Distance measurement tool

Projects General Guidance
1

This is my first time posting on a forum and I'm here because I could not figure out what to do in my situation. I am wanting to build a device that can measure the distance between two points. I know there are many ways of doing it but this is where the issues start to come. I need the accuracy to be within 1cm and the range to be anywhere from 1m-150m and it needs to work in any environment (including a bright one like outside on a super sunny day or inside a building). It does not need to be getting the distance rather just gets the distance at one specific point in time. I have already tried using a laser and was not receiving consistent measurements. I was looking into using UWB but that only comes within 5cm. Is that the best I am going to get or does anyone have any other ideas? Or are there any laser distance units that people know of that would work in these conditions better than mine did? I also saw something about using RTK GNSS but that wouldn't work when indoors. Any kind of information is appreciated even if it involves an expensive method

EDIT:
One point is the device and the second point is the location. Currently, we already use a tape measure to measure the two points (locations rather than points). However, having to pull through the tape and everything involved takes a lot of time when it is repeatedly having to be done. I am a part of a track and field team more specifically a thrower. As a thrower, we have to measure frequently how far the implement went from the edge of the throwing area. Currently, there are many other laser measuring devices for this however they all tend to have issues when it comes to the bright light of the sun and the price range is anywhere from $3500 - $7000. I wanted to try to create my version that may not need to use a laser since it seems like many issues arise when we move outdoors.

2

ready to walk around ?

3

Whats your budget ?

4

My budget is $500 USD.

5

This is a valid solution. However, I was hoping not to have to walk the full distance for every measurement. Only one point will be changing for the most part so having to walk from the start to the end point over and over would get kinda annoying.

6

Interesting.

In the world of building and surveying etc, for many years there has been a clear requirement for measuring distances accuratly. This is possible in outdoor locations using RTK type GPS systems.

RTK type GPS systems are not low cost and dont work well, if at all indoors.

So want something similar in performance to an RTK GPS system that will work indoors as well for a budget of $500 ?

Maybe try a decent tape measure ?

7

I think you should explain what these two points are.
Are they both known objects? Are they moving? What size? Transmitter at point 1, receiver at 2?

8

In all honesty, I'd be willing to increase the budget and yes something similar to that performance. We currently use a tape measure. I made an edit to my main post that might clarify some things.

9

Made an edit to the original post. Hopefully, that clarifies some things.

10

They use cheap lasers in golf courses for way more than 150m. My old $100 laser has no problem with 100m in sun light. Also you could use laser indoors and gps outdoors.

Also I still don't know how big is the object to be measured. For laser( or any other system without receiver) the size of the object to measure has to grow together with distance.

11

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