Prototype Robotic mount

Anything is possible. I say go for it if you have a specific need for this type of application.

You are right about the stabilizers. You will need something to keep it steady.

Good luck!

I played with this idea quite a bit when I first got a robotic gun. I had all sorts of designs, from truck-mounted to big-and-heavy standalone. In the end they all seemed way to expensive and unwieldy.

What I ended up doing is using and assortment of stainless steel cables, varying from 1/16" to 1/8" in diameter, to string through the tribrach and all the accessories, and locking that cable (often via another cable) to something solid. (I use the thinner (1/16") cable for securing the backsight prism and tripod, and a 3/32" cable for the gun and accessories.) It's not going to deter a determined thief, but it keeps the snatch-and-run crowd from getting anything.

A good-quality cable cutter will go through these cables like butter, but not many people carry those around. A pair of cheap diagonal cutters would probably get through after awhile, but they'd have to be reasonably sharp. Anything less is going to be a waste of time, mangling the cable but not severing it.

I installed cable loops on things like the radio, the offboard batteries, and even on some of my GPS receivers in order to accommodate the cable strategy. I still like to keep an eye on the gun, but I'm comfortable getting out of sight for brief periods. With the older GPS receivers, I figure no self-respecting thief is going to bother once he sees that it's locked up, so I'm okay driving away from those in most areas.

So far, so good -- no thefts, or apparent attempts at same.

How about just a tall tripod... somewhat intimidating to the snatch and go types just because of the size. You mentioned 6' - 8' high... this tripod is like 7' tall - with the legs fully collapsed! Legs extended its over 12' tall. I know this isn't the buy/sell/trade category but I could give you a heck of a deal on it!

The higher, the 'dancing legs' get more windier !

We have a set or three of aluminum leg extensions that wrap around in a 'U" shape and are bolted with plates to the bottom section of the legs.

Cheers,

Derek

Sounds like a good plan, depending on the accuracy requirements of the job. I'd be more concerned about the grade than N,E. The only thing I'd add to your plan is to unhook the trailer from the truck, so you are assured it won't move when a crew guy goes and hits his cooler for his sandwich or another chug of water.

I've got my quad rigged up to allow for either Mr Robot, or GPS. Works good. I use my Mag Mount on my truck with GPS all the time for linear features and realize the grades are iffy. Again, depends on the accuracy requirements of the job.

Back in my MI days a fellow roboteer bought a 8 ft tripod for his Geodimeter. Good for those high setup things, like traffic, corn fields, brush. I once got a special attachment to my level rod so I could hook the glass up to that. N,E wasn't all that important in that corn field, but grades were. I adjusted a few shots from my leaning 20 ft rod height, but it is not something I'd recommend for somebody not able to discern those shots to toss out.

Now go patent it. Make it able to hook right up to a 2" trailer hitch receiver??? I've done that to, so it was my idea.... 😉 Can't wait for my royalty check...lol

I've read several of these "how do I protect my valuable equipment in the field" threads, and have a few thoughts.
First, I agree with Jim that putting basic safeguards in place (cables), will protect the stuff from all honest folks and a good percentage of the not so honest.

But for the last 2 percent, or 5 percent or whatever it is, you have to ask how much do you have to do to make it absolutely certain nothing will get stolen.

So for those willing to spend the money to go the last mile, I'd suggest another route:

1. Track the equipment. Embed one of the available GPS trackers and subscribe to a service. You might be able to pay for it by telling your insurance carrier you've installed it and have them reduce your rates.

2. Whenever possible, install a cheap game cam nearby, concealed in some non-interesting prop (perhaps a lunch box hanging from another tripod nearby)? So that if someone does snag your stuff, at least you have photos to take to the police. If you place it properly, you might even get license plate numbers.

Just a thought.

How would you be able to get high enough to level the instrument?

Ladder - idk

> Ladder - idk

I agree that "ladder" is the right answer. At least, that's what I always planned to use with my various "big tripod" schemes. But having to haul around a ladder is one of the reasons none of those schemes ever came to fruition.

I bought that tripod to get an RTK base radio antenna higher in the air. It worked fine while I needed it but now I don't have base-rover system so I don't need the tripod. I never mounted an instrument on it but I guess if you really needed to, a ladder would work.

If you go with a trailer, I think unhooking it from vehicle would be a good idea. For sure you would need levelers on all four corners. And I'd make sure the levelers have a 1) a base plate to prevent sinking into ground or even into asphalt and 2) a good point on each of the base plates so the trailer won't move around on you. With some experimenting, I think it could work. Good Luck!

I've needed one of those for some 30yrs and wanted one of those for 40yrs, not so much these days

Would be great to have in many situations

1 neighborhoods with tall privacy fences and hedges

2 in hot summers to get above the heatwaves

3 working cross country hill to hill surveys to avoid clearing a lot of line

4 so you can say that your surveys tower above the rest, lol

😉

How about an official looking sticker on each piece of equipment that says something like this?:

Haha its not Lowjack its SurJack