I'm pretty excited about this. Please note that I am a paid consultant for Javad (so let's get that out of the way).
I'm a surveyor and I've been asking for a robot that can perform sunshots automatically for a long time with no response from any other manufacturer. Javad is doing it. For the most part, as a profession, we've abandoned astronomic observations for azimuth determination. Most surveyors never used them because of the complexity and those that did have moved on to azimuth determination by GNSS. The new J-Mate takes the complexity out of solar observations by performing sighting, timing, positioning and calculations automatically. The benefits will be two-fold: no need to walk to a second point for an azimuth pair (saving time) and in enclosed areas (urban areas) that may not have visibility to a distant second point.
The range is limited to about 100m (300'). In my career, even before using GPS, the vast majority of my shots from a total station were inside of 300'. The exceptions to this were typically for traverse in open areas. With RTK, I don't traverse anymore, particularly not in open areas where RTK is much more efficient.
This device will be so small and light. I've wondered for a long time why we don't have total stations that can fit on a bipod pole. But we still lug around relatively large total stations the same way we have since the late 1980's. I'm proud of Javad for pushing the industry to advance forward.
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Link to video:
http://www.javad.com/jgnss/javad/news/pr20180618.html
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J-Mate is truly innovative, but I believe its cost ($16k until November, $20k thereafter), hardware requirements (you have to have a Triumph-LS to run it), and limited range are going to severely limit its market share.?ÿ To me it seems to be closer to a robotic construction layout tool (like those offered Topcon and Trimble) than to a survey-grade robotic total station.?ÿ The sun shot thing is interesting, though I'm left wondering about accuracy of the results.?ÿ (For that matter, I haven't seen specs on pointing, angle or distance accuracy, either.)
I'm glad to see a manufacturer pushing the envelope, though.
The angle and distance specs are shown in video and talked about by Javad at the end of it.
The angle and distance specs are shown in video and talked about by Javad at the end of it.
All I saw were range limits, I didn't see anything about accuracy specifications for either angle or distance, nor pointing accuracy specifications.?ÿ Did I miss those?
Around 36 seconds into the video
I was looking for DIN specs, but these give an indication of expected results.
Regarding the size and weight of total stations, you can't make them any smaller or lighter without compromising the angular accuracy, at least with the technology available today.
Wow!?ÿ Neat~o.
Regarding the size and weight of total stations, you can't make them any smaller or lighter without compromising the angular accuracy, at least with the technology available today.
Apparently Javad disagrees.
This man sure thinks out side the box!?ÿ Love it! TG for freedom and innovation.?ÿ I still remember when the Trimble reps were saying that anything other than American satellites?ÿ were not accurate enough for Trimble products, and I think it was Mr. Javad lead the way with that too! Jp
In reference to a number of previous posts wishing for a laser measurer on the GNSS rover pole to "look" under the canopy while standing in clear sky, a cut-down version of this would be a good idea. The issue of the backsight could be solved by having a small low to the ground target that you RTK-GNSS shoot first. Probably wouldn't need a horizontal motor, just rotate the pole.
J-Mate is truly innovative, but I believe its cost ($16k until November, $20k thereafter), hardware requirements (you have to have a Triumph-LS to run it), and limited range are going to severely limit its market share.?ÿ To me it seems to be closer to a robotic construction layout tool (like those offered Topcon and Trimble) than to a survey-grade robotic total station.?ÿ The sun shot thing is interesting, though I'm left wondering about accuracy of the results.?ÿ (For that matter, I haven't seen specs on pointing, angle or distance accuracy, either.)
I'm glad to see a manufacturer pushing the envelope, though.
I agree on the cost part.?ÿ Would have liked to see it lower to attract more folks?ÿin the U.S. to switch platforms.?ÿ But it's still a real draw for those who already have the LS and don't have robotics yet.?ÿ And largest market is international that may not be as developed already as in the states.?ÿ I'm a big fan of the all in one concept that this invention brings closer to reality; when can I purchase the wings?.
I agree on the cost part.
