Hybrid+

The Hybrid+ module allows the simultaneous use of a robotic total station (RTS) and GNSS receiver to increase survey reliability and efficiency. Users can mix and match any RTS and GNSS from the Carlson driver library for a custom setup and is readily available through the quick Equipment Selector menu and procedurally configure it via the Hybrid+ setup wizard.

^†Note: The functionality in this routine is only available with the purchase of the Hybrid+ module and the purchase of both the RTS and GPS driver packages. Further, SurvPC needs to be actively connected to atleast one equipment type prior to starting the setup process, using one of the following:

• Equip - Total Station
• Equip - GPS Rover

• Setup Wizard: (Magic Wand) While it is possible to setup and configure Hybrid+ manually, the Hybrid+ setup wizard is designed to step you through configuration of Hybrid+, allowing multiple setup options based on user preference.
• Equipment Connect: (button) When pressed, the two most recent connections between the RTS and GPS equipment profiles are attempted.
• Configure GPS: Launches the GPS Rover connection interface.
• Configure TS: Launches the Total Station connection interface.

With both types of equipment configured, additional controls are enabled to further aid manual setup:

• Auto Localization: When enabled, the GNSS receiver is automatically localized to the RTS measurements (requires at least three RTS measurement points) and enables the Configure button.
• Configure: Permits the auto-localization information to be saved, recalled or re-initialized.
  More Information

  

  • Status: Indicates the status of the Auto Localization.
  • Num Points: Indicates how many points are contributing to the Auto Localization
  • Lock Localization: When enabled, additional points are not added to the Auto Localization calculations.
  • Save Loc.: Launches the standard File Selector that permits Auto Localization to be saved to an external *.SRH1 file.
  • Load Loc.: Launches the standard File Selector that permits a previously saved *.SRH1 file to be recalled.
  • Reset Loc.: Permits the current Auto Localization information to be removed.
• Hybrid Settings: Permits numerous controls (e.g. receiver/prism height, cross-check and tracking parameters) to be configured.
  More Information

  

  • Antenna Height: Specify the measure-up distance from the tip of the pole to the GNSS Antenna.

    Note: In the example above, the antenna is atop a 360° prism that is 8 cm tall from its base to its top which is attached to a 2 m GPS pole and is represented through a parametric Distance/Height equation.

  • Prism Height: Specify the measure-up distance from the tip of the pole to the reflective center of the prism.

    Note: In the example above, the prism center is 5 cm from its base which is attached to a 2 m GPS pole and is represented through a parametric Distance/Height equation.

  • Antenna-Prism Separation: The elevation difference between the two devices is summarized as a safety check.
  • Cross-Check Status: Indicates the results (if any) of a GPS/RTS cross-check.

    Note: If localization has been used, the Auto Localization status and/or other localization information will be visible under the Cross-Check Status.

  • Cross-Check Mode: Indicate the preferred enforcement of the Cross-Check functionality:
    • Automatic: A cross-check your total station and GNSS positions occurs automatically and a warning will be presented to you when they differ.
    • Required: Use this option to force the software to calculate a cross-check on every stored point. When enabled, this option will affect workflow based on mode:
      • In GPS Mode: If the RTS is not locked on the prism, a search will be performed.
      • In RTS Mode: If the GPS is not Fixed RTK, the user will be warned.
    • Silent: This option will perform the cross-check and note the error in the Raw File but suppress any errors.
  • Ignore GPS Search Elv: When enabled, the elevation component of the current GPS position will not be used within GPS Search.

    Note: This is commonly useful in situations where low-accuracy autonomous GPS measurements are occurring relatively close to the instrument.

  • Backup Tracking: When enabled, SurvPC will automatically display the backup (and inactive) instrument position on the screen when the primary (and active) instrument's position is unavailable. This means if the robotic total station is active, and the E.D.M. is obstructed, the software will display the GPS position in the bottom bar as well as the GPS location triangle until the robotic total station position is restored.

