Trimble MT900 Target
NOTE – This feature is not available on all models.
For Machine Control and Machine Guidance, the Trimble SPS Series Total Station uses the MT900 Target. The target is designed with reflective tape instead of glass prisms. The tracker operates in a fully active mode, using the Target ID LEDs for both horizontal and vertical tracking of the target, and the reflective tape is used for measurement. The LEDs are arranged so that every alternate LED points up or down, delivering the ability to operate at up to +/- 45 degrees from the horizontal. The LEDs emit the target ID, and can be programmed using 16 unique channels, allowing for up to 16 unique targets operating in the same area without risk of false target lock. Channels 8-16 are reserved for the MT900 working in conjunction with the Trimble SPS Series Total Station.
When the MT900 target is mounted on a machine, it is controlled and set up via the CAN serial bus.
If the target is mounted on a vehicle, ATV, or machine without a CAN serial bus, the target must be connected to a junction box. The target can then be controlled and set up via a serial port from a computer.
NOTE – If two targets are going to be used in close proximity, for example on a machine, Trimble recommends that you set each target on a different Target ID channel and put as large a gap as possible between the channels (for example, channel 4 and 12) to avoid any likelihood of interference when both targets are in the field of view. Trimble also recommends that the two targets are set at different heights to avoid the likelihood of both targets being in the same field of view / line of sight at the same time. Where only a part of the target will be used, for example on a tunnel drilling jumbo where the instrument is placed behind the machine, Trimble also recommends that the unused parts of the target be obscured using plastic pipe to avoid any likelihood of stray reflections from the machine or surrounding infrastructure, which can cause mispointing of the instrument through false lock ons to reflected signals.
