Surveying system and method with a surveying device and a moveable target

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025207915-A1
Application number	US-202418974057-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 9, 2024
Priority date	Dec 21, 2023
Publication date	Jun 26, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A surveying system and methods with a surveying device, e.g., a total station, and a target, whereby the target can be tracked and surveyed by the surveying device. The target comprises at least one sensor for sensing a target motion and/or position. An uncertainty of a target position derived from the sensor data is determined and used for adaption of a target surveying and/or searching.

First claim

1 . A method for automatically tracking a movable surveying target with a surveying device, the surveying device having target axis alignment angle and target distance measuring functionality, the method comprising:
a first tracking of the target based on light detected by the surveying device, the light originating, in particular back-reflected, from the target, in case there is a failure of first tracking, in particular failure of light detection, a second tracking of the target based on a movement and/or position of the target sensed on the target side, searching for the target based on the second tracking for re-establishing of the first tracking,
wherein a target position uncertainty of the second tracking is determined and the searching for the target is dependent on the target position uncertainty.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the searching for the target is based on detecting light originating from the target with the surveying device and a static and/or dynamic field of view for receiving the light is selected in dependence on the amount of target position uncertainty, by selecting one of at least two different optical units of the surveying device providing different fields of view.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the searching for the target is based on detecting received light originating from the target and an angle of static and/or dynamic light emittance is selected in dependence on the amount of target position uncertainty, in particular by selecting:
an angle of swiveling and/or light divergence angle of a light source and/or one of at least two different optical units providing different angles of light emittance.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the searching for the target is also dependent on an estimated distance between target and surveying device.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein based on an amount of target position uncertainty, a notice is output to user, by a human-machine-interface of the target, the notice comprising at least one of:
a level of target position accuracy, an indication of an area in which the target is searched, in particular as a map overlay, an indication that first tracking is established, an instruction that a movement of the target has to be stopped, an indication that the first tracking could not be established, after a timeout period.

6 . A method for surveying with a movable surveying target and a surveying device, the surveying device having target axis alignment angle and target distance measuring functionality, the method comprising:
a first surveying of the target based on light detected by the surveying device, the light being emitted from the surveying device and back-reflected from the target, in case there is a failure of first surveying, in particular failure of detection of light, a second surveying of the target based on a pose of the target sensed on the target side upon automatic decision if an amount of target pose uncertainty of the sensed target pose is below a defined upper uncertainty threshold as criterion for feasibility of second surveying.

7 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein improving accuracy of a position determined by the second surveying based on a respective amount of target pose uncertainty, which amount is referenced to a positional reference provided by the surveying device, in particular a point measurement when re-establishing first surveying after a period of second surveying.

8 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein based on an amount of target pose uncertainty, a notice is output to user, by a human-machine-interface of the target, the notice comprising at least one of:
a level of target position and/or attitude accuracy, an indication that second surveying is possible or impossible, an instruction about an action to be initiated for re-establishing the first surveying.

9 . A surveying system for surveying and tracking a movable target, comprising:
a surveying device, in particular designed as a theodolite, total station or laser tracker, with position determining functionality for determining the position of the target, wherein the surveying device comprises:
a base,
a targeting device defining a target axis, wherein the alignment of the target axis is variable relative to the base in a motorized manner for sighting and tracking of the target when moved,
angle measuring functionality for detecting an alignment of the target axis, and distance measuring functionality for determining a distance to the target, photosensitive means for detecting light originating, in particular back-reflected, from the target and generating a detection signal thereof, a target sensor, provided on the target side, for sensing a movement and/or position of the target and generating a target sensor signal thereof,
and
a control and evaluation unit configured to provide:
a first target tracking based on the detection signal,
a second target tracking based on the sensor signal, and,
based on the second tracking, a target search for re-establishing of the detection signal based first tracking in case of failure of the first tracking,

wherein a target position uncertainty of the second target tracking is determined and the target search is dependent on the target position uncertainty.

10 . The system according to claim 9 , wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to select in dependence on the amount of target position uncertainty:
an operation parameter of a light emitting and/or light receiving unit, and/or from different light emitting and/or light receiving units of the system used for the target search.

11 . The system according to claim 10 , wherein in case of different light emitting and/or light receiving units, the control and evaluation unit is configured to select a first unit for search in azimuth direction and a second unit for search in elevation direction.

12 . The system according to claim 9 , wherein the target sensor is embodied as at least one of:
an inertial measurement unit, a GNSS module, a camera, a time-of-flight camera, a LIDAR, a wheel encoder.

13 . The system according to claim 9 , wherein the system comprises an auto-motive platform, in particular a printing robot and/or a drone, the target being attached to the platform, whereby:
the platform comprises a platform sensor as target sensor or as additional sensor for sensing a movement and/or position of the platform and generating a platform sensor signal thereof in time synchronized manner with the target sensor signal and the second target tracking is based on the platform sensor signal.

14 . The system according to claim 9 , wherein the first target tracking is also based on the movement and/or position of the target sensed on the target side.

15 . A computer program product having computer-executable instructions stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium for executing the method according to claim 1 , when run on a control and evaluation unit of a system.

16 . A computer program product having computer-executable instructions stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium for executing the method according to claim 6 , when run on a control and evaluation unit of a system.

Assignees

• Leica Geosystems Ag

Inventors

• Kotzur Norbert
• Maar Hannes
• Rüst Philipp Lukas
• Schöll Benjamin
• Van Bavel Henri
• Mayer Martin

Classifications

• G01S17/86

  Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders · CPC title

• G01S17/42

  Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates (indirect measurement G01S17/46) · CPC title

• G01S17/66

  Tracking systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves · CPC title

• G01C15/002

  Active optical surveying means (optical plumbing G01C15/105) · CPC title

• G01C15/00 Primary

  Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00 · CPC title