A non-profit organisation called ReAllocate is developing an art project — called Blue Sky — for Burning Man that will scan people and 3-D-print a model of them before delivering it by UAS using GPS tracking.Visitors to ReAllocate‘s dome — made out of shipping containers — at the notoriously creative festival will be invited to strike a pose in a photo booth featuring a Kinect camera. This will capture the person’s 3-D image, which will then be converted into a 3-D file that can be printed by a Cubify 3-D printer.
The person can then leave the dome, taking with them a GPS transponder. Once their miniature figurine is finished, it will be placed in a container hanging from a multi-copter unmanned aircraft.
The UAS will then track the GPS signal from that person’s transponder down. When it is close by, it will trigger an alarm on the transponder. When the person looks up, they will see the quadrocopter descending and will be able to take their sculpture.
All ReAllocate asks for in return is that the people contribute to a documentary about the project and that they return the GPS device.
ReAllocate is a nonprofit organization that brings together talented teams of designers, engineers, business professionals and community organizers to enable humanitarian efforts.
Project Blue Sky is a pilot for an entrepreneurship center in a shipping container that could be deployed in deprived communities to provide resources and mentorship for local entrepreneurs to build businesses.
The team is currently seeking funding to make the artwork possible using IndieGogo. There are four days left to donate to help them hit their $15,000 target. Check out the project page here. Burning Man starts Aug. 27 in the Nevada desert.
Source: Wired UK