    Note:The backup instrument position will be displayed in red.

  • Follow Me: When enabled, the robotic total station will automatically "follow" the GPS receiver as it moves, turning every few seconds to the location of the GPS so that it is always ready to take a measurement at any time. The Follow Me option causes a turn to the prism, but not a lock. This is sometimes called "GPS Tracking," as the robotic total station is following the prism not by optical tracking, but by using the location of the GPS. Placing the instrument in manual standby mode will temporarily disable the Follow Me option which will resume when a position is stored or lock is reacquired.
  • Smart Lock: When enabled, the software will monitor the motion of the GPS. When the movement of the GPS slows (i.e. the surveyor is slowing to take a measurement), the robotic total station will rotate to the prism and optically lock on to the prism. Smart Lock can operate by itself, or in conjunction with Follow Me. If the software detects further movements of the GPS while attempting to lock, the Smart Lock routine will cancel automatically in the background. Placing the instrument in manual standby mode will temporarily disable the Smart Lock option which will resume when a position is stored or lock is reacquired.

  Note: These settings will also appear as an additional tab in the standard Equip - Configure interface.

  

• Change Localization: Launches the Localization interface.

Wizard Setup

The recommended setup method is to use the step-by-step wizard interface.

1. Begin by establishing/confirming the Instrument Setup and Precisional Accuracy of the equipment:

   

   • Configure GPS: Set/confirm the desired piece of GNSS equipment.
   • Configure TS: Set/confirm the desired piece of robotic total station equipment.
   • Monitor/Skyplot: Validate the positional accuracy of the GNSS equipment.
   • Check Level: Validate the leveled accuracy of the RTS equipment.

   Tap Next to proceed to the next step.

2. Set/review the "measure-up" distances to the GNSS receiver and prism:

   

   • GPS ARP: Indicate the desired antenna reference point.
   • GPS Height: Indicate the height to the GPS ARP.
   • TS Prism Height: Indicate the height to the reflective center of the prism.
   • Hybrid Offset: Validate the calculated difference between the prism center and the GPS ARP.

   Tap Next to proceed to the next step (or Back to review the previous information).

3. Indicate the method you wish to use to synchronize the measurements between the connected equipment:

   

   • Use Hybrid Resection: This method uses Resection methodology to locate the RTS based on measurements from the hybrid GPS/prism points.
   • Use Localization: This method uses Localization methodology to locate the GPS based on measurements from the hybrid prism/GPS points.

   Tap Next to proceed to the next step (or Back to review the previous information).

4. The synchronization method specified in the previous step will govern what happens next:
   • Hybrid Resection: GNSS measurements are recorded and RTS measurements to the GNSS points are used to establish the location of the RTS.
     More Information

     1. Indicate the type of scaling (if any) that should be applied:

        

        • Scale GPS (Grid to Ground): Specify this option if you prefer to scale GNSS grid measurements to ground distances.
        • Scale TS (Ground to Grid): Specify this option if you prefer to scale RTS ground measurements to grid distances.
        • No Scaling: Specify this option when using LDPs or when the project limits are such that scaling is not necessary.

        Tap Next to proceed to the next step (or Back to review the previous information).

     2. Initiate the resection process:

        

        Tap Perform Hybrid Resection to proceed to the next step (or Back to review the previous information).

     3. A slightly modified version of the Resection interface is presented with primary differences noted below:

        Note: Prior to initiating a measurement, make sure the Inst Hgt value has been specified if the RTS location will be used again in the future!

        

        • Read Hybrid: Initiates a hybrid measurement to the specified point.
        • Use GPS: Uses the current GPS location to aid with RTS pointing.

        When two or more resection points have been measured, the Calculate button activates:

        

        Tap Calculate to produce to determine the RTS position and analyze the results.

     4. Review the calculated results and adjust as needed:

        

        

        Note: It is recommended that three or more data points be measured as:

        • three data points uniquely identify a planar surface, while
        • four or more data points provide "check-shot" functionality that can be used to discover incorrect elevation measurements.

