Geodetic surveying system and method with multiple target tracking functionality

A surveying system for surveying and tracking a movable target object that defines a target point, comprising:

• a surveying device that constitutes a first unit, with position determining functionality for determining the position of the target point with reference to an internal coordinate system, wherein the surveying device includes:
• a base;
• a targeting device defining a target axis, wherein the alignment of the target axis is variable relative to the base in a motorized manner for precise sighting and tracking of the target point;
• a photosensitive areal detector for continuously generating a current offset signal directly dependent on a direction and an extent of a deviation between a current, actual alignment of the target axis and a fictitious alignment of the target axis that is aimed highly precisely at the target point;
• angle measuring functionality for continuously precisely detecting the current alignment of the target axis;
• and
• distance measuring functionality for continuously determining the current distance to the target point;
• a second unit, provided on the target object side, for providing a functionality for continuously determining movements and/or positions of the target object with reference to an external coordinate system, said functionality being independent of the position determining functionality of the first unit;
• and
• a supervisory unit connected to the first and second units in terms of data and having evaluation, data processing and control functionality, wherein:
• the surveying system has a target point tracking mode, in the context of which, in a manner automatically controlled by the supervisory unit in accordance with a predefined algorithm:
• first measurement data continuously generated on the part of the first unit, said first measurement data being at least dependent on the current alignment of the target axis and the current offset signal, and
• second measurement data continuously generated on the part of the second unit, said second measurement data being dependent on the currently detected movements and/or positions of the retroreflector,
• are continuously aggregated and, on the basis thereof, a control signal is derived for continuously automatically changing the alignment of the target axis in a motorized manner in such a way that the target point is continuously sighted by means of the target axis,
• wherein:
• the first unit is configured to generate the first measurement data with a first rate;
• the second unit is configured to generate the second measurement data with a second rate, wherein the second rate is higher than the first rate;
• and
• in the context of the target point tracking mode, the predefined algorithm is clocked with a third rate, which is higher than the first rate and corresponds to the second rate.