Abstract: The present inventive concept relates to a method for operating a geodetic instrument comprising an optical source for assisting a user in aiming at a target in a scene and an imaging device, wherein the imaging device and the optical source share a common optical channel within the geodetic instrument, said method comprising: causing emission, by the optical source, of optical pulses towards the target; causing capture, by the imaging device, of images of the scene using a frame sequence, wherein a frame of said frame sequence includes an exposure time during which the imaging device is exposed to light from the scene; synchronizing emission of the optical pulses to the frame sequence for obtaining data from images in which the optical pulses are absent; and processing the obtained data for surveying said scene.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for providing information for use by a navigation satellite system (NSS) receiver and/or processing entity receiving data therefrom, for positioning purposes. In one embodiment, satellite orbit information and satellite clock error information applicable over a wide area and to epoch t1 is obtained (s10) for each of a plurality of NSS satellites. Ambiguities in the carrier phase of NSS signals received at epoch t1 at narrow area reference stations are estimated (s20). For each satellite, the satellite orbit and satellite clock error at epoch t2 are predicted (s30). A residual error for modelling errors having a common or substantially common line-of-sight dependency is estimated (s40a). The residual error is added (s50a) to the predicted satellite clock error to form a redefined satellite clock error. The invention also relates to variants of the above-mentioned method, and to systems, computer programs, and computer program products.

Abstract: A total station includes a telescope and a tracking system for aligning an axis of the total station with a target. The tracking system includes a first emitter that emits first light toward the target and a first sensor that receives the first light reflected off the target. The first emitter and first sensor are horizontally offset from a lens center of the telescope. The tracking system also includes a second emitter that emits second light toward the target and a second sensor that receives the second light reflected off the target. The second emitter and second sensor are vertically offset from a lens center of the telescope. Corrective rotations are computed based on the received first light and the received second light.

Abstract: Provided is a computer implemented method for representing at least part of a real-world environment based on measurements performed by a measurement device. The method comprises transforming a ray from the first coordinate system to a second coordinate system used for representation of said measurements, sampling the transformed ray to be represented by a plurality of synthetic points, determining a discrepancy between the transformed ray and a straight line connecting the synthetic points, if the discrepancy is larger than a specific threshold value, reducing the specific distance between the synthetic points, and/or adding a new synthetic point between the synthetic points, performing a polynomial regression based on at least a subset of the synthetic points to determine a polynomial function representing the synthetic points, and thereby providing a correlation between the first coordinate system and the second coordinate system. An apparatus on which the method is implemented is also provided.

Abstract: A receiver assembly or top unit for use in a survey system. A quick release assembly or interface, which is designed for simple construction and no moving parts, is provided in the receiver housing and battery pack that includes a pair of magnets such that the receiver housing is attached to the battery pack via magnetic attraction or forces rather than with threaded connections or a more complex disconnect with multiple moving parts. Each magnet is a permanent magnet that is programmed or encoded with multi-poles or patterns. The magnets are affixed to or within the receiver housing and battery pack such that an attractive magnetic force is generated between the two magnets only when the two housings are properly aligned. A small amount of rotation from this aligned configuration causes the two magnets to generate repelling or repulsion forces that facilitate ready disassembly or removal of the battery pack.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, and other techniques for determining vehicle turn difficulty using overhead satellite imagery. In some implementations, an overhead image of a road intersection is obtained. A footprint of the road intersection is predicted using the overhead image. The footprint of the road intersection is analyzed to calculate one or more distances associated with a turn at the road intersection. A turn difficulty value associated with the turn is calculated based on the one or more distances for the turn.

Abstract: A Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) patch antenna can include a set of layers, a set of channels, and a set of conduction pins. The set of layers can include at least one layer with an electrically conductive antenna element configured to receive GNSS signals and another layer including a ground well. The set of channels can be aligned between the set of layers and can extend through the set of layers. The set of conduction pins can be located in the set of channels. Each conduction pin of the set of conduction pins can include a set of vias coupled by one or more donut-shaped connection pads at each interface between the set of layers.

Abstract: A system for surveying includes, a base station, for being positioned with respect to an environment, and an augmented-reality device. The augmented-reality device, such as a head-mounted display, has one or more cameras. An image of the base station is acquired by at least of the one or more cameras. An offset from the augmented-reality device to the base station is calculated based on the image. A position of the augmented-reality device with respect to the environment is calculated based on the offset and the base station positioned with respect to the environment. A virtual object in relation to the environment can then be presented to a user, using the augmented-reality device.

Abstract: Sets of digital samples associated with received wireless signals are received, each of the sets of digital samples corresponding to a particular RF path. The sets of digital samples are provided to a plurality of pipelines, each of the plurality of pipelines including a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages including one or more digital logic circuits. Sets of interconnect data are generated by the plurality of pipelines based on the sets of digital samples, the sets of interconnect data including at least one accumulating value. The sets of interconnect data are passed between adjacent pipelines of the plurality of pipelines along a direction. A result is generated by a last pipeline of the plurality of pipelines based on the at least one accumulating value.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a portable casing for transporting a surveying instrument and a method for controlling charging of a plurality of batteries arranged in such a portable casing. The portable casing comprises a primary compartment for lodging the surveying instrument within the portable casing. The portable casing includes a plurality of secondary compartments for housing a plurality of rechargeable batteries. The portable casing also includes a charging unit arranged in the casing and electrically connected to the plurality of primary compartments for transferring electrical energy to and/or from the plurality of rechargeable batteries.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to methods carried out by an NSS receiver and/or a processing entity capable of receiving data therefrom, for estimating parameters derived from NSS signals. An estimator is operated, which uses state variables and computes the values thereof based on delta observables computed for a previous epoch. Previous residuals are obtained from the estimator, each previous residual being associated with a delta observable computed for the previous epoch. The previous residuals are then adjusted using a back-residual coefficient. Delta observables for a current epoch are computed. For each of at least some of the delta observables, the delta observable computed for the current epoch is corrected using the adjusted previous residual associated with the delta observable. The estimator is then operated for the current epoch at least based on the corrected delta observables.

