Virtobot - A Robot System for Optical 3D Scanning in Forensic Medicine

Abstract

In this article, we present the second prototype of a robotic system, for use in forensic medicine. Among others, the system is able to perform automated whole body surface and wound documentations by using digital close-range photogrammetry and optical 3D surface scanning. Based on the 3D data collected, analysis and reconstruction of forensically relevant events, such as traffic accidents, criminal assaults or homicides can be performed. The newly applied high-tech methods can provide new knowledge about a case, compared to traditional methods. The purpose of the Virtobot project is to develop a robot prototype that provides fast and accurate, 3D measurement capabilities for documenting external injuries of corpses in three-dimensions and color, supporting forensic investigations. The system is routinely used at our institute for surface documentation, resulting in 24 surface documentations over the course of 11 months. The main focus was on streamlining the workflow and increasing the level of automation, reducing the scanning times from approximately 40 to 11 minutes. This makes the Virtobot a potentially valuable tool for case documentation in the field of virtual autopsy.