(Click here for a larger view of Sokkia's NET05)"Total station" is a generic term used to describe instruments that amount to electronic theodolites. Like other total stations, the NET05 uses a laser beam to perform line-of-sight distance measurements, while internal sensors determine the device's angle. The device then determines the location of a surveyed point through trigonometric calculations.
The NET05 can be used without any particular target device, in which case its range goes up to 130 feet. For measuring longer distances, the company supplies reflective targets and two types of prisms, with maximal range finding distances as follows:
- Reflective target -- 650 feet
- With Sokkia compact prism -- 2620 feet
- With Sokkia "AP" prism -- 11,480 feet
Sokkia claims the device offers angle precision to 0.15 milligons. Claimed range finding accuracy is half a millimeter with a reflective sheet target, or one millimeter otherwise.
According to Sokkia, the NET05 can take initial measurements within 2.4 seconds, and then continue with tracking measurements as frequently as every 0.4 seconds. It can automatically search for, and point to, both prisms and reflective sheets, locating the former at distances of up to 3,280 feet, and the latter from up to 160 feet. In addition, the device can continuously track prisms moving at 56mph from a distance of 320 feet, or 11mph from a distance of 65 feet.
Sealed against dust and water to the IP64 standard, the NET05 contains an undisclosed processor running Windows CE 5.0. It also includes a 3.5-inch touchscreen display with 320 x 240 resolution, USB, Bluetooth, and an RS232 port.
Physical specifications cited by Sokkia for the NET05 include the following:
- Dimensions, with handle -- 14.8 x 8 x 8 inches
- Weight, with handle and battery -- 16.8 pounds
- Power supply -- 7.2VDC
- Battery operation -- up to 3 hours with standard 4.3Ah lithium-ion battery; up to 9 hours with 13Ah external battery
- Operating temperature -- -10 to 50 deg. C
Availability and pricing information for the NET05 were not provided.
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