The Leica Pegasus TRK Mobile Mapping System

Today, millions of kilometres of roads and features need to be mapped to facilitate a range of technologies. Imagine riding in a self-driving car in New York where you are stuck in a traffic jam amidst tall, sky-blocking buildings. You can’t get a GNSS signal to establish your position, rendering your car essentially lost in space.

That’s why high-definition (HD) base maps are essential for autonomous driving to become a reality—they are packed with intelligence to know where in space a vehicle is even without GNSS based on recognising the mapped roads and features around it. HD base maps require a system that can work day and night to collect this information and there are simply not enough surveying engineers on the planet to carry out the task.

Therefore, widespread HD mapping requires a system that is easy enough for newcomers to operate, and the Leica Pegasus TRK provides this level of simplicity. It enables users to plan which roads need data collection and allows 21 hours of continuous operation without changing the battery.

At Leica Geosystems, we see a strong vision and application for the future, with the Pegasus TRK transforming mobile mapping in transport, utilities, and other industries. This technology goes beyond the capabilities of what’s already been done, making it the perfect companion for today’s mobile mapping requirements.

In this article, Elliot Gordon, a mobile mapping expert with 17 years of GNSS and reality capture experience, explains the Pegasus TRK’s capabilities in autonomy, simplicity, and intelligence to demonstrate why it’s the most comprehensive solution for mobile mapping on the market:

Enhanced technology - making moves with autonomy

Pegasus TRK provides the answer to a growing demand for more autonomy. Put simply, it allows users to plan and execute projects with confidence using autonomous workflows. Connected to the powerful Leica Pegasus FIELD software, users can expect fully autonomous and secure data collection in the field. By predicting the time required for planned missions and ensuring full storage and battery capacity to perform a job, the Pegasus TRK will never be caught short of time. Enabling mobile mapping in new ways, the automated collection process increases efficiency, improves data quality, and reduces project costs from the get-go.

When on a journey with the Pegasus TRK, users will see image previews, accuracy estimations, and live system feedback, instilling absolute confidence in the data acquired. With sensors triggered autonomously along the planned route, no detail is missed. Coupled with advanced dynamic laser scanning and an expandible imagery system for recording, measuring, and visualising environments, this system becomes the answer to increasing productivity - as you only collect the data once. It also connects with Leica Cyclone Pegasus OFFICE for streamlined input into post-processing and publishing workflows.

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Lightweight and light work - simplicity in more hands

With clear guidance throughout the data collection process, the Pegasus TRK makes mobile mapping more accessible. By reducing the weight to 14kg and having a rotating-tilting mounting platform and ergonomic design, only one person is needed to install it on a vehicle. Both small- and medium-sized companies can perform tasks as equally as large companies. Also, because of the system’s user-friendliness, the Pegasus TRK is even suitable for new users such as apprentices or trainees to take advantage of hands-on learning without rigorous training.

Of course, that’s not to say the Pegasus TRK isn’t suitable for industry professionals. Its reliable, high-quality output serves the needs of technical experts and newcomers to mobile mapping across industries. In fact, it offers flexibility and usability in whatever situation is required, making mobile mapping accessible for everyone

Accuracy - the main ingredient for success

In the world of mobile mapping, accuracy is not something to be left to chance. For example, in the rail industry, the mapping of railway tracks requires extreme accuracy for building safe rail networks. That’s why the Pegasus TRK builds on previous industry-leading accuracy levels to create the most accurate solution to date.

Enhanced industrial design of the Pegasus TRK skilfully combines an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) and Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) positioning in a recipe that takes users to the next level. The sophisticated integration of IMU and SLAM technology in Pegasus TRK’s sensor architecture enables georeferencing in GNSS denied environments, and precision RTK positioning gives location accuracy down to the centimetre in real-time. Plus, if a user chooses to install optical distance measurement technology (DMI) accessories onto a vehicle, they can accurately measure the travel distance in GNSS-denied conditions. This means there’s no concern about going through a tunnel and encountering executional errors.

Picture perfect - through the lens of AI

Setting the Pegasus TRK apart from other mobile mapping solutions, the AI-enhanced camera and automatic camera calibration bring images and data to life. With best-in-class colour truth from the SmartFusion ‘butterfly’ camera system with up to 120MP integral view, it represents environments realistically. Taking it one step further, this quality can be boosted with add-on front, side, and rear pavement cameras in a click to multiply the resolution - creating the same level of detail as a single 156MP spherical camera.

Capturing with the Pegasus TRK can enhance images and protect citizen privacy. The Pegasus TRK is integrated with an AI algorithm to blur people and vehicles directly in the imagery, as the data is captured for GPDR compliance. All data is encrypted and won't leave the Pegasus TRK unit, providing added peace of mind for client projects.

The best part is that there’s not just one thing that sets the Pegasus TRK apart—there are multiple. It demonstrates how a union of simplicity and sophistication can ensure inclusivity, setting a precedent for a future where expert mobile mapping is no longer just in the domain of expert users. By bringing autonomy, intelligence, and simplicity, together, we can build a future for mobile mapping that meets the needs of everyone.

For more information, please contact us or get in touch with your local Leica Geosystems sales representative.