Discover productivity “superpowers” by combining Robotic Total Station and GNSS technology to complete your project faster, with more accuracy and less man power. Jim Cesiro, owner of Atlantic Designs and Brent Hayes of Lengemann reveal inside secrets and tell their stories of Hybrid and how the robotics world has grown throughout the years with our host Matthew Marchioni.
There is a video version of this episode, check it out here:
https://youtu.be/0G9pNxkyTTs
► Learn more about Hybrid Positioning
https://www.topconpositioning.com/hybrid
Discover productivity “superpowers” by combining Robotic Total Station and GNSS technology to complete your project faster, with more accuracy and less man power. Jim Cesiro, owner of Atlantic Designs and Brent Hayes of Lengemann reveal inside secrets and tell their stories of Hybrid and how the robotics world has grown throughout the years with our host Matthew Marchioni.
There is a video version of this episode, check it out here:
https://youtu.be/0G9pNxkyTTs
► Learn more about Hybrid Positioning
https://www.topconpositioning.com/hybrid
[inaudible]
Speaker 2:Welcome to another edition of Topcon talks construction. My name is Matthew Marcioni. I'm a district sales manager for Topcon positioning systems. Thanks again for joining us. The topic today is hybrid technology. Um, what is hybrid technology just to get this out of the way for everybody? It's the combination of both, uh, GNSS and robotic technology in one consolidated pole. Basically it's a field system that improves field work, more productivity, more efficiency. So, um, that's the topic today and I am very pleased to have with me two, uh, professionals, uh, the first person I'll introduce and I'll let them each introduce themselves. And I want you guys to give some background about yourselves as well. We have Brent Hayes who is sales representative for Langham incorporation. He's located in South Florida. So, Brent, thank you so much for coming by and with Brent. I've got, uh, Jim[inaudible] and, uh, Jim is the owner operator of Atlantic land designs down in Jensen beach, Florida. So, Jim, thank you very much for taking time from your busy day and your busy week to join us on this discussion. This podcast, uh, about Topcon talks, construction, but again specifically, this is a geo specific conversation. The three of us are going to have, so, um, let's get right to it about hybrid technology. Brett, please just introduce yourself and tell everybody, uh, who you are. Thanks Matt. I'm Brent Hayes and I'm the territory manager in South Florida. And I had started in 97, been enjoined it everything. Awesome. Awesome. So you've seen the evolution of technology as myself. I started in serving in 89, sadly. Uh, so there were still wooden boxes with Caney transits and spend decent transits. Unfortunately that's 1990s, not 1890s. Um, and I did see also the progression of the technology. So welcome aboard. I'm happy that you're here with us because you bring to this discussion, uh, lots of history and a lot of, uh, experience, uh, Jim, tell us about who you are and uh, where are you located and a little bit about, uh, what you're doing as far as your profession?
Speaker 3:Well, I started out, um, as a drafter in 1988 for a land surveyor, then worked my way up to vice president of that company over a 10 year period and then got licensed and started working and getting exposed to GPS technology in the late nineties in West Palm beach, and then opened my own business in the late night, shortly after that in Jensen beach and have been in this area for almost over 20 years now. So, uh, as a small business owner, um, I'm always looking for an angle to make my business more efficient and to work well with, you know, things that will work well with my employees that will give me better control over what they're doing.
Speaker 2:Awesome. Awesome. And so, Jim, it sounds like you're a seasoned veteran as well. You've seen the progression of technology looking a little bit back, I'll go down memory lane if you allow me to. But as far as the evolution of how we got here today to hybrid technology, we've all touched, held our hands on a mechanical optical total station two man, three man crew field notes, uh, field book, right? And the rain deed skin, number two pencil, don't erase cross through your field notes if you make a mistake. So that's kind of where I came from as far as working in the field, uh, in terms of land surveying and surveying technology, uh, after that came data collectors, uh, GPS global positioning system technology of course came on the rise static, the old cook data post-processing and those two technologies, uh, optical and then robotic in the mid nineties, kind of, uh, traveled along this path with GE GPS, which then became G N S S global navigation satellite systems. So now we're working obviously today with multiple constellations, but I remember, uh, when I went into retail sales in the nineties, wondering at that time with the, uh, uh, inception of robotic and seeing the growth of robotics and the one man type survey, a field crew, which would be just for one person, was really a shock to the industry. Lots of the larger engineering surveying companies weren't prepared, um, to have a one man system. It was the smaller offices, just like you're saying, Jim, that at that time embraced something that would give them the ability to go out by themselves anytime of day or night, they didn't require another field person. They were more efficient. And I often wondered as GPS traveled along to, uh, from static to base and Rover, then obviously to network RTK, which of the two would survive or would one overcome the other. So today's topic hybrid is amazingly now fast forward to 2021. We'll stay here. Thank God. And you're enjoying Tyberg, which now we're combining the two. Brent, tell me about your sales experience, total stations, uh, your experience when you first drew into robots, GNSS, and your first experience with hybrid, what was your first experience with the fiber technology?
