LabVIS: Assisted Development LabVIS: Immersive VR for Therapeutic Research The VAR Lab is developing LabVIS in collaboration with Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA) under the management of Fulbright Scholar Bibiana Mayer Steckel. LabVIS is an immersive virtual reality experience being designed with future therapeutic applications for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The
Landing Place: AI-Driven Wellness App The VAR Lab is developing Landing Place, an AI-driven wellness app designed to support mental health and connect users with helpful resources. This project brings together technology, psychology, and student collaboration to create a real-world therapeutic support tool. VAR Lab members are working on the app’s frontend design, backend
Autonomous Campus Guide The VAR Lab is developing a custom AI system for the Unitree Go2 robot dog to support interactive education and campus storytelling. This project involves installing a local large language model directly onto the robot, allowing it to answer student questions about Penn State Behrend history, campus life, and general topics. The
Turning the Unitree Go2 into a Traveling Technology Showcase The VAR Lab created a custom display mount for the Unitree Go2 robot dog that transforms it into a mobile showcase system. This setup uses two portable monitors mounted to the robot’s back and powered through a Raspberry Pi 4. The system pulls battery power directly
Custom Fabricated Mounts for the Unitree Go2 The VAR Lab designed and fabricated custom back mounts for our Unitree Go2 robot dog to expand how it can be used for demonstrations, research, and mobile technology showcases. To create the mounts, we first 3D scanned the back of the robot to capture its exact shape. The
Autonomous Camera Leveling for Robotic Capture The VAR Lab custom fabricated a camera stabilizer system designed to mount on top of multiple robotic platforms and support advanced 3D capture equipment, including the Insta360 Pro 2 and FARO Focus S. Both systems require careful leveling before capture. To speed up that process, our team developed an
Drone Imaging for Invasive Species This multi-year project used drones and machine learning to help detect and manage aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes region. It was funded through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (GLRI AISMP FY22; $799,794 total; PI: Sarah Whitney). VAR Lab received a
Lake Erie Lighthouse by VAR Lab on Sketchfab Lake Erie Lighthouse Scan The VAR Lab digitally captured the Lake Erie Land Lighthouse using a mixed-method 3D scanning workflow that combined drone-based imaging with FARO Focus S terrestrial laser scanning. Drone imaging helped document the lighthouse from elevated angles and capture the structure within its surrounding
Grape Vineyard Scan This project involved the large-scale 3D scanning of approximately 40 acres of grape vineyards (not shown) in association with the Penn State Grapevine Extension. The goal of the work was to create accurate terrain and surface data to help identify low-lying areas prone to water pooling and flooding. The survey combined drone-based photogrammetry for
Through a connection with Innovation Commons at Penn State Behrend, we had the opportunity to support Emily and her dad, Thad, in creating a more accessible solution for her custom footwear needs. Because Emily has a leg length difference, she requires custom shoes, which can be incredibly expensive to produce. Using the Space Spider structured
