Publications / 1996 Proceedings of the 13th ISARC, Tokyo, Japan
This paper reviews the development of an automatic laser theodolite LASERFIX first designed at the University of East London in 1979 and since that time protected by a number of international patents. Applications of that theodolite to surveying, robot calibration and tunnelling machine guidance are introduced, and the specific problems of 3- dimensional guidance of site vehicle are examined. Practical problems and performance capability for both off-vehicle and on-vehicle location of the laser theodolite is discussed. In both cases the design requirements for laser beam sensors or beacons is analysed and practical solutions proposed. Finally, a new receiver version of LASERFIX is introduced which does not require the use of lasers but which offers similar capabilities and performance. The paper concludes with a report of experimental tests of the new device aimed at assessing it's capability in the position-fixing of site vehicles.