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13. Applications and implications

The aim of this week was to propose a final project masterpiece. I had decided to work upon making a miniature version of Total Station.

masterpiece Definition of ‘master piece’
Credits : Webster’s online dictionary

What will it do ?

I intend to build a miniature form of total station-mini T station, a basic civil surveying instrument, that can measure angles in both vertical and horizontal angles and as well as the distance from the observing station to the target station. TS A real total station at use in a construction yard.

Who’s done what beforehand?

I couldn’t find any reference for any DIY projects on building a Total Station. But I did find reference on using Inertial Measurement Units used as Digital Spirit level. But this is not sufficent for my project. Also in the market we have options for buying laser range finder instruments that has the capability to measure angles as well.

What will you design?

The mini T -Station shall have two independent motion in two planes. A sighting vane shall be there for the bisection of the targets.The vane shall be capable of motion in vertical plane in 180 degrees and horizontal plane in 360 degrees independently. These two motions can be coupled to rotate the 2 rotary incremental optic encoders to measure the horizontal and vertical angles. A laser distance range finder can be used colinear with the axis of the sighting vane for the measurement of distances.

What materials and components will be used?

The body of the T station shall be made of Acrylic. They can be cut and used using Shopbot. The cases for the circuit board can be 3d printed using PLA plastic.

Components required :

  1. Microcontroller - ATmega 328p or higher
  2. PCB - Milled at the lab
  3. Optic Encoders : 2 nos ;To be ordered online
  4. Electronic Distance measurement Module :- Ordered from online
  5. OLDED display : To be ordered online
  6. USB to UART interface for storage - To be ordered online
  7. Acrylic board : From the lab
  8. Keypad
  9. A power supply preferably a 9v battery - Can be used from the lab
  10. Horizontal bubble level to check the tilt of the instrument.

How much will they cost?

  1. Microcontroller - $1-$2 approx
  2. Optical Encoder- $20 each approx
  3. Electronic distance measuring module : $30 approx
  4. OLED display - $4-$5 approx
  5. USB to UART interface- $3 approx
  6. Bubble level - $3-$4

What parts and systems will be made?

The main body of the mini T station shall be made either using acrylic or PLA. The main body shall include the following 1. Revolving horizontal circle frame, the motion of which can be arrested or set free by screws. The horizontal rotary encoder has to be housed along with the frame. 2. Revolving vertical circle frame,the motion of which can be arrested or set free by screws. The vertical rotary encoder has to be attached along with the frame. 3. For levelling the instrument head we may need foot screws that can be tightened or lossened. I think 3 nos of such to be 3d printed. Levelling can be made relative to the spirit bubble attached along with the instrument. 4. A sighting vane that is connected to the horizontal frame and vertical frame. This sighting frame is connected to both vertical and horizontal axes of the frames respectively. 5. A housing for the EDM unit colinear with the sighting vane. 6. A housing for the PCB and power source. 7. Display part position along with interaction keys. This is where we would be attaching the usb interface for recording the distance measured.

What processes will be used?

  1. CNC milling to make the body/frame of the mini T station.
  2. PCB milling to make the circuit board
  3. 3D printing if necessary to make additional housing and sighting vane.
  4. Interfacing the MCU unit with input sensors ,display board and output to the usb stick.

What questions need to be answered?

  1. The basic frame layout has to be finalised ?
  2. Which MCU to be incorporated ? Would it have suffficient capacity to accomodate all the process ?
  3. How shall the process of measuring be incorporated ?
  4. Can I incorporate different modes for measuring like area computation, vertical distance measurement, vertical angle measurement etc.
  5. How would I accomodate the error in the measuring angle process ?
  6. Do I have to incorpate gear system to increase the pulses per revolution of the rotary encoder ? If so how would it cause the error to progress ? (Cumulative or Compensative)
  7. For levelling I need foot screws? Shall I 3d print those or not ?

How would it be evaluated ?

It would be evaluated by testing in the lab for output. Output on serial monitor/ OLED display may be obtained to test the efficacy of the project.