<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The paper presents the possibility of mechanizing laser tracker measurements using a drone. Performing measurements using a laser tracker requires touching the measured surface with a probe. Usually it is done manually, even if it requires, e.g., climbing a ladder. The drone was applied as a probe carrier for the laser tracker. To measure a point, the modified drone had to land near this point. Touching the measured surface with the probe was executed using a mobile arm fixed to the drone. This solution allows performing laser tracker measurements without the need of walking or climbing difficult to access surfaces. Two consecutive experiments were performed to verify if such an approach is equally accurate as the standard one (manual measurements). Additionally, the influence of airflow generated by the drones’ propellers on a laser wavelength and the accuracy of interferometric measurements were estimated. The research proves that it is possible to mechanize laser tracker measurements using a drone. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the operating drone does not influence the laser tracker accuracy.</p>
</abstract>

The paper presents the possibility of mechanizing laser tracker measurements using a drone. Performing measurements using a laser tracker requires touching the measured surface with a probe. Usually it is done manually, even if it requires, e.g., climbing a ladder. The drone was applied as a probe carrier for the laser tracker. To measure a point, the modified drone had to land near this point. Touching the measured surface with the probe was executed using a mobile arm fixed to the drone. This solution allows performing laser tracker measurements without the need of walking or climbing difficult to access surfaces. Two consecutive experiments were performed to verify if such an approach is equally accurate as the standard one (manual measurements). Additionally, the influence of airflow generated by the drones’ propellers on a laser wavelength and the accuracy of interferometric measurements were estimated. The research proves that it is possible to mechanize laser tracker measurements using a drone. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the operating drone does not influence the laser tracker accuracy.

A Drone as a Reflector Carrier in Laser Tracker Measurements

Measurement Science Review

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"A Drone as a Reflector Carrier in Laser Tracker Measurements"}

The paper presents the possibility of mechanizing laser tracker measurements using a drone. Performing measurements using a laser tracker requires touching the...

A Drone as a Reflector Carrier in Laser Tracker Measurements

Published Online: Oct 13, 2022

Page range: 269 - 274

Received: Jan 12, 2022

Accepted: Jul 22, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/msr-2022-0034

Keywords
Laser tracker, laser measurements, interferometric measurement, drone, measurements mechanization

© 2022 Michał Jankowski et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

A Drone as a Reflector Carrier in Laser Tracker Measurements

Published Online: Oct 13, 2022

Page range: 269 - 274

Received: Jan 12, 2022

Accepted: Jul 22, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/msr-2022-0034

KeywordsLaser tracker, laser measurements, interferometric measurement, drone, measurements mechanization

© 2022 Michał Jankowski et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Laser tracker, laser measurements, interferometric measurement, drone, measurements mechanization