A total station (electronic tachymeter) is a high-precision electro-optical surveying instrument that combines angle measurement, distance measurement, and data storage in a single system. Leica Geosystems, a company of Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence Management Limited, recently introduced the new Leica TS20 robotic total station. This total station was developed and engineered from the ground up with a deep understanding of surveyors’ workflows. According to the manufacturer, it accelerates fieldwork, simplifies daily operations, optimizes repetitive tasks, and prevents costly errors. The TS20 combines Leica Geosystems’ leading surveying expertise and builds on over two centuries of innovation in the industry. In addition, insights gained from direct collaboration with surveyors were incorporated to tailor the TS20 optimally to their practical needs.

AI-powered productivity

A neural processing unit (NPU) enables the Leica TS20’s edge AI to autonomously optimize workflows, detect potential errors early on, and ensure reliable measurements while protecting data. AI-powered target search and automatic target recognition (ATR) enable the TS20 to automatically search for, target, and measure even in adverse weather conditions such as rain or fog, or when using reflective tapes. AI-Detect identifies the target type and notifies the user if the target does not match the type selected in the software. AI-Follow (available as a software update after launch) saves time by allowing the Leica AP20 AutoPole to track the target even when the line of sight is interrupted.

Durable, connected, and protected

The TS20 is the world’s first robotic total station with an IP66 rating, making it dust- and water-resistant. It combines the familiar operation of traditional models with state-of-the-art components, designed to enhance the user experience through features such as advanced communication sensors: As the cloud redefines the possibilities of surveying workflows and opens up new avenues for value creation, the TS20 features mobile internet connectivity for data exchange and IoT readiness. In addition, fast, maintenance-free motors speed up the device, make it reliable in daily use, and reduce acquisition costs, while a new electronic distance measurement system (EDM) delivers distances at a higher frequency. Finally, new high-speed processors accelerate tasks such as startup times and job processing. The TS20 works seamlessly with Leica Geosystems’ existing software and cloud ecosystem, accessories, and the AP20 AutoPole.

Intelligent security features such as remote tracking and locking

Exclusive to the TS20, GeoCloud Protect offers intelligent security features such as remote tracking and locking. TS20 users can view the total station’s location on a map and, in the event of theft, mark it as stolen and lock it so that it cannot be used or serviced.

“Designed specifically for the needs of modern surveyors”

“The Leica TS20 represents the most significant advancement in total station technology in over a decade,” says Moritz Lauwiner, Executive Vice President of Hexagon’s Geosystems Division and President of the Geomatics Division at Leica Geosystems. “The TS20 was developed from the ground up and is the result of close collaboration between our surveying engineers, the innovative strength of a world-class research and development team, and the valuable insights of our customers, whose constantly evolving workflows and expertise have influenced every aspect of the development. The result is an instrument specifically designed to meet the demands of modern surveyors, guiding them to success in every task and under all conditions.”

Video