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SOMAG at XPONENTIAL Europe 2025

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Tag: mapping

Meet SOMAG in Düsseldorf!

We are excited to announce that SOMAG AG Jena will attend XPONENTIAL Europe on February 19, 2025, in Düsseldorf. This event is a premier gathering for the unmanned systems and robotics industries, providing a platform for innovation, collaboration, and exploration.

Representing SOMAG AG Jena will be our Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Sebastian Schreiber, and Sales Coordinator, Jana Franck. They will navigate the exhibition to stay informed about the latest trends, engage with industry leaders, and identify potential partnerships to expand SOMAG’s presence in the unmanned systems market.

Sebastian Schreiber
CTO

Phone: +49 3641 633 68 13
E-Mail: s.schreiber@somag-ag.de
Find me on LinkedIn

Jana Franck
Sales Coordinator

Phone: +49 3641 633 68 15
E-Mail: j.franck@somag-ag.de
Find me on LinkedIn

The Importance of Gyro Stabilization Mounts for Unmanned Systems

  • What SOMAG devices do:
    SOMAG AG Jena develops state-of-the-art gyro stabilization mounts tailored for the air, land, and marine sectors. Our mounts are available in various sizes to accommodate a wide range of payloads, including sensors, cameras, and LiDAR systems, ensuring precise operation across diverse applications.
  • Why this is critical for unmanned systems:
    Stabilization is essential for ensuring the functionality and reliability of unmanned platforms. SOMAG mounts improve data accuracy and operational efficiency, enabling high-performance capabilities in surveillance, mapping, navigation, and collision avoidance.
  • Military applications:
    SOMAG stabilization mounts are critical for defense applications, providing precision and reliability under extreme conditions. They are suitable for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), ground vehicles, and marine platforms, where stabilized systems play a pivotal role in mission success.
  • Civilian applications:
    In civilian sectors, SOMAG mounts can be used in a variety of applications, such as: Aerial surveying, offshore inspections or infrastructure monitoring
  • Proven success:
    SOMAG’s technology has demonstrated its value in real-world applications. Notably, our Marine Mount was deployed on the ARCIMS Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) by ATLAS ELEKTRONIK. It played a critical role in collision avoidance, ensuring operational reliability during complex missions.

Meet us at Xponential Europe

Are you attending XPONENTIAL Europe? Take the opportunity to discuss how SOMAG AG Jena’s cutting-edge stabilization technology can support your projects in the unmanned systems industry.

We invite you to schedule a meeting with us in advance to ensure dedicated time to explore collaboration opportunities. Spontaneous meetings during the event are also very welcome – don’t hesitate to approach us!

Let’s shape the future of unmanned systems together. We look forward to connecting with you in Düsseldorf!

    Contact us

    Book an appointment with our team at the event.
    We’re looking forward to seeing you!





    Please solve the following question:

    SOMAG AG Jena, a global leader in gyro stabilization technology, is excited to announce the official launch of the GSM 5000, live from Intergeo 2024. As the successor to the globally recognized GSM 4000, the GSM 5000 sets a new standard for aerial gyro stabilization mounts, offering unparalleled precision and stability for a wide range of airborne data acquisition applications.

    Building on the solid foundation of its predecessor, the GSM 5000 is designed to enhance the effectiveness of critical airborne missions, including terrain mapping, disaster management, agriculture, forestry, and urban planning. With the GSM 5000, users can achieve flawless image and data capture, even in the most challenging flight conditions, thanks to its superior ability to counteract aircraft movements and vibrations.

    Key Features of the GSM 5000:

    Expanded Motion Range: The GSM 5000 delivers superior stabilization compared to its predecessor with increased pitch, roll, and yaw capabilities.

    355° Absolute Drift Movement: The nearly 100% complete rotational range along the drift axis ensures comprehensive data collection and offers three unique modes available on the market: Step and Stare, Scan, and Pointing Mode.

    Increased Usable Diameter: The expansion of the internal diameter ensures a better accommodation of larger sensor systems.

    Enhanced Communication Interfaces: The GSM 5000 introduces flexible Ethernet and RS232-COMBI interfaces, simplifying connectivity and improving data transmission speeds.

    Additionally, the GSM 5000 offers SD-card logging for easy data recording and transfer, along with comprehensive error logging to quickly diagnose and resolve issues. Its optimized pivot point, now located at the base plate, minimizes sensor displacement during rotation, enhancing the field of view and reducing collision risks. The mount also features automated hydraulic working height adjustments via software, removing the need for manual intervention. The redesigned digital interface and touch encoder streamlines control. High points such as motor cover caps and vertical cable routing, which limited the sensor’s movement range in the GSM 4000, have been removed to ensure maximum freedom of sensor movement.

    Backward Compatibility: The GSM 5000 retains compatibility with the GSM 4000’s power and interface cables, simplifying upgrades and ensuring a seamless transition for current users.

