Calibration and precise orientation determination of a gun barrel for agriculture and forestry work using a high-precision total station

Abstract

To meet the agricultural and forestry needs of humans, the introduction and use of modern technologies with high precision and applicability in the field of agro-forestry is inevitable. Moreover, the accuracy of currently used instruments and techniques is undergoing constant improvement to yield better results. The effectiveness of the gun barrel for agro-forestry has been compromised by its low precision and high cost for many decades. This study aimed to develop a new method to increase the accuracy of the gun barrel by integrating the absolute fixed-point orientation and adjustable gun barrel calibration profile using a total station for precise determination. For this purpose, the reunification of the measurement of an absolute coordinate system by total station resection with the aid of two or more known control points was carried out. Then, through barrel calibration, a fixed measurement target was set on the barrel and a fixed spatial position relationship between the measurement target and the axis of the barrel was established. After that, the orientation of the barrel was adjusted, and the three-dimensional coordinates of the fixed target were measured using a total station instrument. The barrel simulation test results showed that the total station has a good accuracy in the calculation of azimuth angle and elevation angle, while the measurement error could be guaranteed within 0.2 mil. Our newly proposed method has satisfied the accuracy test requirements and shown higher accuracy than other related conventional methods. It will make the gun barrel more useful and will enhance its applicability in the field of agro-forestry.