The operation of an iGPS system is comparable to a global positioning system (GPS) in a car, but it is designed for industrial applications on a facility-wide scale. GPS satellites are replaced by infrared iGPS laser transmitters that activate a measurement field as large as an entire room or facility. iGPS features accuracies that are roughly a hundred thousand times higher than consumer GPS systems.

Specific points on tools and parts can be measured using iGPS receivers in the form of touch probes. Similarly, the wings and fuselage of an aircraft can be equipped with tracking sensors that dynamically follow their individual positioning during aircraft assembly, for example.

The measuring volume can be scaled by just adding more transmitters. There are no limitations as to the number of transmitters, always providing 360 degrees part coverage.

The typical accuracy of an iSpace system is 200μm. Where traditional metrology equipment accuracy decreases with distance and as a result of leapfrogging-related measurement errors, iGPS accuracy is uniform across the entire measurement volume, regardless of the size of the metrology enabled area.

Continuous health monitoring including on-line compensation in case of transmitter displacement and drift, guarantees optimum system performance without user intervention.

Unlike traditional laser-based metrology tools, iGPS offers 360° part coverage without line-of-sight issues thanks to transmitter redundancy.

iGPS has the unique ability to serve multiple users simultaneously without performance loss. Once a work cell is iSpace-enabled, additional users and new applications can be added with minimum additional investment. Next to supporting a range of handheld metrology devices, iGPS positions tools or tracks multiple objects simultaneously, such as automated guided vehicles (AGVs) in a manufacturing environment.

To support the widest range of measuring, positioning and tracking applications, iGPS supports iProbe, iMCA II and dynamic tracking kits.iProbe is a lightweight metrology probe. iMCA II is an iGPS-enabled articulated arm. The dynamic tracking kit supports dynamic referencing and 6 degrees of freedom part tracking.

Installing iGPS on the shop floor is easy and straightforward: just set up the transmitters on their portable tripods and calibrate the system by walking around in the measurement volume while holding a calibrated scale bar. As such, shopfloor measurement eliminates the need to transport large heavy parts to/from the measurement room.