with an external ToF sensor to capture 3D scans on their compatible Android devices. The company used Google's Tango augmented reality software platform to create an object scanning app for smartphones known as Scandy Pro.

Now, most of the newer and high-end smartphones have already come out already installed with ToF 3D scanning sensors. Along with the Note10+, Samsung has also equipped a ToF camera on its latest Galaxy S10 model, while Chinese mobile phone developer Huawei has implemented it in its flagship P30 Pro. The new generation of iPhone would also have 3D ToF cameras.

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Featured image shows the Samsung Galaxy Note10. GIF via Samsung.