Speaker 4:Well, my first experience, actually, you know what, when you really go back, you know, when you think about GPS and then you think about robotics, when you think about GPS, how you used to have all the cables and you had the intent of mass and everything was going up and you had the backpack, you know, you had that. And then the robot came out and it was like, Oh wow. You know, and then, you know, and now we're, we're merging those two technologies together. It's just, it's just amazing because, you know, when you think about the robots, you had it. Oh yeah. It follows me and it goes, and then the quick lock came on and you were like, Oh wow, this is amazing. And then now we're, now we're merging those two technologies together. And the biggest thing with that just it's just how seamless it is. You know, no matter where you are, if you're under a tree, Oh, let me switch the robot. If you're with, if you're out in the open you got, you've got the GPS. It's just amazing how fast the technology goes. And, and with the, with the survey. And that's why I love this job actually is because, you know, I've been doing this a long time. And then with the, with the taping, there's always something else to learn. It's just amazing how fast it's technology, what can be next, right. You don't have, where can it go? It's just never ends
Speaker 2:True. True. I, I do. Yeah. I'm the same way. Brent. I'm as passionate and as June, Jim, I'm sure you as well. I mean, it's like Christmas morning, pinch me. I'm dreaming. I woke up, uh, what's next and what's new. And every time I get a hybrid system in my hand, I wonder, man, how, how much more efficient can we be? And, and you're absolutely right. I think the use of field computers, Bluetooth wireless, that's where the field trues, no external 12 volt gel cell alligator clip, you know, the, the, the, uh, exceptional range of UHF radios. So you're right. I forgot that. Boom. I mean, we get rid of the power receiver and 10 of the cables, data collector, serial nine pin, it's all got away, a lightweight, you know, less than 10 pounds does everything for me on top of a Poland Walla. And now I'm in Xanadu Nirvana. Jim, tell me about your experiences. Where did you grow? What did you start with and how did you get to a hybrid today?
Speaker 3:We're going to go backwards and backwards. This hybrid technology is like having super power. So, and I've said that before you go out as a one man crew, and there isn't anything that could get in your way, there's nothing that's going to stop you. Um, you pointed out Brent to the fact that you can get up underneath trees, things where GPS isn't going to be ideal, but what are the other things that you can do, which is one of the most amazing parts of which is going into the robotics as well as a robot by itself is the fact that you can switch. If you have to do a whole bunch of repetitive shots, why walk around to GPS, sit and still grind it down and get an accuracy when you can just a couple of shots, get the G, get the, set, the robot up a couple shots, localize it. And then now you're doing instant shots. Everything's just bang, bang, bang. You can knock out a hundred, 200 shots in no time because there's no one behind the robot. It's following you. The second you stop and you stabilized, it's got a shot and you're going, and it's just, it's really, um, the speed of it is amazing. Now we can go back. I was really proud of myself. One day, I think I took 150 or 200 shots with a Topcon GTS, two B, which is old school, turning the cap though, turning the dials and brightened down everything and your notebook. And we thought we had just killed it that day. That's an hour before lunch. Now that was a whole eight hour day. And now I can do that in an hour if I have to. And so just going from one extreme to them to now how much time it saved me, how much less I need to have a co-worker I can go out by myself. And like I said, I can accomplish anything I need to do now.
Speaker 2:Yes, I, I agree. I mean, it's interesting because you know, we used to and crews are still doing it today. Unfortunately, breaking out GPS, right? Wires, cables based Rover set control, stop flows, everything up, put it in the box. After lunch, let's get the robot out. Let's transfer points, new jobs start instrument. Why are they doing this? Let's combine the two. And you're right when I'm running with hybrid, I'm wondering, I, I am. I'm like a super power Superman, Batman pick your superhero. So I'll be super mad. I can't leap off plus in a single bound, but I can at least run around the street. I am old. I won't fall down and break a hip, but I do feel power though. There's no kryptonite in my system here. I can basically freely go where any man has gone before. And it's not just like you said, Brent, the rotation speed and the quick lock of the robots. But it's the ability to what you're saying. Jim is pick up more points on the site. I'm getting a better picture of what I've done in the field. And I'm not missing critical points on a survey where I thought, ah, I get it. I better get this point on my next setup. Well, there is no more next set up. You're doing everything from one setup and that's, I think that's one of the keys. Right? What do you think about as far as removing setups? What are some of the benefits, not just gender, some of your customers are talking about hybrid.
