丨Key Points Review丨
01 / In this project, Manifold Tech's proprietary MindSLAM™ algorithm, the handheld scanner Manifold Pocket, and the accompanying quadruped robot carrier were used to quickly, stably, and accurately capture high-precision spatial data in the complex "urban underground pipeline" environment, which is characterized by insufficient lighting, geometric constraints, and lack of GPS signals. The project also achieved real-time true-color positioning and modeling with an accuracy of four thousandths.
02 / Through Manifold Tech's efficient data post-processing platform MindCloud, spatial data post-processing could be completed on-site with just a laptop within 0.2 times the data collection time. This improved the quality of data in large-scale degraded scenes and ensured that the final results were obtained on-site, eliminating the need for rework.
丨Background of the Need丨
In recent years, ground collapse accidents have occurred frequently in China and around the world. The basic causes often include construction disturbances, aging and collapse of underground pipelines, hydrogeological conditions, and excessive road loads.
Urban underground pipeline networks, which include water supply, drainage, power supply, gas supply, and communication, are an important part of urban infrastructure. With the rapid development of urban construction, China has increased the development and utilization of underground space in recent years, resulting in an increasing number of underground pipelines being laid in cities.
However, due to the involvement of multiple ownership units and the lack of unified management standards, some underground pipeline archives are incomplete, leading to unclear pipeline conditions. The hidden nature of underground pipelines also makes it difficult to determine their actual locations and burial depths. As a result, damage to underground pipelines during construction occurs from time to time, posing hidden dangers to urban construction management and old city renovation.
Old city renovation, underground pipelines / October 2024 news
"At present, China's urban development has entered a stage where both incremental construction and stock renewal are equally important. In the future, the task of urban renovation and renewal will become increasingly heavy. Taking the construction and renovation of urban underground pipelines, an important 'hidden project' of the city, as an example, it is estimated that in the next five years, nearly 600,000 kilometers of various types of urban gas, water supply and drainage, and heating pipelines need to be renovated, with a total investment demand of about 4 trillion yuan."
———— Liu Sushe, Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (People's Daily Online)
丨Traditional Underground Data Acquisition Solutions丨
In the past, for scenarios such as underground pipelines and trenches, solutions often involved manual entry using total stations or other station-based scanners to acquire underground data. These methods posed risks to personal safety and were inefficient. Additionally, the characteristics of low lighting and low-feature degraded scenes in underground pipeline environments meant that some assumptions of pure visual or LiDAR mobile mapping solutions no longer held true, presenting a significant challenge to the robustness of perception algorithms.
When facing scenarios with lack of texture, repetitive structures, or insufficient lighting, some SLAM devices on the market encounter degradation challenges, leading to loss of scanning pose, mapping drift, and affecting the integrity and credibility of the data.
Click to switch (traditional manual inspection mode / terrestrial automatic scanner mode)
丨Project equipment and solutions丨
01 / Project Data Acquisition Equipment
Targeting confined spaces such as underground pipelines and trenches, Manifold Tech innovatively launched a full-stack solution with a front-end multi-sensor anti-degradation mode and a back-end global BA loop closure in its algorithm. The hardware utilized Manifold Tech's handheld Manifold Pocket and the accompanying quadruped biomimetic robot dog. Data post-processing was carried out using Manifold Tech's MindCloud to enhance precision, with the final results displayed on the MindCloud Render platform through 3DGS technology.
Manifold Pocket Anti-Degradation Solution
Based on the proprietary MindSLAM™ algorithm, Manifold Pocket is specifically designed to handle complex degraded scenarios. Even in tunnel environments with extremely poor lighting and sparse feature points, it can achieve continuous and stable scanning over a distance of more than a kilometer. The MindSLAM™ algorithm system can monitor the status of key sensors in real-time and flexibly adjust data processing strategies according to the monitoring results, ensuring reliable service in various environments. Moreover, MindSLAM™ has intelligent environmental adaptability, using AI algorithms to automatically adjust computational mechanisms based on different scenarios and lighting conditions, thereby improving precision, robustness, and stability. Additionally, MindSLAM™ features advanced loop detection capabilities, which can identify and optimize paths to further enhance the system's stability and accuracy.
Through precise sensor fusion and intelligent algorithm optimization, MindSLAM™ ensures the high precision and coherence of the data, significantly enhancing the device's adaptability and reliability in harsh environments, thereby ensuring the successful completion of tasks from start to finish. This makes the Manifold Pocket series of products unparalleled in degraded scenarios such as underground pipeline networks and tunnels.
Manifold Pocket with Robot Dog Solution
For confined spaces and hazardous tunnels, Manifold Tech designed a solution where the Manifold Pocket is mounted on a robot dog. The robot dog's compact size and excellent mobility allow it to carry the Manifold Pocket, which can perform real-time high-quality 3D data acquisition and reconstruction tasks, completing efficient data collection in confined spaces.