Abstract: A navigation system includes an IMU, a navigation estimator configured to estimate a current navigation solution based on (i) a previous navigation solution, and (ii) a specific force vector and an angular rate vector measured by the IMU, an RI sensor, an RI data preprocessor configured to perform an a priori transformation of RI data acquired by the RI sensor using the current navigation solution to obtain transformed RI data, an RI map database configured to retrieve a valid keyframe map based on the transformed RI data, and an RI filter manager (RFM) configured to construct a map registration cost gradient (MRCG) measurement based on (i) the transformed RI data, and (ii) the known position and the known orientation of the valid keyframe map. The navigation estimator is further configured to determine an absolute navigation solution based on at least (i) the current navigation solution, and (ii) the MRCG measurement.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for avoiding collisions with obstacles by a vehicle, in particular an off-road vehicle. Objects are detected with sensors in a calculated projected path zone of the vehicle footprint based on a vehicle trajectory. Possible path zones on either side of the projected path zone where the vehicle could potentially go with a change in trajectory are determined. The vehicle is slowed down or stopped for objects in the projected path and is slowed less for objects within the possible path zones.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for navigating a mobile machine, such as an autonomous robot, in an environment that includes objects that may block, reflect, or distort satellite signals to be used for positioning. Satellite data may be captured from one or more satellites. An image may be captured using an imaging device that is at least partially oriented toward the one or more satellites. A set of sky scores may be calculated for a set of ground positions surrounding the mobile machine based on the satellite data and the image. Each of the set of sky scores may be indicative of an accuracy of a satellite-based position at one of the set of ground positions. The mobile machine's navigation may be modified using the set of sky scores.

Abstract: Measurement devices such as total stations or laser scanners equipped with camera sensors can capture an image of an environment. An image segmentation model can identify and segment environmental features in the image. The measurement device can display an overlay of the segmented features on top of the image. When a user selects a particular feature, the measurement device can perform point measurements such as scanning to measure a portion of the environment associated with the selected feature. Features in the environment not selected by the user may not be included in the point measurements.

Abstract: A method for reducing the risk of jamming during determination of the polarity of navigation bits in a GNSS signal. More than a threshold number of 1s or 0s are considered to be jamming data, and are ignored in two areas. First, they are ignored in generating a lookup table when determining which bits are historically risky bits in navigation acquisition. Second, they are ignored during a current navigation acquisition, since such bits may be due to current jamming efforts.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to methods carried out by an NSS receiver and/or a processing entity capable of receiving data therefrom, for estimating parameters derived from NSS signals. An estimator is operated, which uses state variables and computes the values thereof based on delta observables computed for a previous epoch. Previous residuals are obtained from the estimator, each previous residual being associated with a delta observable computed for the previous epoch. The previous residuals are then adjusted using a back-residual coefficient. Delta observables for a current epoch are computed. For each of at least some of the delta observables, the delta observable computed for the current epoch is corrected using the adjusted previous residual associated with the delta observable. The estimator is then operated for the current epoch at least based on the corrected delta observables.

Abstract: An augmented-reality device is aligned with an environment using a correction source. A position of a reflector (or other device that is part of a surveying system) coupled with a surveying rod is measured in relation to a correction. A position of a visual design, which is coupled with the surveying rod, is measured in relation to an augmented-reality device, based on an image of the visual design acquired by the augmented-reality device. A coordinate system of the augmented-reality device is aligned with the environment based on the position of the reflector in relation to the correction source, the position of the visual design in relation to the augmented-reality device, and an offset between the reflector and visual design.

Abstract: A total station includes a telescope, an EDM unit, and an onboard computer. The telescope is manually adjusted by a user to cause a target to be set at last partially within an FOV of the EDM unit. After the manual adjustment, an optical aiming point associated with the telescope is misaligned from a center point of the target by an offset angle. A user input indicating that the manual adjustment has been performed is received via a user interface. In response to the user input, a slope distance is measured using the EDM unit and an angle associated with the optical aiming point is measured. The offset angle is computed based on the slope distance, and an angle associated with the center point of the target is computed based on the angle associated with the optical aiming point and the offset angle.

Abstract: A method for communicating between mesh networks comprising: establishing a first tunnel to bypass a firewall, the bypass enabled by encapsulating first packets between a first backhaul node of a first local mesh network and a server, the first backhaul node of the first local mesh network having internet connectivity and receiving the first packets addressed to a destination not reachable by the first local mesh network without internet connectivity to a second local mesh network; establishing a second tunnel between a second backhaul node of a second local mesh network and the server, wherein the second backhaul node of the second local mesh network has internet connectivity; receiving at the server the encapsulated first packets from the first backhaul node via the first tunnel; and transmitting from the server the received encapsulated first packets to the second backhaul node of the second local mesh network.