The constant driver for better forensic technologies is a balance of ease of use, accuracy and portability. To meet this need, FARO has announced that they are releasing a new scanner in their Freestyle line, the Freestyle 2. The self-contained solution ups its portability by bringing the screen onto the device (rather than requiring a separate tablet), and lacks any wires that might get in the way.
Aimed at crime and accident scene investigators and reconstructionists who require fast and complete scene documentation, the FARO Freestyle 2 offers immediate real-time visualizations with photorealistic reality capture capabilities. It has a small and wireless design, giving it the ability to easily monitor a scan in real time. These features should provide even more opportunities for the scanner to be utilized – including in confined or challenging spaces.
The Freestyle 2 can scan distances ranging from 0.4m to 10m or from small discrete objects. This means that it is capable of looking at entire vehicles (interior and exterior) as well as other interior scenes and spaces. It is equipped with an infrared laser that projects a 100 x 100 grid of dots onto the target, and is interpreted by a pair of cameras built into the device’s horizontal lobes.
The scanner can be used in conjunction with a color capture camera to create photorealistic images in real time. Combined with a proprietary tracking engine that enables users to make natural movements while scanning, the device is designed to be easy to use even for untrained operators. The device also features a training mode that generates a live display of data capture quality along with integrated training videos.
David Dustin, FARO’s Director of Industry Solutions, Public Safety says the ease of use is an important feature of the Freestyle 2.
“We believe Freestyle 2 is the most intuitive, portable and easy-to-use handheld scanner on the market today. This compact device is a game changer for the public safety arena given its remarkable degree of photorealism and data capture.”
Designed for normally illuminated interiors and outdoor spaces (10,000-45,000 lux) including overcast conditions, Freestyle 2 is also capable of generating usable data even in complete darkness. The device can be used with one hand – leaving the operator’s other hand free to open doors, balance or brace themself against objects for a better, more stable capturing angle, and provides the ultimate on-scene flexibility to reach in, under, and around objects. Haptic feedback alerts the operator when adjustments are required to the user’s scanning technique to ensure the highest quality data is always being captured.
“At a time when law enforcement and other agencies are understaffed and under significant time pressure, investigators and reconstructionists around the world stand to gain significant benefit from our innovative and intuitive Freestyle 2,” added Dr. Michael Carris, FARO’s VP of Product Marketing.