Speaker 4:You know, it's funny that you mentioned that you feel like you're Superman, right? But you don't have to be Superman to actually carry it because when you, when you think about it, it sounds like, Oh man, I bet that whole it's just heavy. Right? But it's actually very white because the technology has changed so much. Your GPS receiver is extremely small now. And that the prism is extremely smart. And we're putting that on top of the prism. And so your pole is actually, so you don't have to be, you know, have Superman straight. They carry that all day long. But, but yeah. So just this picture, this, so let's just say you're doing a title survey and you have it in front of the house. Well, now you've got to go behind that house. Well, with the traditional instrument, you would be traversed over when now, Oh, it's, this is, what's really nice is in the software. It's just, it's a push of a button. Right? So no matter what screen you're in, whether you're taking a Topo shot or you're staking out right there, there's a picture. And if it shows GPS, your NGPs, if it shows a robot you're in robot. So now you'd go behind the house. You're pushing one button. Now you're in GPS. You don't have to exit the screen. You know, when you, when you first started thinking about this, they're like, Oh yeah, okay. I'm in robot. I'm going to have to exit three screens and getting into G one, but it's a one push of a button and you're right into the GPS. Oh no. What robot? Boom, robot. It's, it's really amazing technology. And how fast I just think about how much time you're saving, not even having the extra screens, just that aspect of it is saving you. What, a couple of hours a day, if you're working all day
Speaker 2:True. You're right, Brian, because I'm thinking if we get into the minutia of what's really happening here, you know, the advent of the processing speed of our field computers are windows 10 computers. I can drop them. I can submerse them. Right? Just the, you know, the robustness of the field equipment, the lightweightness, like you said, I've got a receiver now that is as heavy as my three 60 prism. So you're right. It's weightless. It's basically napping on the pole. And to the point of you're saying everything is seamless in the software, how quickly easy button to switch. Not only that, between the two technologies, but what windows 10 and the salt field software has given us as being maps. So now I automatically have a background map street or Bing to work from. Um, I also can see which I love in the background robot, robot robot. I can still see if I have a fixed or float solution in the background while I'm working robotically. This is great because then I know if I'm prepping the next GNSS shot, I now have enough satellites, 1725 salads. Now I can jump to GNSS and get those shots where I can't see the robot. Jim, tell me the story though, because you started to point too, you are a little nervous and apprehensive about, Hey, let's go to Jim says zero and say, where did you start with equipment though? I got to know you started here. How did you get to here today? What did you start using in the field?
Speaker 3:Well, of course it was the old GTS to be, but eventually I did go to data collection, you know, um, did GTS Tubi was basically, Hey man, I started a business on my gold card and I didn't have any money in the bank. And I was using what scraps were around so I could get out and do my thing. Um, the minute I could afford to, I went to a total station and then I went to Jayda collection and then I've always been on data collection for many years. And I had this misconception that GPS hybrid technology, all this stuff was overkill for what I do. I'm a block. I'm a lot in blocks surveyor. For the most part, I do have some larger projects. I'm working in a 600 lot subdivision doing all the builder, um, support in there. Um, so I just felt like I was taking a bazooka rabbit hunting and it didn't make sense to me to have GPS. And that was a dumb, dumb way to think because now that I've been using the cheap GPS, we've been using from a little over almost three years, and now I'm starting, the lights are going off and I'm like, I can own this town. I can collect GPS on this whole town and own it. And I'll have everything all built. And I'm building giant my own GIS maps on building in my, in my CAD now that, um, I've got whole sections of this town that I basically got locked down. If anybody comes to me and says, Oh, well, where am a problem? Yeah, let's go see that problem because I pretty much own those six blocks over. There are these 20 blocks over here and it's all starting to come together. And if I've been doing this a lot longer, I would have been a lot better spot right now. So I'm kicking myself a little, but now I'm not going to let the technology, um, get too far ahead of me. I'm always going to stay on the leading edge cause I can see the value. Um, not only in having that technology, but also it, man, you just pointed to some of the say time savings, how much time? Just the hybrid saves me a ridiculous amount of time. I talked about this before, um, to you or I was doing a mate big acreage survey and I could go, um, I couldn't, I got over into an area with just the GPS. Wasn't going to work well, great block down the robot, localize it. And now I'm on the robot. And then, Oh, I got another place I don't have to traverse. I just go over and localized the robot. And it's just like having your own little satellite sitting there. That's working here, you're working around and that's amazing. Time-saving because the old way of doing this, you've alluded to this, you'd be dropping a couple of traffic points, localizing them, then jumping and putting your instrument on one backside and the other and then spinning your points and it getting in the office and fixing that later. And now you don't have to do that. It's all threaded together. When you come in and you download your point file and you drop it into your CAD, everything's there. I'll try it together. There's no rotating anything on or doing anything. Or if you had taken the time and gotten your bearing and your coordinates so that you could do that and get, well, that's fine. You're taking in the field so you don't have to do any of that. It's all threaded together. And it's an amazing what an amazing time saving.
