The Caveatron is a unique compact, handheld, electronic device for mapping caves or other underground environments. It functions as a cave survey tool, recording conventional distance, azimuth and inclination measurements and can also go far beyond that with its integrated LIDAR to capture a full 3D scan of the cave interior. It greatly speeds up the cave survey process by recording station-to-station shots in just a few seconds and performs a station-to-station 3D scan traverse in less than a minute. The user can fully interact with the device and review data with the built-in touchscreen. A USB port provides access to the stored data from a PC or Mac and is also used to charge the integrated long-life battery pack. The station measurement file is compatible with Walls Cave Mapping Software and the LIDAR scan file can be quickly processed into a standard point cloud with custom-written software. The Caveatron is designed to be easily portable, lightweight, and low cost as well as water and dirt resistant and durable enough to survive regular use in a cave.
The design has recently been updated with a faster processor, enabling 4 times the scan resolution, an enhanced IMU for better position accuracy, easier data transfer, and other new features. The enclosure is now a bit smaller, more waterproof, uses a custom printed circuit board, and can be fully 3D printed.
Specification | Value/Range | Accuracy/Notes |
---|---|---|
Compass | 0-360° | Less than +/ - 1.5° |
Inclination | -90° to +90° | Less than +/- 1° |
Distance | 0.1 m - 40 m | +/- 2 mm |
LIDAR Range | 0.1 m - 12 m | Less than 1% of range |
LIDAR Spatial Resolution | 5-8 cm in a 10 m wide passage 3-5 cm in a 5 m wide passage | Depends on movement speed and wall distance |
Scan Measurement Rate | 8000 pts/sec | |
Approximate Run Time | Greater than 7 hrs | Continuous scanning time - longer in real world use |
Enclosure Dimensions (with LIDAR) | 20.5 cm x 14.1 cm x 19.0 cm | Waterproof |
Weight (with LIDAR) | 1.1 kg |
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