News and projects from the Autonomous Robotics unit
Human-Sized Turntable for 3D Scanning The VAR Lab has also been developing a separate human-sized turntable for 3D scanning. Commercial scanning turntables can cost anywhere from around $1,000 to $5,000, so the lab built a custom low-cost version for approximately $200. The turntable was created by repurposing a pig roaster, flipping it 90 degrees, and
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
Have you seen a new robot dog roaming around campus and wondered who he is? That’s BenBen! He’s the VAR Lab’s Unitree Go2 Pro. Our Director Chris Shelton took him out for a walk around campus to meet his new friend Millie! To our students, BenBen is more than a piece of technology—he’s a
The Aerial Operations Studio at VAR Studios is thrilled to unveil the latest addition to our suite of cutting-edge tools: the Skydio X2E, a remarkable blend of sophisticated design and advanced technology. Acquired in July 2023, this intelligent aerial tool is set to significantly expand our research and innovation potential. The Skydio X2E is purposefully
