Last year an overwhelming number of 42 instruments were listed in our Product Overview. This was my reason for announcing in my introduction to the 2008 Product Overview a reconsideration of the minimum specifications, with motorisation of instrument as new criterion.

Four manufacturers, Leica, Sokkia, Topcon and Trimble, were able to meet these ‘upgraded' specifications. These instruments are listed in the coming pages, and really represent the crème de la creme.

One remarkable instrument in this overview is Leica's brand-new TM/TS 30. Besides excellent performance in angle and distance measurements, the most interesting part lies under the hood. Motorisation of the instrument uses direct drives based on the ‘piezo' principle, which directly transforms electric power into mechanical movement.

Piezo technology enables high-speed motorisation and acceleration capabilities, together with infinitesimal step sizes (right down to nanometre level) at low power consumption. Compared to conventional drives, the main advantages of piezo technology are rotational speed up to 200gon/s, acceleration up to 400gon/s2, durability and robustness, and no noise emission. I really would love to test this instrument ‘hands-on'!

Of course, the instruments listed here only form a concise overview. Ten other manufacturers also presented very interesting instruments that met all the specifications but motorisation. A PDF of the full overview is available for download from our website.

But there is more! From now on you'll be able to compare your views on products through our website; and with a few clicks catch some of the products in which you are interested lined up side by side. In addition, you will find a box for your comments on a particular item of equipment underneath every product on our website, so you can inform each other about your experiences. After all, you're our expert!

Henk Key, contributing editor

henk.key@geomares.nl