The "Making Of" the virtual
Blériot XI 3D Model
Being a partner of Steinbichler Optotechnik GmbH, the French service company Metra, part of the Genaris group, was contracted by the „Musée des Arts et Métiers“ in Paris to produce a photorealistic virtual 3D model of the Blériot XI, the first airplane ever to cross the channel between Calais and Dover in 1909.
There were two main goals for this sophisticated 3D scanning project: The acquired data resulted in a virtual 3D model which was used for detailed technical analysis of the airplane design, e.g., to understand the interaction of the steering mechanisms with the aerodynamical components by simulating and animating the 3D model. This added profound knowledge about the construction and functioning. The virtual model was also used for the production of advertisement material for the opening of the special exhibition „L´avion de l´exploit - 1909, Louis Blériot traverse la manche“ at the „Musée des Arts et Métiers“. From the scanning data, photorealistic images and animations were created for the accompanying website as well as educational videos showing the technical features of this 100-year-old airplane.
The original Blériot XI is displayed at the „Musée des Arts et Métiers“ in Paris, and all digitizing procedures had to take place on site. As the fragile object did not allow any contacting measurement techniques, only optical methods could be considered for this task. With the COMET IV and COMET 5 whitelight projection sensors, even the wooden construction frame and the wings, the fuselage panels, the steering mechanism including control stick and hinges as well as the motor block with propeller could be scanned in high resolution.
Besides the scanning of the especially complex object structures, a further challenge had been mastered successfully by the Metra team - the complete data acquisition could be carried out in only three days. After digitizing, the scanning data were post-processed into triangle mesh format (stl) using the Steinbichler COMETplus software. Based on the stl data, the 3D CAD model was created utilizing different software tools. By reverse engineering techniques, the freeform surfaces were then transformed into mathematical nurbs surfaces.
In combination with 3D construction software which was used to integrate constructional and functional parts etc., a fully functional model was created which can be interactively moved and used for simulations and animations. Furthermore, extensive technical analysis can be carried out. including wind tunnel simulations and investigations of the impact of the steering mechanism on the deformation of the wings and the resulting change of the aerodynamical flight behavior.
In a next step, high-resolution renderings, animations and educational videos were generated to support the marketing activities in advance to the opening of the exhibition.
For further information on the Blériot XI, please visit the official website: www.bleriot.arts-et-metiers.net