    “We are incredibly proud to introduce the GSM 5000 live at INTERGEO 2024,” said Sebastian Schreiber, CTO of SOMAG AG Jena. “This launch underscores our commitment to innovation and our dedication to helping our customers achieve high-quality data in a sustainable and economical way with our stabilization devices and technologies. The GSM 5000 not only builds on the robust legacy of the GSM 4000, but also introduces a whole range of new features and improvements that set a new industry standard.”

    Order GSM 5000 Now: The device can now be ordered. The first deliveries are scheduled for spring 2025. Further information can be found on the GSM 5000 product page. For additional questions and pricing, please contact the SOMAG sales team.

    About SOMAG AG Jena
    SOMAG AG Jena is a leading provider of advanced gyro stabilization technology for airborne, marine, and terrestrial applications. Based in Jena, Germany, SOMAG AG Jena has a long-standing reputation for delivering high-quality, reliable stabilization solutions that meet the diverse needs of industries worldwide.

    Newsletter

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    Keep yourself informed about SOMAG and the latest Gyro Mount technology.
    We will send you regular information about:

    • exhibitions and event invitations
    • new products, services and videos
    • latest application examples, projects and partnerships

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    3D cartography of complete French territory

    GSM 4000 contributes to LiDAR HD program

    The LiDAR HD program, initiated by IGN, aims to revolutionize national territory mapping through innovative approaches. Tasks encompass acquiring airborne LiDAR data, processing to meet specifications, and automatic classification using a Deep Learning model. These efforts, in conjunction with ground control point measurements, aim to produce comprehensive 3D maps of France by 2025. IGN, a public institution under ecological and forestry ministries, spearheads this project. As part of the France Relance plan, IGN’s LiDAR HD program endeavors to create a comprehensive three-dimensional map of France, excluding French Guiana, by 2025. This « Référentiel à Grande Echelle » (RGE) facilitates data sharing, access, and utilization, addressing various public stakeholders’ needs.

    GSM 4000

    Advantages for Lidar and Imagery Products

    • Crystal clear aerial imagery

      through precise sensor stabilization during flights
    • Saving of time and money

       time spent on aerial triangulation can be reduced by 20%
    • Flexibility and compatibility

      GSM 4000 is adaptable to any sensor and camera system
    GSM 4000 with Teledyne Optech Lidar System
    GSM 4000 with Vexcel Ultracam inside aircraft

    Central to IGN’s program is LiDAR technology, which emits high-frequency laser pulses to precisely determine geographical points’ positions. The project is structured into four phases: data acquisition, processing, hosting and distribution, and user support. Ground control points validate aerial data, ensuring mapping accuracy.

    Data classification transforms raw point clouds into meaningful information, aiding in disaster prevention, sustainable forest management, energy transition, urban planning, and biodiversity conservation. GEOFIT and SINTEGRA contribute significantly to data collection and processing.

    Camera view

    The project’s culmination involves 7,000 planned flight hours over five years, extending beyond conventional 3D cartography. It signifies a future of informed land management, where detailed environmental understanding and access to accurate data play pivotal roles in decision-making.

    Lidar Results

    About IGN

    The National Institute of Geographical and Forestry Information (IGN) is a public administrative organisation under the authority of the Ministries of Ecology and Forestry. As a public reference operator, IGN provides geographical and forestry information in France. The mission of the Institute is to produce, visualise, qualify and disseminate the geographic and forestry data that are essential for the implementation of public policies. To this end, IGN develops partnerships in order to focus energies that guarantee rich, comprehensive and up-to-date information.The Institute is a recognised scientific and technical Center thanks to its advanced expertise.

    About SOMAG

    SOMAG AG Jena is a global specialist for high-precision gimbal systems. The company focuses since 2004 on the development and manufacture of Gyro Stabilization Mounts for data acquisition and surveillance applications in the air, on land and at sea. The airborne product portfolio comprises three different Gyro Stabilization Mounts for large format, multiple medium format and single medium format sensors. All aerial camera stabilizers are designed for operation inside airplanes, helicopters or UAVs.

    Newsletter

    Subscribe today!

    Keep yourself informed about SOMAG and the latest Gyro Mount technology.
    We will send you regular information about:

    • exhibitions and event invitations
    • new products, services and videos
    • latest application examples, projects and partnerships

    Subscribe here

    Subscribe to the SOMAG newsletter

    High-density LiDAR and high-resolution imagery collection with Gyro Stabilization Mount GSM 4000 for flood study

    Cooper Aerial Surveys was contracted by Helm Engineering to provide aerial lidar mapping of the Pahrump site for a flood study over the entire Nye County. Pahrump is a town located at the southernmost tip of Nye County, Nevada, about 62 miles (100 km) west of Las Vegas, adjacent to the Nevada–California border. The results of this survey help mitigate flood damage for existing and future projects.

