Still searching for a new backpack this school season? Look no further than UC Berkeley Labs, where engineers have created a laser-scanning backpack that makes instant 3D maps of its surroundings. It may not have room for textbooks, but it can generate perfect digital likenesses of the inside of just about any building.

Developed in collaboration with the US Airforce, this device could allow troops to quickly and efficiently scout out new areas and map battlefield locations.

The backpack is outfitted with four cameras pointing in different directions, lasers, and an inertial measurement unit (IMU). Novel sensor fusion algorithms combine the data from all these gadgets to produce a layered, 3D texture map of interiors.

Beyond mapping the entire world digitally (imagine being able to wander the streets of Paris and tour the Louvre using Google Street View), this technology has the potential to help engineers design more realistic video games and better green buildings.

Watch a student testing this all-seeing backpack in the video below:

Filed under: Computer, e-News, Electrical

Tags: Computer, Electrical