If you have seen an episode of the CSI TV series until now and you are a gadget passionate at the same time, you have probably noticed some of the bogus “futuristic” technology that these special departments use in the show. Honestly, I don't like the idea of making up a gadget just because the screenplay is so badly written that the “agents” could not have solved a case without it. However, some tech seen in the movies is alright and very useful and it appears that it is present in the real world, not only in the movies.

Such is the example of the Virtobot, a robot designed especially for virtopsies. Meaning virtual autopsies, just like in the famous TV show. This robot is being used at the University of Bern's Institute of Forensic Medicine in present time and it was developed as part of the National Center of Competence in Research, Co-Me.

This Virtobot practically creates databases of 3D virtual images that contain important data regarding a corpse. Because this industrial robot uses computed tomography, besides the 3D imaging technologies, the information it gathers will be useful to forensic specialists even years after the image was created.

The Virtobot can take images of a body's contour with help from a light bar that it projects onto a cadaver. The high definition digital stereo camera takes pictures, and through CT (computer tomography), the Virtobot further analyzes the texture of the skin, while also storing this data. After this, the humans take control and “Then we harmonise these surface images with the three-dimensional CR data of the entire body,” explains Lars Ebert, who programmed Virtobot as part of the National Centres of Competence in Research, Co-Me.

Though some of you might find it a little too morbid, I recommend you get over this aspect for the sake of technology and see the clip below. Next time you'll be watching an episode of CSI, you will see that it is not that far fetched as one would think.




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