    Cooper Aerial Surveys uses a multi-sensor aerial system stabilized by a single SOMAG Gyro Stabilization Mount GSM 4000 to obtain the highly accurate lidar and aerial imagery data. The Mount helps to hold the sensors in place and compensates for movement as the aircraft moves down the flight line or crabs, ultimately resulting in crystal clear aerial imagery and even better quality data being captured for the entire mapping project.

    GSM 4000

    Advantages for Lidar and Imagery Products

    • Crystal clear aerial imagery

      through precise sensor stabilization during flights
    • Saving of time and money

       time spent on aerial triangulation can be reduced by 20%
    • Flexibility and compatibility

      GSM 4000 is adaptable to any sensor and camera system

    To complete the project, Cooper Aerial collected 10cm GSD color imagery and 20 points per square meter LiDAR over the client-defined mapping limits. The project area covered roughly 171,000 acres (268 Sq Miles) of land. Aerial photography consisted of 31 flight lines with 2304 exposures, with a total of 523 mapping models.

    The mapping data was used to compile a 1″ = 40″ stereo map to create all planimetric features and 3D Digital Terrain Model (DTM) for 1′ contour generation. Contour data was derived from LiDAR data and included major breaklines and hydro flattening.

    By using the data collected by Cooper Aerial, Helm Engineering was able to create models to identify potential areas that were highly exposed to risks of flooding. Some of these hazardous areas contain high-end real estate communities worth several millions of dollars that need to be protected against these risks. Furthermore, this flood study allows the county to learn more about the impacts of a major flood event if preventative measures are not taken. Planimetric features included impervious surfaces (paved lots, roads, concrete), buildings, dirt roads, and drainage features. Cooper Aerial used the surface that was derived from the lidar data to create orthorectified photos, which were useful in the collection of planimetric features as well as quality control purposes.

    10″ GSD color digital orthoimagery with planimetric and topographic mapping
    Contour data derived from LiDAR data
    Improved efficiency

    Maximum quality at minimum cost and time

    Multi-sensor aerial system installed in SOMAG GSM 4000

    Cooper Aerial is the largest firm in the Southwest, dedicated to providing leading edge aerial mapping solutions throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada. To maximize time and cost efficiency without sacrificing the quality the customer expects, they use an integrated hybrid dual collection system consisting of a Teledyne Galaxy Prime Lidar and a Phase One 280 MP camera installed in a SOMAG Gyro Stabilizer GSM 4000 Mount.

    This system enables a single mobilization of the lidar and camera in a seamless mission with only one aircraft, making the most of weather windows and generating matching data sets. This approach significantly minimized the project cost by about half of the flight cost, roughly $76,000. Without such a system, meeting the project deadline would have required mobilizing more aircraft or extending turnaround time.

    Moreover, Cooper’s installation of the GSM 4000 provides it with clean data that is easier to process. This allowed the company to reduce the time required for aerial triangulation by 20%, which lowered the overall cost of the project for the customer.

    Bottom view of the sensors
    Dual collection system with IMU mounted in GSM 4000


    Why Customers

    Trust Somag

    “SOMAG is the leading provider of gyro stabilized mounting systems and provides high accuracy for large-format, LiDAR, and photogrammetry. As the market leader, SOMAG has the biggest market share in its industry and this is not random. SOMAG has a great pricing point and good customer service and therefore it was an easy choice for us to go with them. In addition to SOMAG’s quality product, we appreciate the fact that the GSM 4000 is adaptable to any sensor and camera in the marketplace which gives us more flexibility on how we can equip our aircrafts.”

    Zachary Radel, Sr. Project Manager at Cooper Aerial Surveys Co.
    Video

    Watch the GSM 4000 in field

    About Cooper Aerial

    Cooper Aerial boasts a well-connected staff of photogrammetrists, imagery specialists, project managers, marketing, traditional survey experts, aerial imagery collection experts, and GIS specialists. The company provides professional photogrammetric mapping and imagery services for a variety of industries to governmental, engineering, and developmental organizations. Simultaneous data acquisition is used on customer projects in civil engineering, hydrology, energy, forestry and military sectors.

    About SOMAG

    SOMAG AG Jena is a global specialist for high-precision gimbal systems. The company focuses since 2004 on the development and manufacture of Gyro Stabilization Mounts for data acquisition and surveillance applications in the air, on land and at sea. The airborne product portfolio comprises three different Gyro Stabilization Mounts for large format, multiple medium format and single medium format sensors. All aerial camera stabilizers are designed for operation inside airplanes, helicopters or UAVs.

    Newsletter

    Subscribe today!

    Keep yourself informed about SOMAG and the latest Gyro Mount technology.
    We will send you regular information about:

    • exhibitions and event invitations
    • new products, services and videos
    • latest application examples, projects and partnerships

    Subscribe here

    Subscribe to the SOMAG newsletter