Q&A with Byron Yuan: The Vision Behind RS10’s Innovation

The Evolution of GNSS, SLAM, and LiDAR in Surveying

The quest for accurate geospatial data has spurred advances in positioning and mapping technologies, including Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), and Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM).

GNSS, powered by constellations such as GPS (US), GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (EU), and BeiDou (China), revolutionized positioning with the advent of real-time kinematic (RTK) methods in the 1990s. RTK corrections dramatically improved accuracy, reducing GNSS errors from meters to centimeters and enabling high-precision geolocation in real time.

Meanwhile, LiDAR has evolved into a mature remote sensing tool that uses laser pulses to create high-resolution point clouds. Its ability to capture intricate topographic detail has made it indispensable for applications such as infrastructure inspection and forest management.

Originally developed for robotics, SLAM added a new dimension by enabling devices to map and navigate unfamiliar environments in real time. Advances in sensors and computing have extended SLAM's utility to unmanned aerial vehicles, autonomous navigation, and 3D modeling.

Today, the integration of these technologies is transforming surveying workflows. Solutions such as CHCNAV's RS10 combine the absolute positioning of GNSS RTK, the dynamic mapping capabilities of SLAM, and the rich data collection of LiDAR.

Interview with Byron Yuan, Director of CHCNAV 3D Mobile Mapping: The Vision Behind the RS10

Byron Yuan, Director of 3D Mobile Mapping Solutions at CHC Navigation, provides insight into the innovative RS10, a pioneering system that integrates GNSS and SLAM technologies. In this Q&A session, he explores the system's evolution, outstanding features and future potential. He also highlights how the RS10 addresses critical surveying challenges and sets new industry standards for efficiency and accuracy.

What is the RS10, and how does it differ from traditional GNSS solutions?

The RS10 is a 3D mobile mapping system that combines GNSS RTK, SLAM, and LiDAR into a compact and portable solution. Unlike traditional GNSS-only devices that rely solely on satellite signals for positioning, the RS10 uses SLAM to maintain accuracy in areas with limited or no GNSS signals, such as forests, urban canyons, and underground spaces.

By integrating these technologies, the RS10 provides reliable real-time 3D mapping and positioning. This versatility makes it suitable for a wide range of applications, including construction site surveys and infrastructure inspections.

What is SLAM technology, and how is it integrated with GNSS RTK in the RS10?

Byron Yuan: SLAM, or Simultaneous Localization and Mapping, is a technology that uses sensors such as cameras, LiDAR, and inertial navigation systems to observe and interpret the environment while simultaneously creating a map. It plays a key role in applications such as mapping, 3D modeling, and autonomous navigation, including obstacle avoidance for robotics and drones.

In the RS10, we take a unique approach by tightly coupling the raw SLAM measurement data with GNSS RTK. Rather than simply combining the final outputs of SLAM and GNSS, this approach integrates the data at a deeper level. Recognizing the diverse and dynamic nature of surveying environments, the RS10 uses an adaptive algorithm to adjust the weighting of SLAM and RTK data based on environmental conditions. This approach ensures optimal positioning accuracy and mapping performance as conditions change.

What are the advantages of this integration?

Byron Yuan: The RS10 leverages the strengths of both GNSS receivers and standalone SLAM scanners, offering significant advantages over each.

With GNSS receivers, problems such as cycle slip errors - caused by signal interference from obstructions such as trees, buildings or terrain - can compromise positioning accuracy. The RS10 addresses this issue by incorporating SLAM, which provides stable position data in areas with weak or no GNSS signals, ensuring greater measurement efficiency and reliability in daily operations.

Standalone SLAM scanners, on the other hand, often suffer from cumulative drift errors, where inaccuracies increase as the device moves through an environment. These systems typically rely on control points or external corrections to maintain accuracy. The RS10 overcomes this limitation by integrating GNSS RTK, which acts as a real-time reference to correct for drift errors. This not only improves surveying accuracy, but also reduces the need for extensive post-processing.

Combining these technologies, the RS10 delivers precise positioning and detailed mapping that works effectively in both GNSS-friendly and GNSS-challenged environments.

What inspired the development of the RS10?

