Remote control and viewing for a total station

An apparatus for remotely controlling a surveying device, the surveying device having a camera for acquiring real-time images, the apparatus comprising:

• a receiver for receiving image data generated by the camera and transmitted to the apparatus by the surveying device;
• a display device coupled to receive the image data received from the surveying device and to display images in response to image data;
• an input device for receiving user inputs for remotely controlling the surveying device;
• and
• a transmitter coupled to receive the user inputs, the transmitter transmitting control data to the surveying device based on the user inputs, such that the apparatus is operable by a user to acquire real-time images of a target to remotely align the surveying device with the target.

A device for remotely controlling a total station, the total station having a camera for sighting a survey target, the device comprising:

• means for receiving user inputs for remotely acquiring the target within a field of view of the camera;
• means for transmitting control inputs to the total station over a wireless link in response to the user inputs;
• means for receiving image data transmitted from the total station over the wireless link;
• and
• means for displaying images based on the image data.

A surveying device for acquiring survey measurements of a target, the surveying device comprising:

• a control unit;
• a camera coupled to the control unit;
• a measurement unit coupled to the control unit;
• a transmitter coupled to the control unit for transmitting image data to a remote control unit over a wireless link based on output of the camera;
• and
• a receiver coupled to the control unit for receiving control data from the remote control unit over the wireless link, the surveying device varying an orientation of the camera in response to the control data received from the remote control device.

A surveying device for acquiring survey data of a target, the surveying device comprising:

• camera means for acquiring real-time image data, the camera means having a field of view;
• measurement means for acquiring survey measurements of a target in the field of view of the camera means;
• transmission means for transmitting the image data to a remote control unit over a wireless link;
• receiving means for receiving control data transmitted from the remote control unit over the wireless link;
• and
• control means for controlling the surveying device in response to the received control data to acquire the target within the field of view of the camera means.

A surveying system comprising:

• a surveying device for acquiring survey data of a target, the surveying device including a camera;
• and
• a remote control unit in communication with the surveying device over a link, the remote control unit including:
• an input device for receiving user inputs for remotely controlling the surveying device;
• a transmitter for transmitting control data to the surveying device over a wireless link in response to the user inputs;
• a receiver for receiving image data transmitted from the surveying device over the wireless link based on output of the camera;
• and
• a display device for displaying images based on the image data.

A method of surveying comprising the steps of:

• acquiring images of a target using a camera coupled to a surveying device, the camera having a field of view;
• receiving user inputs at a remote control unit, the user inputs for remotely controlling the surveying device, the user inputs including inputs for causing the surveying device to acquire the target within the field of view of the camera;
• transmitting control data from the remote control device to the surveying means over a wireless link based on the user inputs;
• receiving at the remote control unit data transmitted over the wireless link from the surveying device, the data including image data representing outputs of the camera;
• and
• displaying images at the remote control device based on the image data.

A surveying system comprising:

• a total station for acquiring survey measurements of a target, the total station including:
• a first control unit for controlling the total station;
• a video camera coupled to the first control unit for sighting and acquiring images of the target;
• a measurement unit coupled to the first control unit for generating the survey measurements;
• a transmitter coupled to the first control unit for transmitting data over a wireless link, the data including image data corresponding to the images;
• and
• a receiver coupled to the first control logic for receiving data over the wireless link;
• and
• a remote unit in communication with the total station over the wireless link for allowing a user to remotely control the total station, the remote unit including:
• an input unit for receiving user inputs for remotely controlling the video camera;
• a transmitter coupled to the second control unit for transmitting data representing the user inputs to the total station over the wireless link;
• a receiver coupled to the second control unit for receiving the data transmitted from the total station;
• and
• a display device coupled to the second control unit for displaying real-time video images based on the data received from the total station.