Robotic parking entrapment: 3D forensic analysis with FARO, Navisworks, and Revit

A vehicle was trapped and crushed by the lifting platform of a robotic vertical parking system. The 3D forensic investigation must determine whether the accident was caused by an optical illusion in the infrared presence sensors, due to the reflection of the bodywork, or by a mechanical failure in the elevator safety brakes. This analysis is crucial for establishing liability and improving safety.

Kinematic reconstruction of the crushing using FARO Scene and Navisworks 🚗

The expert begins the process with FARO Scene to perform a high-precision laser scan of the lifting platform and the damaged vehicle. The resulting point cloud captures the final position of both elements, including deformations in the sheet metal and the exact location of the infrared sensors. This cloud is imported into Navisworks, where the inverse kinematics of the crushing is simulated. The descent trajectory of the platform is recreated and cross-referenced with sensor data to verify whether the system detected the vehicle's presence at the critical moment. Comparing the point cloud with the original design allows measuring the actual braking distance and contrasting it with the technical specifications of the safety brakes.

Structural modeling and validation of the mechanical failure hypothesis 🔧

To analyze the possible mechanical failure, Revit is used to model the complete structure of the robotic parking system, including the guide rails, the pulley system, and the braking mechanism. The parametric model allows simulating loads and wear on the components. By integrating the point cloud from FARO Scene, it is identified whether there was a pre-existing misalignment in the rails or abnormal wear on the brake pads. This multidisciplinary workflow demonstrates how the combination of 3D scanning, kinematic simulation, and BIM modeling is essential for determining whether the accident was a software error or a preventable mechanical failure.

What limitations do BIM models generated from FARO data present when reconstructing collision trajectories in a robotic platform entrapment, and how are they complemented with Navisworks to validate the mechanical failure sequence?

(PS: In scene analysis, every scale witness is a small anonymous hero.)