Low-cost, Millimeter-accurate Ad-hoc Positioning and Localisation System

Some applications where a mobile robot or a handheld tool is moved through a large workspace require sub-cm positioning or localisation accuracy, which cannot be achieved with conventional methods based on LiDAR, ultrasound or ultra wideband (UWB). While motion capture systems and robotic total stations could achieve the required accuracy, their integration is often not feasible due to high cost (starting over 15k USD), deployment effort and difficulty of use, especially in field and ad-hoc applications.

The technology offer is a system that can bridge this gap and is easy to integrate and set up, highly automatic and affordable.

• Suitable for short- to medium-range positioning in a plane (e.g. floor, wall, workpiece)
• Near-total station grade accuracy at half to a quarter of the cost
• The base range of 0.3 – 10 m, extendible to 30 m, possibly up to 50 m
• Also tracks absolute orientation and z deviation (for alignment correction)
• Option for highly dynamic measurements and interruption of line of sight

• Mobile robotic additive or subtractive machining and assembly
• Robotic surface inspection and mapping
• Low-cost measurement tools for specific site surveying tasks
• Advanced tools for wood construction
• Automated road marking and pavement painting
• Automated cutting of large custom banners

• Installation-free, easy to set up ad-hoc positioning solution
• Much lower cost than existing technologies in the same accuracy class
• The component can be integrated into the robotic system
• Automatic calibration
• No initial mapping required
• No deploying and measuring of markers or beacons
• No manual target finding
• No multi-path issues