Speaker 2:Awesome. Ben Bryant. I'm going to have to bring you in and tell me the first time you saw Jim, what you showed him and his reaction because Jim is telling us total station data collection stop. Okay. I get it. I'll get into GPS. GNSS is loving GNSS, but he's missing something in his life. You brought it to him. Tommy. Tell me about the day when you brought him the robot, how you showed it to him and what was his feedback? What was his expression?
Speaker 4:Well, it was actually to be honest, but it was dumb luck, right? So literally I was down the street and I was actually doing some GPS training for another customer. And uh, I was, I was heading back and I just happened to see his office and it said Atlantic land design. And I was like, wow, that, that sounds interesting. Let me see what this guy does. So I, I actually made a U-turn I go when I started talking to him and I was at, I started asking about GBS and this has just happened to be when the VR just sorta came out and he told me he's he wasn't using GPS. Oh, boom. Really? So I started telling, you know what, and when something just comes out that says, you know, as a salesman, you're excited. So the VR came out, always GPS. I was like, GPS, like we wanted to, how are you not, you missed, we've got our whole network set up and you know, I just set him up and then, you know, so I got him into GPS and, uh, it, it wasn't real smooth sailing. Right? Cause he was using the network, but he was doing a lot of form boards and to elevation on four more, isn't great using a network. So, you know, he actually had bought that, that BR system, he bought another system and then he was, we had went through the whole, you know, let's put it on a bipod, let's make sure you're taking 20 seconds, 30 seconds shots. So then, then I came to him and I was like, look, this is actually the perfect solution. You've already invested in the GPS. All you have to buy as the robot in the prison, we can put it on top of you will have the best of both worlds, worlds. And we went outside and he, I mean, literally his eyes just got, and he was like, yes, this is what I need. And I was like, I guess I know. And then, you know, from there, and from there he he's been, you know, he's been great. And he's like telling everybody, you have got to have this. It's just been a wonderful relationship. That's awesome. So I'm just glad I can help. I'm just glad I made that U-turn that day.
Speaker 2:Well, you, you, you, you, you call it luck Brent, but that's the, uh, tenacity of a sales rep as a solid rockstar sales rep. You're a rock star to me because a lot of the guys would have just kept driving. But, um, you made the U-turn you said here's an opportunity and uh, yeah, it was fortuitous. I mean, I think it was a special meeting with, uh, with Jim. So Jen, he gives you the GNSS spiel you're in, you buy in and then just making a drink more Kool-Aid he brings over the robot. You told me what you thought, but what was your reaction then when you saw Brent with the robot and he went over hybrid?
Speaker 3:Well, yeah, he came by with a used robot and said, um, I want to show you something. And he took me outside and he started doing the demo and, uh, he doesn't know this. Uh, I think I talked about that every day for six months until I bought it. Um, my wife was sick a year. My wife was totally sick of hearing about it. And then finally he, and this is a smart salesman here. What's that, um, what's that statute you can use to, uh, fully deduct the a one 79. He comes in and he shows me the one 79 and he says the air man, you could buy it and fully write it off. And I'm like, order one is your salesman of the year right there. That was a smart, smart move. Cause I was sitting on the fence about dropping the money on it. And then when he came and said, dad, I said, yeah, we'll do that because it's been very busy here at let's just say that. So it was a good time to make that move.
Speaker 2:That's awesome. And, and again, grant, uh, I do agree with Jim is saying you're using all resources possible. Uh, you come across very friendly, uh, very congenial. So I could see how, uh, you have a wonderful clientele, a wonderful client base, uh, and being a very successful sales rep in Jim. Like I say, I appreciate you embracing Brent and the technology. Um, so a little bit more about hybrid, what type type of savings are you? Are you on the job site with hybrid? So thinking about what you did prior, what is the biggest difference that you find in and out just a more efficient, more points or what is
Speaker 3:Yeah, well look, the, the formboard issue we were having, uh, became where I would be sitting on a formboard corner for 20, 30 seconds, just trying to grind down the, you know, the accuracy on the vertical, the horizontal has never been a problem. Um, so what I ended up resorting to is I wouldn't just worry about the vertical anymore. I would just, uh, break out a laser level and go back around, but that's again, wasting time. So now what I'm doing is I'm setting up a hybrid system, um, initializing it, localizing it, and now I'm running around like instead of standing for 20, 30 seconds on one corner, um, it's, as long as I can get myself good and level and take the, take the, uh, take the observation and I'm moving on. So foamboard surveys went from something that probably took, I'd say 20, 20 minutes plus to I'm surprised I'm there longer than 15 minutes now. Cause that's just how fat, once you were initialized and moving, it took longer to initialize and it did to actually shoot the whole job. So yeah, it's definitely a huge time saver. Same thing with building square outs. It's like having a, an instrument, man. That's an Android because he's just basically, you're getting that constant, constant feedback as you're moving around. It's really, you know, before what you did, you stopped the guy to shoot you. Oh yeah. I moved back. That's robotic. I know. But again, initializing getting on, on building square outs, all these little builder things are going way faster now.
Speaker 2:Yes. Agreed, agreed. And there's two points I wanna make. One is, um, to your point of, uh, the robotic introduction, like you said, Brent to Jim, I think we all have to remember GNSS GPS is a tremendous tool, but when there's, uh, uh, tolerances or the job necessitates tight vertical, you know, this is where the robotic instrument, I mean one to two millimeter, uh, of distance meter accuracy. I mean, if you need tight vertical work, it's the optical robotic instrument is still your choice of, of tool in the toolbox GNSS. Yes. I can go anywhere, a fixed solution a couple of hundred years horizontal vertical, but if you really need tight, uh, tolerances on the vertical, this is where for all these years, since 96 with robots, uh, they have survived because of their, uh, not only in indoor work, but also for tight vertical work as well. And the combination of the two is just mind blowing. Uh, the other thing I wanted to point out is we're talking about GNSS and robotic really as the sensors, it's the software that's tying it all together. I think we all know that on the call that it's, you know, it's the being maps, it's the efficiency of the software. It's windows 10 out of a fast processor. Not only that, but it's the other things, the fringe benefits, so to speak, uh, Microsoft ATT I'm on the network. So now I have internet, so I have big maps stop, but I also, um, can, when I'm done or Jim, you hire me with a new hybrid, uh, hybrid system and I'm a train trainee. You might say, Matt, uh, you're a great guy, college grad, but I want you to send me, uh, on every hour, everything you've done, everything you shot or everything you've laid out. So in the background, the nice thing about field software and Brendan, I'm sure you can attest to this is, uh, the use of cloud. So not only is it expediting the field, work on the ground by taking shop, shop, shop, but it's also then taking what I've done, sending it to Jim on three hours away, three hours traffic. I can send him what I've shot as far as 3d coded linework, stakeout reports, et cetera, but gym owner operator can check me while I'm on the job site, uh, before I've left. And a lot of things that the guys don't know is with that eight megapixel camera in the field computer, I could be taking shots and pictures that nose getting zipped up into the job file as well. So I want to hear your guys' thoughts, Brent, when you're selling the product, because with someone like Jim, he's drinking from a fire hose, he's trying to take the best that he can from it. But there's so much more small little things I think that are inherent in the system that can also help out. So I take pictures. Jim sees it, I see on the job site changes to the design. He can send me the updates and I can have them. And after lunch I can start laying them out. So it's not just the hardware and the sensors, but it seems like it's the, with, with internet, with cellular connection, with using cloud-based technology to get job files back and forth, uh, that seems to be expediting the process as well. But Brent, what are your thoughts on there as far as what the market is looking for more than just hybrid?
Speaker 4:Well, I absolutely, you know, your equipment, it's only as good as your software, right? So what I really love about the software too is, and this is it I've had multiple customers tell me is because the sulfurs column was code driven, right? So in, in being maps, it's actually, if you're doing lines or edge of payments, you can, you can see those lines. And when they miss something it's visually right there. So it's no more, Oh, I forgot to do that because they're actually seeing a lot, you know, as soon as, as soon as they hit two shots of lights are being drawn, you know, however you want to set it up. You're seeing that life. And so that, that really saves a lot of time. And not only that, but even as a training tool, uh, where we have the cloud-based software, as you, as you mentioned, what, as soon as they they're taking shots, they can, they can see it in the office and you can actually replay live how they shot the shots in the field and stuff. So that's, it's a great training tool for new, uh, new field crews as well. So there's just so many benefits to that, stuff like that. Cause it's really software. It doesn't matter how good your equipment is. If your software is not up to par, then, then really your equipment is not up to par and really our, our software. So it's so amazing. Just even just with the touch of a switching from GPS
Speaker 3:To robot, we've already mentioned that, but the big mat senior shot getting their line drawn in, as soon as you shot them, it's just, it's, it's amazing technology.
Speaker 2:I think you're right. Brit and I'll get to Jim in a sec, hardware is hardware, GNSS, receivers, robots, everything on the market. They're sensors, they're top notch, they're fast and they track real well, but it's, you're right. It's in the software because what the software provides me for workflow, for imagery like being mapped to the street maps, um, the ability to send and receive data, have the office immediately see that, uh, it's those things in the field saw where you're you're right. That is a difference between software X and software. Uh, Y uh, I think, uh, our software has the ability to take those sensors together and make them work basically at their peak performance. Because again, hardware, we're all good. We're all accurate, but it's really in the software product pointing to the big maps. One thing I noticed I was doing reflect your list of measurements and I was using Bing maps. And, you know, Jim, uh, Brent using reflection lists, I'm behind the gun now taking shots to building corners, utility poles, looking for wire sag, whatever I realized using being maps, as I'm taking reflection lists, you've got parallel, extra focusing, trying to shoot through trees, the ability to see my point store on the building in being versus 40 feet back on a wall, I call it my mistake. And it's just the little things that are added in the software to not only speed the process of field work, but to eliminate errors or mistakes or blunders. Before you left, before you left the job, Jim, what have you found as you've dug into hive to put more into the software? Is there anything else that you can tell us that you appreciate or want Brad to come out and show you even more since we're talking about these other kernels?
Speaker 3:Yeah. If we're going to get the cloud stuff real soon, buddy. Um, I don't ha I haven't been using that yet. And I want to learn how to use that because what we've been doing is basically exporting the job when it's done and then emailing it. Cause you can open up an email and you get to windows 10 to open up the email app and email the points in. And, um, this is for a little lot block survey or not a big construction stakeout guy. We'll get a client that will pretty much have a meltdown. And I forgot the order, a survey, and I have a closing this afternoon. Can you save me? Well? Yeah, we can, because what I do is I send my, I have a, um, uh, we have the ability to send the field notes and the field data all into the office, um, before it even, um, before the crew even gets back so they can hit that job, do what they need to do, send all the data into the office, keep moving. And by the time I'm, cause I'm out in the field too, with the other crew, like I said, I work half day in the field. By the time I walk in, it's sitting in my inbox ready to go to be checked, gone over, look at the notes, look at the points, look at the CAD file and boom, I'm sending it out. They realistically, they could buy it. If they were at eight o'clock in the morning receptionist to get it out to the crew, to change gears, go over here and fix this thing, send everything back to the draft of the draft or draft it all up by the time I'm walking in, I'm checking it and I'm getting it there just in time for the closing. So in those situations, you couldn't do that before. But if I had a data collect, I had to break out a laptop, download it. Now I'm just in the same screen, close this email, boom, there you go. This cloud stuff, Brent, we're getting together real soon, buddy. Talk about this. I liked that. I liked that a lot and I got a guy I'm training right now and I'd like to be able to watch what he's doing while he's doing it. So that would be awesome.
Speaker 2:Well, it's interesting because I was with a land surveyor about three months ago, a dealer said, Hey Matt, you're the hybrid guy. You bleed hybrid, you've done hybrid presentations. Can you come out and help assist me in my demonstration? And this was a surveyor who had based on Rover GPS and an older robot. And I think there's many in our industry, not just surveying but forensics, um, other markets, uh, where the, uh, this type of technology would really help. But in his case he had the pieces, he just didn't have them put together like hybrid. But at one point it was interesting. He had the windows collector and he was still doing nine pin serials, still driving back in nine pin serial to the computer. And I said, you know, you're, you're a couple hundred dollars from cloud. Wouldn't it be wonderful if, and he's like, are you kidding? I can do that today. I said, yes today. And he was like, no more nine pin serial and 20 minutes on the phone, Jim, no kid. And I basically talked him into all right, connect to wifi with your controller, go to enterprise and let's go ahead and have you create the project? And within 20 minutes he was transferring data in his office to a, to cloud. So he could see the, you know, the reality, because at some point he's going to have to hire someone he's going to have to keep an eye on that person and the ability to just touch and see what the field crew is doing and getting things to them or immediate is a, again, it's just a kind of a part B as far as putting that on top of what the sensors and what this technology is doing.
Speaker 3:So you're selling me something bread.
Speaker 4:The good thing about this is it's actually already there. Just gotta turn it off. Just got, turn it on to it. Yeah,
Speaker 3:Yeah. Basically what the hybrid is too. It's just an unlocked module.
Speaker 4:Absolutely. Yeah. That, that, you know, and you know, we've, we've just discussed it, sober over dinner with, with other cousins I can tell and you know, our other customers that we, we talked to, you already have it, all you gotta do is turn it on, you know, and that's one good thing too, is, you know, a lot of when you start talking about technology, uh, as technology grows, a lot of, a lot of times when technology, Oh, well you have to purchase a new piece of equipment. Well, this technology actually works. You can have an older robot with a new GPS or an older GPS. We just get the adapter on top of the prison and we'll put that GPS on it. It's not that you have to purchase all new equipment. It actually works with your, you know, even your older receivers or your older, it's a, it's amazing how this goes. You know?
Speaker 2:Yeah. The backward compatibility that we have in our software allows those that have you're absolutely right. Brent, that had older equipment, they are still candidates. They can still use, uh, older hardware, just a, you know, a$79 adapter, five, eight by 11. And while a lot of the tricks she has done. Um, but, uh, but all in all, I think it's a tremendous technology. I'm trying to think what else, as far as in the software, not just hybrid, but smart boxes, being able to customize what I want to see for data when I'm collecting it. And when I'm staking out, uh, I like to put local time to see what time it is. I like to see the tilt angle, because obviously now a lot of our technology, you don't even have to, uh, um, plumb the pole with, uh, with our GNSS technology. So there's so many pearls, quick codes, as far as expediting my shot to shot collection where I can create transmits and codes on being maps. I mean, the, the list is really numerous, uh, of, of what
Speaker 4:Absolutely. Well, that's what was great about the software too, right? Is, is there's no limits to it. I mean, cause everybody has different technology. I can't tell you how many times I have to custom customize a software, but this guy wants once his stakeout, where to not to say stakeout and he wants it to say layout instead of Topo, he wants to say site shock and it's, and you can do that. You can make anything say which, you know, whatever technology you're using. Well, I'll make it say whatever you want it to say. You know, it's, it's totally up to you that the software is amazing.
Speaker 2:I think you're absolutely right. It's not rigid. It's flexible. You can make it as advanced or as simplified. So Jim, once you have a new hire, come in, Brent can show you if he hasn't shown you already, how to customize and you can really eliminate or delete other programs that you may not want or use, but you can simplify. Or like you said, I'm an old software guy from the nineties. I still have terminology in my head. I like to use the word Cogo, uh, so I can change these things in my software and this, these are small things, but they're a big help for a guy that's getting into our software to make it a little bit more easier for him to feel more relaxed. So it's not just the hardware and hybrid, but it's getting him more comfortable with our, with our product. Uh, as far as the data collection. Any other final thoughts, Jim, as far as a magnet field is as far as workflow in terms of using it with hybrid?
Speaker 3:Well, yeah, like we talked about earlier is the ability to just be able to jump onto the robot very easily, without having to localize that without having to get on a known point, you could just set it out wherever you want. And um, you don't even have to be on any known points once you give it to point resection, it's right where you need it to be. It knows where it is. And that is such a huge time saver because there are many times as I'm working, I can see I'm going to have a problem over in that area. And I know I'm going to go ahead and set the robot over there. I'm nice and clear out here. And eventually when I get over that area, I'm just going to drop the robot down and go around it. So that ability to switch over in this without having to do major calculations in the field is acute. Especially in Florida, you get 110 into heat index day. You don't want to think too much. And if you are thinking too much, if you are thinking too much, you're most likely thinking wrong and you're making mistakes. You don't even realize it till you get back to the office. Again, some of the things you were talking about though, when you have the Bing map up, you can see if something's not going quite the way you want it. And that is a great aspect of in real time seeing the exact points you're collecting, um, something you really couldn't see unless you want your two or three screens before. So that is another huge, daunting is everything in this hybrid technology seems to just be another way to save time through and through. And I think we were just alluding to, I've been, I've been preaching to a friend, another surveyor friend of mine. Uh, that's also a mutual friend of Brent. You need to get on this. He doesn't on this type of technology at all. I'm preaching to them hard that he needs to get on them. I'm singing, I'm singing the song about this because I think it's really great technology.
Speaker 2:Awesome. Well, Jim, thank you so very much. Um, you're a great advocate for the technology. Um, I'm so happy that you're, uh, being productive and uh, uh, basically that you're, you're seeing a return in your investment. Um, and I appreciate you singing the praises of the technology to others as well. And hopefully they'll, they'll listen as well. Um, Brent, any other final thoughts you have, I guess, because I'm not sure what else, as far as we're into 40 minutes already. Uh, is there anything else you have to add? I mean,
Speaker 4:I don't really have anything else to add, but you know, just like you said, you know, Jim has really embraced the technology and in our industry, that's the deal, right? If you don't embrace the technology, you're going to get left behind, you're going to get outbid, you're going to get outworked. You know, you've got to embrace the technology in our industry.
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly. I think if you tend to wear blinders and you sit back and you don't invest, you're going to be left behind. You're correct. Like Jim is, is ready to rip it and RAR and I mean, you know, he was telling me before, you know, the 20 years ago, 20, 20 hindsight, but man, you know what he wished he had purchased prior. I mean, he's so happy he's purchased now, but moving forward you're right. I hope that others also see the validity of this conversation today. Uh, they've probably have the pieces and parts. They're just so close to putting them all together. Um, as far as, uh, surveyors and other markets, I alluded to, uh, forensics, we've got a state highway patrols that are using 14, uh, uh, highway patrol crews with hybrid for efficiency. So it's interesting looking at other markets, uh, that, uh, hybrid, you know, touches us geo positioning specialists professionals like Jim, when I go see a state highway patrol, they're doing the same thing that Jim and and I are doing. They're setting up quick, doing a resection, collecting as many points and then getting out whether it's collecting top third, bottom curb catch basin, they're doing gouge. Mark spent shells, body parts, but nonetheless, they're trying to open the close lane. They're trying to collect it as much legal dad as they can, uh, to represent a map. And it's fascinating to me because you think we're just scratching one market, but there's so many other GOP, uh, position professionals that this type of technology, because it's lightweight and cost-effective, and easy to use customizable, it touches more than just the professional answer. Bear. It kind of has a ripple effect into other, other markets as well. Oh, absolutely. Very big benefit next and reconstruction. Uh, this technology here is this actually is a perfect solution for accident reconstruction. Yep, absolutely. Awesome. Uh, Jim, I'm going to give everyone a yell. So one last final thought. I hate to say goodbye and close out, but Jim, any other thoughts, anything we've missed? Is there anything else you wanted to tell, uh, uh, the public audience out there that may not be aware of hybrid? What would you like to say?
Speaker 3:Uh, two things. One, if you're sitting on the fence trying to decide if you want to get this, don't even just do it. This thing probably paid for itself in about five months, easily in five months, pay for itself, maybe less, second thing. It's not Superman, Batman, someone that buys all the toys and gadgets and stuff. So that's where Batman, all the toys and gadgets somewhere in the tool belt now. And I got all the things. So that's where Batman comes in over Superman. And that's it. That's all I got to say on this.
Speaker 2:So, so no more need for Robin Robins out of a job.[inaudible] awesome. Great thoughts, Jim. Brandon, you finished it up. You tell me what your final thoughts Batman. So, yeah, we're good. All right. Awesome. Listen guys. Jim Brent, I can't thank you enough for joining, uh, Topcon talks to instruction today's podcast. I hope we didn't go over too too much, but uh, I think it was good stuff. I think the content was great. I think it was lively. It was, uh, uh, very dear to my heart that you guys were expressing your two sentiments. So again, I can't thank you enough for joining us. So from my end here from top gun, Matt, Marcioni from Topcon positioning saying thank you very much for joining this podcast and thank you. We'll see you around
Speaker 1:[inaudible].