Surveying tool for contractors runs Windows CE

By Jonathan Angel
2010-02-04

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Trimble announced a Windows CE-based surveying device for general and concrete contractors, plus new software for its rugged Windows tablet PC. The Trimble TS855 Mechanical Total Station offers a touchscreen controller, five-second accuracy, and a long-range EDM (electronic distance meter), according to the company.

Trimble's release offered no picture of the TS855, and few technical details, but the term "total station" generically refers to what is essentially an electronic theodolite. A laser beam is used to perform line-of-sight distance measurements, while internal sensors determine the device's angle. It's then possible to determine the location of surveyed points very accurately using trigonometric calculations.

According to Trimble, the TS855 is aimed at general and concrete contractors performing positioning and layout tasks. The device performs measurements within five seconds and delivers the accuracy necessary for the precise layout of foundations, forms, and footers, the company says.

Trimble says the TS855 has a long-range EDM with precision optics. The device's laser beam may be reflected off a prism, but can also be used in reflectorless mode for single-person operation, adds the company.

It's said the TS855 "breaks new ground" (presumably, no pun was intended) because of its Windows CE-based touchscreen and Trimble LM80 Layout Manager software. With an easy-to-use graphical interface, the software enables contractors to carry, manage, work with, and lay out jobsite blueprints, says Trimble. A wide variety of data formats can be handled, and DXF data is easily transferred to and from a PC, the company adds.

Trimble's Tablet RuggedPC, also known as the Yuma

Separately, Trimble also announced software known as the AllTrak Asset Management System, designed to run on the Trimble Tablet RuggedPC (above). The software, designed to work with the tablet's barcode scanner and camera, supplies contractors with quantitative information about assets, which they can use to analyze and improve the utilization of equipment, tools, and consumables. Introduced last year, the Trimble Tablet RuggedPC is a UMPC (ultra mobile PC) with a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, a 32GB SSD (solid state disk), and a seven-inch touchscreen display.

Further information

Trimble's website does not yet appear to offer further information about the TS855 Mechanical Total Station. More information about the Trimble Tablet RuggedPC (apparently also known as the Yuma) can be found here, and about Trimble's asset management software, here.

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