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.
| Specification | Value/Range | Accuracy/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Compass | 0-360° | Less than 1.0° |
| Inclination | -90° to +90° | Less than 0.5° |
| Distance | 0.1 m - 40 m | 1 cm |
| LIDAR Range | 0.1 m - 20 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 | 32000 pts/sec | |
| Approximate Run Time | Greater than 7 hrs | Continuous scanning time - much longer in real world use |
| Enclosure Dimensions | 18 cm x 10 cm x 15 cm | Waterproof |
| Weight | 0.8 kg |
The Caveatron is an open source project and not a product for sale. All the information needed to make one can be found by following the links on the Build Your Own page.
AI Website Generator