Byron Yuan: Through market research, we identified several pain points that surveyor commonly faced with existing SLAM scanners. These included limited accuracy in complex environments, reliance on closed-loop paths for error correction, and ecosystems that lacked user-friendliness. These challenges underscored the need for a solution specifically designed for the surveying industry. This inspired us to develop the RS10, a system that seamlessly integrates high-precision GNSS with SLAM technology to address these limitations.

What challenges did you face during the development of the RS10?

Byron Yuan: The biggest challenge was to achieve the high measurement accuracy we aimed for - an absolute accuracy of 5 cm and a relative accuracy of 1 cm, regardless of the scenario. These ambitious goals required significant innovation and technological efforts.

About six months into the project, we encountered uncertainty about whether these goals were achievable. To overcome this, we adopted an agile development approach that included iterative testing methods like those used by SpaceX. This involved building customer-facing prototypes early in the process.

Our first prototype fell short of accuracy targets and revealed critical engineering issues. For example, the motor that drives the LiDAR rotation -a key component for maintaining consistent scanning accuracy- required six design iterations over the course of a year before it met performance standards. Through these iterative refinements, we gradually solved the technical challenges and ultimately met the stringent accuracy requirements.

What are the key features of the RS10 that you’re most excited to introduce?

Byron Yuan: Two of the most exciting innovations in the RS10 are SFix and Vi-LiDAR, which redefine traditional approaches to positioning and non-contact measurement.

SFix leverages the tight integration of GNSS and SLAM to deliver position accuracy of up to 5 cm within a minute, even in environments with obstructed or interfered GNSS signals. This capability makes the RS10 highly versatile, enabling applications such as indoor surveys, where traditional GNSS-only solutions fall short.

During the development process, we aimed to revolutionize non-contact measurement workflows using V-LiDAR by enhancing both efficiency and accuracy. Initially, the concept centered on employing LiDAR to capture specific point coordinates in the field, which required manual targeting. However, we advanced this idea to eliminate the need for precise aiming. The RS10 introduces an innovative workflow where surveyors can simply capture an image of the environment and directly select measurement points on it. This approach not only mitigates errors caused by hand tremors but also significantly improves reliability and efficiency, particularly in complex or hard-to-access survey areas, transforming the non-contact measurement process.

How does the RS10 ensure efficient scanning?

Byron Yuan: Efficient scanning is achieved through several innovations designed to improve performance in real-world applications.

One key innovation is our Loop-Free Technology, which eliminates the need for surveyors to revisit areas to close loops. This optimizes the scanning path, reducing survey time without sacrificing data accuracy. Additionally, the RS10 features hot-swappable batteries, enabling uninterrupted operation and extended scanning sessions without powering down the device.

To maintain data reliability and quality, we’ve introduced the Precision Alert feature. Integrated into the RS10’s real-time point cloud viewing system, it provides immediate feedback on data quality. Surveyors can address potential issues during the initial scan, minimizing the need for repeat scans and ensuring high-quality data capture on the first pass.

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What do you see as the future direction for products like the RS10?

Byron Yuan: SLAM technology is set to transform surveying by replacing traditional tools such as total stations and GNSS RTK receivers in more scenarios. As its adoption grows, we expect significant advances in SLAM algorithms to improve accuracy and stability. At the same time, software solutions will become more advanced and user-friendly to better serve diverse industry needs.

Looking ahead, the integration of SLAM with visual and 3D modeling technologies will further enhance tools such as the RS10. For example, combining SLAM with 3D Gaussian modeling could enable the creation of highly realistic digital twins that provide detailed, interactive representations of physical environments. These innovations could expand SLAM’s applications into fields such as civil engineering, urban planning, and virtual reality, creating new opportunities for efficiency and innovation.

Concluding Thoughts

The RS10 embodies CHC Navigation's commitment to pushing the boundaries of geospatial technology through the seamless integration of GNSS, SLAM and LiDAR. As Byron Yuan points out, innovations such as SFix and Vi-LiDAR effectively address industry challenges and deliver accuracy in challenging environments. With its advanced capabilities, the RS10 not only redefines traditional surveying workflows, but also lays the foundation for broader SLAM applications, opening new possibilities in 3D modeling and digital twin creation.