caveatron-discuss
For the times you prefer to do a traditional sketch survey
of a cave and want a much smaller instrument, but also want the survey capabilities
that Caveatron provides, the Caveatron SV is for you!
This new model is focused you everything you need to record cave survey data. It removes the LIDAR of the standard Caveatron, but adds several new features that are survey-specific. LRUD Mode allows you to record standard left, right, up, and down passage measurements at each station. You can use the current station or pick previous stations to add LRUDs to. Also, it specially handles LRUDs at passage terminations. The LRUDs are all stored in the survey file for direct opening and plotting in Walls Cave Survey software or can be converted to Compass Cave Survey software format with the Caveatron Process software.
The Caveatron SV eliminates the retroreflective card which enables another new capability. Although there is not a LIDAR, it does have a mode to make a rudimentary point cloud using the LRF to assist with map drafting. In this mode, the Caveatron SV is held on a station and points are collected while aiming it in various directions. One use might be to take a number of points vertically along a running profile line between stations and horizontally to make a simple passage outline for drafting the profile and plan views.
Manual Mode in the Caveatron SV adds a Quickshot mode which allows you to take fast readings which are displayed as a running list similar to a traditional disto.
An optional Bluetooth module has been added which is planned to support linking to TopoDroid for those who prefer tablet-based sketching.
Other new features which will also be rolled out to the standard Caveatron include pan and zoom in the Line Plot Viewer and power saving features including a preference to set the screen brightness, and an auto-dimming function.
All the other non-LIDAR functions of the standard Caveatron exist in the Caveatron SV including Shot Mode for regular station entry and station-to-station measurements, line plot viewing, viewing and editing shots, and adding notes to stations.
The Caveatron SV has a number of hardware revisions as compared to the standard Caveatron. It is in a much smaller package that is only 5.8 x 3.5 x 1.9” (14.7 x 8.9 x 4.8 cm). The PCB uses a new battery charger module that is smaller and less expensive, eliminates the battery gauge module in favor of two surface mount resistors, and eliminates one of the voltage regulator modules. It also uses a smaller piezo buzzer and a smaller coin cell battery. The USB connection to the Teensy is now directly to the PCB replacing the large USB cable with a small wire harness for a more reliable connection. Since the Caveatron SV uses less current, it can obtain the same runtime from a battery half the size of the standard Caveatron. It support two Bluetooth module options, one with BT 2 for older devices and one with BLE 4 for newer devices and lower power usage. The Caveatron SV uses the small JRT LRF module, the same 3.5” touchscreen module as the standard Caveatron, as well as the same power button and same external USB connector.
All the documentation for the Caveatron SV has been uploaded to the Caveatron Github site including the Bill of Materials, Assembly Instructions, Wiring Harness instructions, the PCB files and Gerbers, the STL and STEP 3D modules for the enclosure, and 3D printing notes. Finally, the Calibration Instructions (which are for both Caveatron models) were updated for the Caveatron SV and to add some clarifications. Note that the Github site was recently reorganized to better sort all the files.
Happy Cave Surveying!