Surveying method and surveying system comprising a radio navigation unit

• US 6,175,328 B1
• Filed: 11/15/1999
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Spectra Precision AB
• Original Assignee: Spectra Precision AB
• Inventors: Andersson, Leif, Ericsson, Lars
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US09/402,258
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.06, 342/357.13, 342/357.08, 342/357.17, 701/213
• US Class Current: 342/357.31
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/03 Cooperating elements; Interaction or communication between different cooperating elements or between cooperating elements and receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/39 the satellite radio beacon positioning system transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/485 whereby the further system is an optical system or imaging system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/51 Relative positioning

Abstract

A surveying system is presented comprising a surveying equipment and a radio navigation unit comprising a radio navigation antenna and a radio navigation receiver, both removably connectable both on the survey equipment and on a survey object. The object is provided with at least one target for the surveying equipment to be directed to. A removable panel co-operates with the radio navigation unit and with the survey equipment. The panel comprises a computer provided with a program system adapted for operating both the radio navigation receiver and the surveying equipment.

Claims

1. A survey system comprising a survey equipment;

a survey object having a target for the surveying equipment to be directed to;

at least one radio navigation unit comprising a radio navigation antenna and a radio navigation receiver, the at least one radio navigation unit connectable both to the surveying equipment and to the surveying object; and

a panel adapted to be mountable and removable at, and co-operate with, the at least one radio navigation unit and with the surveying equipment, said panel comprising a computer provided with a program system adapted for contacting both the radio navigation receiver and the survey equipment.

2. A survey system according to claim 1, characterized in that the program system is adapted to provide a radio navigation reference direction for the survey equipment from a radio navigation measurement of the position of the surveying equipment and a radio navigation measurement of the surveying object when positioned at a reference measuring point.

3. A surveying system according to claim 2, characterized by comparing means for comparing the actual internal directional value of the surveying equipment with the radio navigation reference direction;

storing means for storing the difference; and

correcting means for correcting later horizontal angles measurements.

4. A surveying system according to claim 1, characterized by means to compute the actual direction between the survey equipment and the surveying object and transfer it to the surveying equipment;

directional means at the surveying equipment to set the equipment in the computed direction.

5. A surveying system according to claim 1, characterized in that the surveying equipment is provided with a transmitter for sending data to the panel when the panel is provided on the surveying object, whereby said data concerning the position of the object measured by the surveying equipment is stored in the panel.

6. A surveying system according to claim 1, characterized in that the programming system is adapted to store set out data information for an operator and that the panel has a display showing data for guiding the surveying object to actual measuring points or paths adapted to predetermined set out points or paths.

7. A surveying system according to claim 1, characterized by transmitting means at the survey object for ordering the surveying equipment to search for and lock onto the surveying object.

8. A surveying system according to claim 1, where the surveying object is a measuring rod, and characterized by attachment means for centering the phase center of the radio navigation antenna and the center point of the target to the rod axis.

9. A surveying system according to claim 1, characterized by attachment means for centering the phase center of the radio navigation antenna with the vertical rotation axis of the surveying equipment when the antenna is placed there.

10. A surveying system according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one radio navigation unit is a GPS-equipment.

20. A survey system according to claim 1, wherein said target comprises a reflector.

21. A survey system according to claim 1, wherein said target comprises an active target.

22. A survey system according to claim 1, wherein said target comprises a reflector and an active target.

11. A surveying method comprising the steps of using a surveying equipment;

using a surveying object having at least one target for the surveying equipment to be directed towards;

providing at least one radio navigation unit comprising a radio navigation antenna and a radio navigation receiver, the at least one radio navigation unit connectable both to the survey equipment and to the survey object;

providing a computer having a program system adapted for both operating the radio navigation receiver and the survey equipment, wherein the computer is provided in a mountable and releasable panel;

moving and connecting the panel releasably between the surveying equipment and the at least one radio navigation unit; and

storing information of measured positions of the surveying object.

12. A surveying method according to claim 11, wherein the step of storing information is further characterized by writing information into the computer in the releasable panel regarding a survey operation for a survey area;

presenting measured position information; and

guiding an operator situated at the surveying object.

13. A surveying method according to claim 11, further characterized by the step of determining a horizontal reference direction of the surveying equipment by:

1. placing the at least one radio navigation unit at, and measuring the position of the surveying equipment and storing the surveying equipment position in a store in the panel;

2. placing the at least one radio navigation unit and the panel on the surveying object and placing the surveying object at a reference point;

3. measuring the reference position of the surveying object and storing the measured position in the panel;

4. calculating at least the angular horizontal direction between the positions of the surveying equipment and the reference position;

5. directing the surveying equipment towards the object, comparing the calculated angular horizontal direction and the actual angular horizontal direction,

6. storing the difference for later correction of measured horizontal angles, whereby the steps 1 and 2,3 and can change place with each other.

14. A surveying method according to claim 11, wherein the step of using a surveying equipment is further characterized by the step of using a surveying equipment having an automatic function for searching and being directed to the surveying object, characterized by calculating the actual directional angle for the surveying equipment to be directed to the surveying object for measuring points measured by the at least one radio navigation unit, transmitting the actual directional angle to the surveying equipment at least as a starting direction for searching the actual position of the object.

15. A surveying method according to claim 11, further characterized by the step of centering the phase center of the radio navigation antenna with the center point of the target on the surveying object at least in vertical direction.

16. A surveying method according to claim 11, further characterized by the step of centering the phase center of the radio navigation antenna with the vertical rotation axis of the surveying equipment when the antenna is placed there.

17. A survey method according to claim 11, further characterized by the step of computing and sending direction information data to the surveying equipment from the panel for an actual measuring point, adjusting the direction of the surveying equipment, beginning its searching operation from the adjusted direction.

18. A surveying method according to claim 11, further characterized by the step of continuously calculating the position of the surveying object and of the direction between the surveying equipment and the surveying object;

transmitting the calculated direction to the surveying equipment;

directing the surveying equipment along the calculated direction continuously, updated in the rate determined by the measuring and calculating rate of the radio navigation equipment.

19. A surveying method according to claim 11 characterized in that the step of providing at least one radio navigation unit further comprises the step of providing at least one GPS-equipment radio navigation unit.

23. A surveying method according to claim 11, wherein said target comprises a reflector.