For comparison, at the end of 2015 I bought a brand-new last-year's-model 2-second GeoMax robot for $18k.?ÿ I already had a data collector to run it, but I could have added a low-end one with software for maybe another $3k.?ÿ For that I got a high-performance instrument with a range as much as half a mile (much further when operated conventionally), with both prism and prismless modes.?ÿ I use it in tandem with my Triumph-LS:?ÿ RTK to establish NAD83 and to tie distant (> 1/4 mile or so) points, robotic for all the close-in (< 1/4 mile) detail work, without having to be concerned about sky obstructions.?ÿ (I do a lot of urban boundary and topo where trees and buildings preclude RTK?ÿ -- and point density make it too slow -- and site slopes are too flat to rely on RTK for vertical.)
The J-Mate simply wouldn't work for me, it's capabilities are too limited.?ÿ Its abilities will no doubt be suitable for others in a different working environment, but to my way of thinking the cost is too close to that of a much more capable instrument to make it a logical purchase.
I don't think the pricing is out of line. When you consider a system price that includes a top of the line base, rover, and 35 watt radio with cables and batteries, you're looking at about $25k. Add another $20k (after the introductory period is ended) for the J-Mate and you have a total package for $45k. You can add a tiny magnetic locator for another $850, so call it $46k and be able to take on the world.
I think you'd have a difficult time putting such a package together from the other manufacturers. But of course value is a subjective issue. I don't traverse anymore so quarter mile shots (or longer) are irrelevant to me in my work, but I realize we don't all work the same way (which is part of what makes surveying so incredibly interesting).
Well finally when?ÿ passerbys and?ÿ kids?ÿ with no idea about surveying and what surveyors do, stop and ask if you are taking pictures, the answer is yes.
Take my picture Mister!
Shawn,
That thing looks remarkable. Low weight and convenience would likely greatly offset any complaint about pricing if the end user has enough volume.?ÿ I looked at the lastest Trimble robot/scanner device recently, and found that the annual maintenance is about $4,000.?ÿ Does Javad have an anticipated cost of annual maintenance??ÿ
Some of the questions will be of interest to many might be:
1.?ÿ Are they sure about delivery date?
2.?ÿ New product worries about malfunction, etc.--especially for something that is this remarkable.
3.?ÿ Is there a reason, with latest technology, they are dealing with a laser that only shoots 10 hz and 300 feet to a target.?ÿ I would get worried that it might not nearly reach 300 feet for non-target work in the bright sun.?ÿ Seems like they'd boost the laser.
Javad is truly cutting edge.
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Shawn,
That thing looks remarkable. Low weight and convenience would likely greatly offset any complaint about pricing if the end user has enough volume.?ÿ I looked at the lastest Trimble robot/scanner device recently, and found that the annual maintenance is about $4,000.?ÿ Does Javad have an anticipated cost of annual maintenance??ÿ
I think this will be hard to compare scanning/total station wise to the Trimble setup. The SX is a much better scanner and much better total station going off of specs.
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26,600 points per second to the Javads 10 points per second.
5,500m shot w/Prism vs Javad no prism ability
800m prismless shots vs Javad 100.
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Not to take away from the Javad at all. This thing looks cool as hell. BUT there is a reason why the Trimble SX costs a ton of money.
Frank, there ye go!
N
Wait, didn't Leica have a combined GNSS/TPS a few years ago (around 2008)?
https://hds.leica-geosystems.com/en/Leica-SmartStation_8276.htm
While there are some innovation features of the Javad unit, it isn't entirely a new concept.
Some Leica sales guys could probably set the record straight, BUT my impression is it was never a huge seller, likely due to cost, of course everyone wants a do it all gadget for the price of an entry level TS when you fact it should be priced in the premium tier of GNSS + premium tier TS range minus the efficiencies of combining them so maybe 10-20% less then the two together.
SHG
The SmartStation?ÿis still an option, it's just a different handle on top of the TS that will center and mount the GS antenna.?ÿ Then the GRZ122 prisms have threads on the top for mounting the rover.?ÿ I never saw enough?ÿpotential efficiency improvements to justify the added weight at the pole though.?ÿ I believe Javad users may find the same thing with this setup, that backlit target doesn't look small but maybe that's just the renderings.?ÿ Kind of surprising they don't have a working prototype for their video if they are going to market in the fall of this year.?ÿ Regardless, I always look forward to finishing up with the GS work so I can ditch the antenna for the much lighter prism on the pole.?ÿ
It does seem like?ÿa lot of the Javad users have figured out how to do most of their work with it and an older manual reflectorless instrument.?ÿ This will undoubtedly be a major upgrade in weight and time for them.?ÿ Plus it just looks cool ??ÿ