New Leica TS20
The New Leica TS20 - Is this the Future of the AI Total Station?
I recently had the chance to get my hands on the new Leica TS20 at InterGEO 2025. As the successor to the legendary TS16, expectations were high, and Leica is calling this the new standard in productivity. But does the hardware live up to the hype?
I spent some time at the stand testing the features that matter most to us in the field. Here is my breakdown of what makes this AI total station stand out.
The "AI" in AI Total Station
We often hear “AI” thrown around as a buzzword, but with the new Leica TS20, it serves a genuine practical purpose. The instrument features a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) that has been trained via deep learning to recognize different prism types in difficult environments—whether it’s rain, mist, or behind foliage.
I decided to put this to the test right there at the show. I configured the instrument for a mini prism but intentionally aimed it at a circular prism. In the past, this could have led to a stored error. However, the new Leica TS20 immediately flagged the mismatch, asking if I wanted to change the prism type.
It’s not about “dumbing down” the job; it’s about having a system that watches your back so you can focus on the engineering, not just the settings.
Autofocus and the Return of Trigger Keys
Beyond the software, the hardware improvements are what really got me excited. Two things stood out immediately:
Continuous Autofocus: This is a massive productivity booster. You don’t need to fiddle with the optical focus ring anymore. As I said in the video: you aim, “boom” autofocus, “boom” measure, and you carry on. It’s incredibly fast and eliminates eye strain at the end of a long day.
Trigger Keys: This brought back great memories of the old TS06 for me. They’ve added configurable trigger buttons near the tangent screws. You can set them to “measure” or “distance,” which is perfect for resections. You don’t have to take your eye off the target or move your hand to the screen—you just look and press. It’s simple, but it’s a brilliant addition for speed.
Also, a small but significant detail for us engineers: the new case design allows you to strap it directly to your back like a backpack. No need for separate accessories—just grab and go.
GeoCloud Fleet - Securing Your Investment
Leica also introduced the GeoCloud Fleet platform. With the new Leica TS20, it’s not just about collecting data; it’s about managing sensors. The unit tracks its own location via GPS, Wi-Fi, or cellular data.
You can view a history of where the station has been, and more importantly, if it gets stolen, you can lock the instrument remotely and track its location for the police. It adds a layer of security that is essential for modern equipment management.
Final Thoughts The new Leica TS20 feels like a solid evolution. The combination of the AI total station capabilities and the practical hardware tweaks (like those trigger keys!) makes it a very promising tool. I’m looking forward to getting one out in the field to test it properly in real rain conditions soon.
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