Interview with Brooks Myers, CEO of Knockout Concepts & Mobile 3D Scanning
5In this interview we talk with the CEO Brooks Myers on this intriguing mobile 3D scanner powered by an ARM chip.
Knockout Concepts will be on the floor of ICES and you can email them at info@knockoutconcepts.com or their twitter account @3Dconcepts while the are there to set up a private showing of their prototypes.
Questions:
Please tell us your name, where do you reside and what do you do for a living?
In my constant search to find out what is new in 3D scanning for the show and my personal & professional life, I came upon an obscure article that talked about a 3D scanner using the PrimeSense scanner on an ARM platform. How long has this been in the works?
If this is correct that this is an ARM based platform, is the based on Android or a Linux kernel?
If it is also true that you are using a PrimeSense sensor, how is this possible since PrimeSense is owned by Apple and they closed down their hardware & SDK OpenNI?
With the Occipital Structure Sensor that connects to an iOS device and available with hacking cable kit and the OpenNI v.2 to extend its use to Windows, Macintosh, Linux and some experimental Android work from the developer community, how would you compare your product to it?
In looking at your website http://www.knockoutconcepts.com/ , the blog had some images of a very nice looking handheld device. Is this the finished product?
If this is Android based, have you thought about using the Nvidia K1? With its built in Cuda cores, it is (IMO) the most powerful tablet GPU out there. I have thought seriously of hooking my Structure Sensor up to it, but as mentioned there is very little Android work going on.
Will there be an SDK or a forked version of OpenNI (or similar) to build my own app?
If this is based on Android, what is the possibility of creating a version for those who are using a Structure Sensor? I would love to make a case with Note 4 and Structure Sensor.
When will this be available and what will it cost? Will you be using Kickstarter to help fund its further development?
What is in the works for the future? You mention on your blog that you are very active in the Maker movement and involved with NAMII. I have found that Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin have quite a few start-ups and 3D product developers. We have talked to several, but one notable is MakerGear. Have you heard of them?