Abstract: A flying sensor comprising an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and at least one profiler mounted on the UAV, the profiler comprising a base, a scanning unit for providing (LiDAR) data, the scanning unit mounted on the base and comprising a shaft carrying a deflector and being mounted in the scanning unit and rotatable, a transmitter transmitting a transmission beam, a first receiver configured for receiving a first reception beam reflected from the setting via the deflector, and an electric port configured for connecting the profiler to the UAV, and comprising a data interface and a power interface, and wherein the UAV comprises a visual sensor providing visual data, and comprising one or more cameras, a pose sensor for providing pose data, and a computer to compute a 3D point cloud based on the LiDar data and a Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (SLAM) algorithm using the visual and pose data.

Abstract: A laser scanner device adapted to be mounted to a vehicle, the device comprising a LIDAR module, the LIDAR module comprising at least one laser source, characterized by a horizontal field of view of at least 60°, an instantaneous vertical field of view of at least ±2°, a scan resolution of at least one point per 0.8° in horizontal and vertical direction, and a frame rate of at least 10 Hz for scanning at least the entire horizontal and instantaneous vertical field of view with said scan resolution.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to a laser tracker for progressive tracking of a reflective target and for determining the distance to the target having a distance measuring unit, which is designed as an interferometer, for determining a distance change to the target by means of interferometry, a laser beam source for generating measuring radiation for the interferometer, a base, which defines a standing axis, a beam guiding unit for emitting the measuring radiation and for receiving at least a part of the measuring radiation reflected on the target, wherein the beam guiding unit is pivotable by a motor about the standing axis and an inclination axis, which is essentially orthogonal in relation to the standing axis, in relation to the base, and an angle measuring functionality for determining an alignment of the beam guiding unit in relation to the base.

Abstract: A multiple-pulses-in-air (MPiA) laser scanning system, wherein the MPiA problem is addressed in that an MPiA assignment of return pulses to send pulses of a laser scanner is based on range tracking and range probing at intermittent points in time. Each range probing comprises a time-of-flight arrangement which is constructed to be free of the MPiA problem. The invention further relates to an MPiA laser scanning system, wherein an MPiA ambiguity within a time series of return pulses, is converted into 3D point cloud space, which provides additional information from the spatial neighborhood of the points in question to enable MPiA disambiguation.

Abstract: A portable protective case for the safe transport and storage of measuring devices and other electrical equipment. The protective case is designed to protect a valuable and sensitive measuring device located inside it against theft, unauthorized use and/or potentially harmful environmental influences. The case comprises communication means for sending and receiving data via a wireless network, as well as for receiving localization data, which enable the communication unit to provide at least a rough location of the case.

Abstract: A laser distance meter forming a handheld device comprising a housing, an electro-optical distance measurement unit arranged in the housing for ascertaining at least one measured distance between the laser distance meter and a target object in a measurement direction, and a camera having a field of view in the measurement direction. A deflection unit is disposed in the housing for the angular deflection of the measurement direction and an operating and input arrangement for operating at least the distance measurement unit and the camera. A control unit at the housing is configured to activate the distance measurement unit and the deflection unit such that a series of measured values of the measured distance are recorded in different deflections along a path of the deflection, and a subsequent selection of the measured distances from the series of measured values is carried out using the operating and input arrangement.

Abstract: A method, device and system for automatically deriving stationing zones for an electronic measuring or marking device in a worksite environment. The method includes querying a database (DB) for a construction plan information for the worksite environment and acquiring a worksite-task-information of a worksite-task to be executed. The worksite-task-information includes spatial points in the construction plan which have to be measured and/or marked to accomplish the worksite-task. It also comprises an acquiring of at least coarse 3D-data of the actual real world worksite environment, and a merging of the at least coarse 3D-data and the construction plan information to form an actual state model of the worksite environment. An automatic calculating of at least one stationing zone within the actual state model is established, the stationing zone including at least one stationing location from which the measuring or marking of the spatial points are accessible by the device without obstructions.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to an industrial or geodetic surveying device having a tracking unit configured to receive over a tracking channel a tracking signal which is used to track a cooperative target. According to the invention, the surveying device comprises a camera to generate image data, wherein based on the additional knowledge about the position of the cooperative target in an image generated in the locked state, the visual appearance of the target carrier is learned and the result is stored in the form of a detector for use in a backup tracking mode.

Abstract: A Distance Measuring (DM)-system comprising a DM-device comprising a measuring beam unit configured for determining a distance between an object and the DM-device by transmitting a measuring beam, and an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) configured for determining an absolute first rotational position of the DM-device with respect to a first axis being parallel to the measuring beam, and an absolute second rotational position of the DM-device with respect to a second axis parallel to the gravity field. The DM-system also includes a computer unit configured for receiving from the DM-device a plurality of measured distance values, an absolute first rotational position of the DM-device at the time of a respective distance measurement, and an absolute second rotational position of the DM-device at the time of a respective distance measurement, and generating a layout by consecutively linking the measured distances based on the plurality of measured distance values.

