Be ready when it has to be right

Hans Martin Zogg

Business Director TPS at Leica Geosystems

Introducing the Leica TS20 next-generation robotic total station

Today, surveyors find themselves in a moment where growing demand for geospatial expertise and transformative technological advancements are changing the industry landscape. Increasing levels of automation and cloud capabilities present new horizons for productivity. However, we recognise that for technology to truly make an impact, it must do more than innovate. It must empower surveyors to meet their daily challenges with confidence and efficiency.

To ensure our solutions deliver meaningful value, we’ve continually developed total station innovations based on our customers’ feedback. This collaborative approach has revealed key requirements for impactful technology in the current landscape: it must automate repetitive tasks prone to mistakes, address tight deadlines and environmental challenges, alleviate workforce shortages, and facilitate collaboration. Above all, as a surveyor’s daily and long-time companion that will measure day after day, it must evolve to meet the demands of tomorrow.

The Leica TS20 robotic total station was born from this vision. Built from the ground up, it represents the next generation of total station technology, purposefully designed to meet the needs of today’s surveyors while embracing the possibilities of the future.

Built on a legacy

The TS20 continues a legacy that began over a century ago when Heinrich Wild crafted the first theodolite in 1921. Since then, Leica Geosystems has continued to lead in total station innovations, from the introduction of electronics in the 1970s to robotics in the 1990s and increasing automation over the past two decades. Each milestone, from the Leica TCA2003 with automatic target recognition to the AP20 AutoPole and now the TS20, incorporates automation to redefine what is possible.

The TS20 carries this heritage forward, initiating a new era of robotic total stations with AI-powered automation, reliable performance in demanding conditions, and internet connectivity. Built on an entirely new hardware platform - including faster motors, accurate PinPoint EDM, advanced optics, IP66-rated environmental protection, and a neural processing unit (NPU) - the TS20 is engineered to evolve. Its capabilities will expand through software updates, ensuring it grows alongside the industry’s needs. While remarkable today, the TS20 is primed for even greater possibilities ahead.

But what does this mean in practice? How do these advancements translate into benefits for the surveyor’s daily work?

The TS20 continues a legacy that began over a century ago when Heinrich Wild crafted the first theodolite in

The standard for productivity

Surveyors often work in environments where time is limited, resources are tight, and accuracy is non-negotiable. Each job presents a unique set of challenges, from battling the weather to navigating crowded construction sites or accessing points amidst complex terrain. The TS20 helps surveyors work faster across conditions while minimising mistakes - a formula that sets the standard for productivity.

Be ready faster, measure more

With the TS20, surveyors can search and aim to prisms and reflective tapes with remarkable speed and consistency. Thanks to AI-enhanced PowerSearch and automatic target recognition (ATR), combined with fast and accurate EDM and advanced motors, these automation features empower surveyors to measure and stake out more points each day with fewer interruptions to the work that needs their focus.

With Leica Captivate field software, the TS20 is ready to solve all tasks from simple measurement to complex layout. Captivate’s dedicated applications for tunnelling, rail, road, COGO, stakeout, and more support field crews with high flexibility, workflow guidance, and clear visualisations.

Additionally, as the first robotic total station to earn an IP66 rating, the TS20 is built to withstand rain, snow, and dust. But it takes more than a tough exterior to work past the elements. AI-enhanced PowerSearch and ATR are trained to recognise targets more reliably in a range of adverse environments for reliable performance in more conditions.

For even greater speed and flexibility, pairing the TS20 with the Leica AP20 AutoPole provides significant efficiency gains. This powerful combination makes it possible to access previously unreachable points or overcome line of sight obstacles without needing to level the pole or manually record height changes. The TS20’s fast EDM results in faster tilt initialisation with the AP20 and the AP20 stays ready to measure tilted longer. With integrated mobile data connectivity, the cloud service GeoCloud Drive enables surveyors to transfer data between the office and field and back again, ensuring that having the right data is never a block to getting work done.

Fewer mistakes

While speed is important, accuracy is paramount. In customer discussions, we’ve learned that surveyors make, on average, at least one mistake per day, with some going unnoticed until costly rework is required. The TS20 tackles this challenge with AI-powered features like AI-Detect, which notices if the prism type selected in Captivate is not the same as the one seen by the TS20. By catching mistakes before they occur, surveyors can save time, avoid rework, and ensure data integrity.

Altogether these advancements translate into uninterrupted workflows and finishing work faster, enabling surveyors to meet tight deadlines without compromising quality.

The future of robotic total stations

Combining advanced innovation with the familiarity surveyors need to excel immediately, the TS20 also bridges the gap between today’s workflows and tomorrow’s possibilities.

Familiar yet enhanced

Fully compatible with existing Leica accessories and equipment, the TS20 integrates into established workflows, minimising the learning curve for surveyors. It runs on the trusted Leica Captivate software platform, which many surveyors already know and rely on. However, this is not the same Captivate software that launched with earlier total stations; throughout those 10 years, it has evolved significantly to meet the growing data demands of modern surveying.

Captivate now offers advanced 3D visualisations, task-specific applications, and support for Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) files, enabling smoother collaboration with engineering and construction teams. As the industry evolves, Captivate will continue to adapt, serving as a critical link in delivering efficient digital workflows, and addressing the increasing demands for interoperability and data integration.

Engineered to evolve

The TS20 is also a future-ready innovation with the ability to grow alongside the needs of surveyors and the industry. At its core is a neural processing unit (NPU) that powers AI-driven functionalities and makes it possible to process data right in the field while the surveyor is working - all in the most energy efficient configuration. This advanced hardware also enables the TS20 to handle increasingly complex tasks, refine existing capabilities, and unlock entirely new features through software updates.

One such feature, planned for release in 2026, is AI-Follow, which follows the AP20 even when the line of sight is interrupted, allowing super-fast relock after the total station sees the AP20 again. This innovation will further enhance productivity by reducing downtime and ensuring continuous operation in dynamic environments.

Connected to surveying services

For more choice in data management and remote instrument access, the TS20 also supports advanced connection options, with mobile data, long-range Bluetooth, Ethernet, and WLAN. This enables a new range of cloud-based services, including remote management capabilities and access to GeoCloud Drive.

GeoCloud Protect is also one of these services, offering instrument tracking and locking to ensure you always know where your total station is and, in the event of theft, you can render the instrument useless and increase your chances of recovery. Since GeoCloud Protect is enabled through internal connectivity and sensors, it cannot be removed and locks the total station down if tampered with.

With even more remote management capabilities to be released in the future, these features not only help safeguard your investment and your data but also accelerate an era of growing cloud capabilities enabling surveyors to access their data and manage their instruments from anywhere.

Excel today, be ready for tomorrow

For those who have trusted Leica Geosystems over the years, the TS20 represents a continuation of our shared journey: a commitment to innovation, accuracy, and quality. It sets a new benchmark for productivity and marks the beginning of a new era in robotic total stations.

By combining cutting-edge technology with familiar workflows, the TS20 empowers surveyors to excel in their work today while preparing for future demands. Whether you’re measuring today’s points or solving tomorrow’s challenges, the Leica TS20 is your partner in navigating a rapidly evolving world, ensuring that when it has to be right, you’re always ready.