        Use the Orange Back Arrow to return and collect more readings if desired. When satisfied with the result, tap ✅ to complete the measurement process.

     5. At the conclusion of the measurement process, you have the option of storing the current RTS position:

        

     6. At the conclusion of the resection, it is suggested a Cross-Check is performed to validate the precision of coordinates derived from a GPS measurement to that of a RTS measurement.
     7. Exit the wizard by clicking Finish.

        

   • Localization: RTS measurements are recorded and GNSS measurements to the RTS points are used to align the GNSS positions.

     Note: Prior to beginning the Manual or Auto localization routines, it is suggested that the RTS is either:

     1. Setup over a known point in the current job or attached Control File, or,
     2. Previously located and oriented through the standard Resection routine, or,
     3. Located and oriented through the Advanced Occupation routine.
     More Information

     1. Indicate the type of localization process you'd like to follow:

        

        • Localize Manually: Click Next to use the Localize - Points routine to align the GPS receiver to that of the local points (or Back to review the previous information).
        • Auto Localize: Each time a point is stored with the RTS, the GPS measurement is collected and an auto-localization is recorded in the background.

        

        Tap Next to proceed to the next step (or Back to review the previous information).

     2. Exit the wizard by clicking Finish.

        

     3. Use the robotic total station to Store Points.

        Note: As additional points are measured and stored, the alignment model data being collected in the background continues to refine.

     4. View the Status of the auto-localization in the Configure – Hybrid tab.
     5. When enough RTS points are collected, manually switching to GPS Hybrid will initiate a Finalize Auto-Localization prompt at which the Localization is auto-saved.
     6. At the conclusion of the localization, it is suggested a Cross-Check is performed to validate the precision of coordinates derived from the RTS measurement to that of the GPS measurement.
5. Perform a cross-check by clicking Perform Cross-Check to compare measurements from both the RTS and GPS. Adjust cross-check tolerances as needed.

   

   • Hybrid Pos. Tol. (Horz.): Indicate the maximum allowable horizontal difference between GNSS measurements vs. total station measurements.
   • Hybrid Pos. Tol. (Vert.): Indicate the maximum allowable vertical difference between GNSS measurements vs. total station measurements.

   Note: Default values can be set under Tolerances - General.

6. The system will display the results and warn you if any deviations are unacceptable.

   

   Note: Excessively large cross-check deviations may be the result of an unfinalized localization!

7. Press ✅ to begin using Hybrid+.

   

Using Hybrid+

Once Hybrid+ is active, SurvPC routines can be used normally. The new Hybrid+ Instrument Status icon will indicate the relative health of the equipment and the checkmark will indicate the active instrument.

Note: While both the robotic total station and GPS receiver are connected and may be measuring at any time, the active instrument will control the options available in the Main Menu along with the display in active survey screens.

Hybrid+ Features

Hybrid+ can take full advantage of:

• (Prism) GPS Search:

  This feature utilizes NMEA GPS to help the motorized or robotic total station find the prism. With Prism Search by GPS, the instrument turns in the direction of the GPS position and can often sight close enough to allow target recognition features to take over and locate the prism.

  Note: The feature is found within the Search tab for any robotic total station driver.

• IMU (tilt):

  Tilt sensors on the GPS receiver can be leveraged by applying them to both the GPS measurements and the robotic total station measurement. When IMU is enabled during Hybrid+:

  1. The tilt sensors of the GPS receiver can be used to adjust the measurements of the robotic total station prism. This is true even when the GPS receiver is not Fixed RTK.
  2. The digital level bubble can display in active survey screens even when the robotic total station is the active instrument.
  3. SurvPC can warn the user when the robotic total station measurements are outside of level tolerance.

Exiting Hybrid+

Hybrid+ mode will end automatically when SurvPC is exited, or a new job is started. Alternatively, a return to normal survey mode can be made by selecting any other survey mode using the quick Equipment Selector in the Status Bar.