FAQ | Common Questions About Orion ONE Laser Surveying
Since the release of the Orion ONE visual and laser RTK receiver, we've received some questions from users curious about its new laser surveying function. In this blog, we'll address some of the most frequently asked questions to help you better understand how to utilize this feature and make informed decisions.
Q1: Is the laser of the Orion ONE visible in sunlight?
Yes, the Orion ONE is equipped with a green laser, specifically designed for maximum visibility, even under strong sunlight. This ensures clear and bright laser targeting, making it easy to aim, even in challenging outdoor conditions.
Watch the video on YouTube to see how the laser performs in daylight: [https://youtu.be/RDHzOibKJXU]
Q2: What is the accuracy of the Orion ONE laser surveying?
The Orion ONE laser surveying provides centimeter-level accuracy. According to the product specifications, the laser has an accuracy of ≤5.5cm within a 60° tilt range and at a 5-meter distance. This represents the precision in controlled conditions and as per the device's designed parameters.
To demonstrate its real-world performance, we've made a video where we measure the same point using the laser and the range pole (with both the tilt function and the laser turned off) in turn.
The coordinates of points measured by both methods showed a difference of less than 3cm, confirming the precision you can expect during field surveys.
Watch the video on YouTube [https://youtu.be/cEIFRfwtZUM]
Tip: When using the laser to aim at the target, even slight hand tremors can affect accuracy. If your project has high accuracy requirements, we recommend using a bipod to stabilize the device and ensure better precision.
Q3: Why is the laser surveying range of Orion ONE limited to 10 meters?
The Orion ONE laser surveying range is recommended to be limited to 10 meters for three main reasons, with IMU accuracy being the most significant factor:
- IMU Accuracy (Most Significant Factor): The tilt IMU provides the angular data necessary for calculating target coordinates, combined with the laser distance using trigonometry. The longer the distance, the larger the measurement error caused by the same angular deviation. A small attitude error (e.g., a 0.1-degree deviation) in the IMU will result in a much larger discrepancy in position at longer distances.
- Laser Divergence: As the laser travels, the beam naturally spreads, which increases the diameter of the laser spot. This can cause errors in measurement and reduce accuracy.
- Aiming Precision: As the distance increases, maintaining precise alignment becomes harder. Even small movements of the device can cause significant displacement of the target point.
Additionally, some RTK systems on the market that advertise long-range laser surveying also experience accuracy degradation over distance. For instance, the following picture is the accuracy parameters of a RTK with a 100-meter laser range on the market. The ±(8mm+3mm/m) means that at 100 meters, the horizontal accuracy (excluding aiming errors) will be at least ±30.8cm. This is why we recommend staying within 10 meters for optimal precision.
* Laser accuracy parameter from a "100m range" laser RTK on the market
For more information about the Orion ONE visual & laser RTK receiver, check out the links below: