High precision vertical angle measurement system for calibration of various angle sensors and instruments

Abstract A versatile measurement system was developed for efficient calibration of vertical angle sensors or instruments. The vertical angle measurement system (VAMS) comprises a precision rotation stage, a controller, and additional components for fixing an angle sensor or detecting angular deviation. It can generate single-axis rotation within ±120° range with a resolution of 0.01″. To detect angular deviation in angle instrument calibration, a special miniature autocollimator was developed using a diffractive optical element, providing high-precision angle measurement even with the short focal length of its lens. The performance of the VAMS was evaluated by comparing face angles of two optical polygons, measured by the VAMS and other reference systems. As typical exemplary calibrations, an electronic level and vertical angle readouts of a total station were calibrated with expanded uncertainty ( k = 2) of 0.19″ and 0.51″, respectively.