Especially in hazardous and low-light complex environments, the Manifold Pocket with robot dog solution can effectively replace humans in completing efficient data collection. While ensuring the integrity of data in confined areas, it also protects the personal safety of data collection personnel based on a "people-oriented" technological mindset.
Manifold Pocket with Boat Solution
In complex environments such as river channels and ditches, traditional station-based solutions often fail due to the inability to fix equipment in moving waterways. Mobile collection devices of the same kind are also limited by the scene and cannot complete the task. Manifold Tech's mobile operation solution, however, provides an innovative and efficient answer to this challenge. The solution involves manual handheld devices, with operators simply boarding a boat to conduct mobile collection operations, greatly increasing the flexibility and convenience of the work.
The reason why Manifold Tech's mobile operation solution can achieve efficient operations under such harsh conditions is mainly due to its three core advantages. First, the fast start-up speed. Under single-person handheld conditions, the device can start operations in just 5 seconds, without relying on an initialization environment, significantly reducing preparation time and improving work efficiency. Second, the extremely strong algorithm stability. Combined with the advanced MindSLAM™ algorithm, the solution ensures stability and reliability even in the demanding river channel environment, allowing operators to focus on their work without worrying about equipment performance. Finally, the fast data processing speed. Thanks to efficient post-processing technology, on-site staff can obtain processed results within minutes, allowing them to view the final data on-site and completely avoiding the embarrassment of discovering data issues after returning to the office and needing to rework.
Manifold Tech's mobile operation solution, with its outstanding performance and innovative technology, brings unprecedented convenience and efficiency to surveying and monitoring work in complex environments such as river channels and ditches. Whether dealing with urgent tasks or routine operations, it can handle them with ease, ensuring smooth progress. Obtaining accurate data on-site not only improves work efficiency but also enhances accuracy and reliability, making every operation more manageable.
02 / Project Data Post-Processing
The massive 3D data and image data collected were transmitted to Manifold Tech's MindCloud platform for processing. Post-processing first automatically and seamlessly stitched the data from multiple discontinuous operations into a complete point cloud map with the help of the RTK-GPS extension module. Subsequently, operations such as noise removal, dynamic object removal, and global loop closure were performed on the scanned point cloud data to improve the precision and quality of the original data in large scenes.
High-definition single-lens reflex photos collected synchronously by the device were also collected on a single map. Post-processing, through artificial intelligence visual analysis of the high-definition photos, can automatically determine whether there are cracks in the walls and other risks.
For scenes that require close attention, MindCloud Render can render visually realistic Gaussian splatting models through 3DGS technology.
丨Results Display and Project Highlights丨
01 / Results Display
Manifold Tech's unique MindSLAM™ high-performance algorithm ensures that devices can achieve stable 3D data acquisition and navigation functions even in complex environments with insufficient lighting, unobvious features, and no GPS signals. Through a full-stack solution, the difficulty of obtaining 3D data in complex urban pipeline scenarios is significantly reduced. By analyzing the collected high-definition/multi-spectral photos and 3D data, potential pipeline blockages and safety hazards become clearly visible.
02 / Project Highlights
Remote sensing + autonomous navigation data collection with robot dog
The Manifold Pocket with robot dog solution adopts a remote sensing + autonomous navigation approach. The robot dog's flexible limbs provide excellent mobility, ensuring the integrity of data collection in confined areas.
Moreover, the mounted Manifold Pocket scanner can perform real-time positioning and generate true-color high-precision maps with an accuracy of 6-8 mm, while overcoming degradation issues caused by low lighting and low-feature environments.
Stable and 100 times more efficient
The Manifold Pocket, equipped with the self-developed MindSLAM™ algorithm and highly optimized hardware configuration, achieves an indoor-outdoor processing time ratio of approximately 1:0.2. Compared to the industry-standard processing speed of 1:20, this represents a 100-fold increase in computational efficiency. While delivering high efficiency, it also ensures robustness and precision in large-scale operations.
Cost-effective and user-friendly
As the primary solution designer and hardware supplier for the "Underground Pipeline and Urban Data Acquisition and 3D Reconstruction Project," Manifold Tech not only completed the scanning and delivered high-precision 3D data models in a short period but also provided a one-stop solution. This includes the ground data acquisition device Manifold Pocket, the robot dog solution, the efficient post-processing platform MindCloud, and MindCloud Render.
The one-stop solution effectively helps customers reduce costs and increase the return on investment. It ensures the rapid delivery of high-quality results while saving customers the trouble and giving them peace of mind.
Stable data collection in complex scenarios with low lighting and no GPS signals;
Professionals ensure high-quality data details and precision;
Completion of real-time modeling and efficient post-processing in a short time;
A one-stop solution that saves customers the trouble and gives them peace of mind.
Empower urban transformation and renewal with technology.
Promote the positive application of technology.
Build a safe and intelligent society together.
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