Data Recording and Management

Jobs & Sessions

Version 5 organizes field work into jobs on the SD card. Each job keeps its own point files, observation logs, and exports, so a season of surveys stays sorted by project instead of piling into one folder.

Within a job, every recording run writes its own session — one .sht point file per session, named by date and time. The Files page lets you view points from all sessions of the active job or filter to a single session, and the same session picker drives Stakeout target selection.

• The active job receives everything the unit records; the Files page and the touch screen's Files screen both show it.
• Create a new job or switch jobs from the Files page in the Web UI.
• Favorites and point codes are device-wide — they follow you across jobs.
• Existing files from earlier firmware are moved into a default job automatically on first boot. Nothing is deleted.

Exporting & Importing Points

From the Files page, export the active job's points as:

• CSV — spreadsheet-ready; includes an orthometric ground column (labeled with the geoid model) when a geoid is active. See Heights & Orthometric Elevation. The Easting/Northing columns are local grid metres from the first point, not UTM — see UTM Coordinates.
• GeoJSON — drops straight into GIS tools.
• DXF — CAD-ready, with grid coordinates anchored at the first point.

Import CSV brings a point list into a job — load design points from the office and stake them in the field with stakeout.

Recording Observations

One of RoboDot's main features is its capability to record GNSS observation data, which can serve as both a backup and a primary source for post-processing workflows. This is especially useful for ensuring data integrity and accuracy during field operations. The recording activity is confirmed via a green indicator light, and users can also verify the status through the Web UI or the touch screen display. This dual confirmation method enhances the reliability of data recording, making it an essential tool for GNSS data collection and management.

Filename format: dot###m#d#y#h#m#s#gpst (in GPS time indicating the start date of the record)

The observation file extension is .rub. Convert it to RINEX with the free converter at robognss.com/tools/convert-to-rinex, which takes the .rub file as it is and needs no account, or with the RoboDot Utility Software.

Setup

The RoboDot device offers flexible recording trigger options to accommodate various user needs. First, the Auto-start feature with "Record on Boot" enabled allows recording to commence automatically once a GNSS lock is acquired, ensuring seamless data capture without manual intervention. This is particularly advantageous in scenarios where immediate data recording is crucial.

Alternatively, users can exercise manual control over the recording process through the Rec/Stop button available on the Status and Rover web pages, providing more granularity and control to the operator. These options make the device versatile and adaptable to different operational demands.

Recording Shots

Rover Mode creates an additional .sht file which is a csv file with details on each point recorded. Learn more in the Rover Mode section.

File Access

To download project files, access the Web UI and navigate to the Files page. There, you can download files such as .rub and .sht for further processing or analysis. They can also be uploaded to your Wingman account so the rest of the company can reach them.

File downloads are dramatically faster in version 5 — a full day of observations transfers in seconds over the RoboDot's own access point.

Downloading

Location: Web UI, Files Page

File types:

• .rub: Raw observations
  • Convert to RINEX for post-processing — see above
  • Used in post processing workflows
• .sht: Position data (Rover mode)
  • Contains rover shots generated by "Mark Location"
  • Also created for base points
  • Comma separated text file.

Sharing Files

On the Files page, select a file and choose Share Files to upload it to your Wingman account.

Uploaded observations appear under Observations at robota.us, listed with the date, device, mode, session length and location — and can be downloaded from there by anyone with access to the account.