What is meant by GPS and UTS when describing machine control?

All machine control systems rely on some form of positional system to know where they are in the real world. GPS positioning provides an operator with a lot of flexibility of movement on a site as the receivers simply need a clear line of sight to the sky in order to function. Depending on whether a local base station or a virtual base station network is used for correcting the satellite signals, vertical accuracy can be from within 10mm to about 40mm respectively. We have all options on hand depending on project requirements. Where millimetre accuracy is required or where the line of sight to the sky is obstructed, UTS (universal total stations) are utilized. UTS consists of a robotic total station positioned on a tripod and a prism on the machine or staff. This system requires the operator to maintain line of sight from the total station to the prism at all times and achieves extremely high levels of precision.