Abstract: A surveying pole system comprising a surveying pole including two telescopic sections for providing length adjustability. At a first end of the surveying pole, a pointing tip is disposed for positioning on a target point of the environment. At a second end, a length reference point is disposed. The surveying pole also includes a locking mechanism for locking the length adjustability in respective lock-in positions. Each of the lock-in positions provides a corresponding distance between the pointing tip and the length reference point. A plurality of coded identifiers have a predetermined code associated with one of the lock-in positions. The surveying pole also includes a coded-identifier reader for reading the code of a respective coded identifier associated with the respective lock-in position, a communication device configured for transmitting a signal to a surveying instrument, wherein the signal is based at least on the read code.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a surface surveying device, in particular profiler or 3D scanner, for determining a multiplicity of 3D coordinates of measurement points on a surface, comprising a scanning unit and means for determining a position and orientation of the scanning unit, a carrier for carrying the scanning unit and at least part of the means for determining a position and orientation, and a control and evaluation unit with a surface surveying functionality. The carrier is embodied as an unmanned aerial vehicle which is capable of hovering and comprises a lead, the latter being connected at one end thereof to the aerial vehicle and able to be held at the other end by a user, wherein the lead is provided for guiding the aerial vehicle in the air by the user and the position of the aerial vehicle in the air is predetermined by the effective length of the lead.

Abstract: A portable protective case for the safe transport and storage of measuring devices and other electrical equipment. The protective case is designed to protect a valuable and sensitive measuring device located inside it against theft, unauthorized use and/or potentially harmful environmental influences. The case comprises communication means for sending and receiving data via a wireless network, as well as for receiving localization data, which enable the communication unit to provide at least a rough location of the case.

Abstract: The invention relates to a surveying system for surveying and tracking a mobile target object which defines a target point, wherein the surveying system has a control and evaluation unit, a surveying device with a sighting device which defines a target axis, and a target object. The control and evaluation unit is designed to track the moving target object within the scope of a target-finding functionality, wherein a first change in alignment of the target axis about a first axis occurs as a function of detected target-finding radiation in such a way that the target axis tracks the movement tendency of the target object.

Abstract: A camera system comprising a zoom lens is disclosed. The camera system may be used in a measuring apparatus, having a tube-like guide system having a tube body, which defines a tube interior and an optical axis, a sensor module disposed downstream of the guide system and an optical sensor for detecting optical radiation, at least one first carriage which has an optical assembly having at least one optical element and an optical system carrier, is arranged in a manner linearly moveable along the optical axis in the tube interior and is mounted in a manner guided substantially without play through the tube body in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, and a first drive system for moving the first carriage along the optical axis, said first drive system being decoupled from the guide system.

Abstract: A method may include identifying features in images of a setting captured by cameras associated with a laser scanner at a first location. The features may correspond to elements in the setting. The method may include correlating the features with scan point data associated with the elements. The scan point data may be derived from a scan of the setting by a laser of the laser scanner at the first location. The method may include tracking the features within images captured by the cameras. The images may be captured during movement of the laser scanner away from the first location. The method may include estimating a position and/or an orientation of the laser scanner at a second location based on the tracking of the features and based on the correlating of the features with the scan point data.

Abstract: A device designed for the three-dimensional geometrical detection of an environment includes at least one inertial measurement system for provisionally calculating a trajectory of the detection device. The device is calibrated by steps of: (a) positioning and/or orienting the detection device in a position and/or orientation with respect to at least one reference point characterized by at least one predefined relative coordinate, or determining at least one relative coordinate which characterizes the position and/or the orientation of the detection device relative to at least one reference point; (b) determining at least one error variable which characterizes the deviation of the relative coordinate in accordance with step (a) from the relative coordinate(s) provisionally calculated by the inertial measurement system; and (c) if the error variable fulfills a predefined correction criterion, correcting the provisional trajectory.

Abstract: An Augmented Reality (AR)-based system comprising a mobile sensor for measuring an object and for being manoeuvrable, an AR-device comprising a camera for capturing an environment of the AR-device, and a display providing a real view of the environment, and overlays according to AR-data, and a coordinate measuring instrument for determining a position of the mobile sensor and the AR-device, a computer configured for controlling the camera, providing a reciprocal data connection among the AR-device and the coordinate measuring instrument, providing the AR-data and, for each of the mobile sensor, the coordinate measuring instrument, and the object, at least one corresponding identification feature, establishing a referenced status of the AR-device by, in each case, identifying a respective identification feature captured by the camera, determining a pose of the AR-device relative to the respective identification feature, and generating the overlays in the referenced status based on the pose of the AR-device.

Abstract: Embodiments may include methods and systems for obtaining location information regarding an object. In one example, a laser pulse may be generated. The laser pulse may be divided into a plurality of laser pulse signals. Each of the laser pulse signals may be provided to a corresponding delay path, each delay path having a different length. An output of each delay path may be directed to the object. A plurality of reflected time-separated laser pulse signals from the object may be detected. The plurality of time-separated laser pulse signals may be combined to provide a recombined laser pulse signal. The recombined laser pulse signal may be resolved to generate object location information regarding the object.

Abstract: A laser distance meter consisting of an optical emitting path having an optical emitter and emitting optics and a receiving path having receiving optics and an optical detector. In this case, an optics mount completely optically isolates the emitting path and receiving path from one another and fixes the components thereof. The emitting optics and receiving optics are designed as plastic components transmissive to the measuring beams, and the optics mount is designed as a plastic component opaque to the measuring beams. The material composite of the emitting optics, the receiving optics, and the optics mount are designed as a 2-component injection molded part.