CaveDiveMapping app and device

[Andrey Manolov]

Hello forum,

I have been developing a cave survey app specificly for diving.

Basically it's a cheap and open source mnemo survey/mapping device.

App is free and measuring wheel is 3d printed. Diving case is cheap 40 eur.

The solution uses an iphone's internal sensors to survey a cave with reasonable accuracy.

Goals:
1. Have an affordable survey gathering device for people to learn to map caves
2. Have entirely 3d printable hardware, so you can print it anywhere without needing wierd springs, bearrings or bolts
3. Have it gather as much data as possible only levaraging the iphone's sensors

Required parts:
I use PULUZ dive case for iphone 15 from Aliexpress. I see no reason why any dive case would not work.

The IOS app is free and open source as well as the STL and fusion 360 designs.

App source is avialable in github at:

GitHub - f0xdude/CaveDiveMap: An IOS app for taking survey data of underwater caves.​

An IOS app for taking survey data of underwater caves. - f0xdude/CaveDiveMap

github.com
(I don't have apple developer account so I can't publish in the app store)

3d printed device:

Cave Mapper Tool V3 by andrewxbg​

This is an updated version of the cave mapper tool for the CaveDiveMap App cave diving Survey tool.This tool uses a measurement wheel with a small magnet to measure the length of a cave diving line.An app on the phone in a diving case detects each revolution by the magnetic field and saves the...
www.thingiverse.com

Whoever is interested in mcguivering ****, please feel free to pull/fork the code and test it.

The app is available in App store:

‎CaveDiveMap

‎CaveDiveMap is an app designed for cave diving survey and automated mapping. The app requires a 3d printed measuring wheel which is attached to a waterproof dive case for your iphone. The app measures the rotations of the wheel using a small magnet mounted on the wheel. The wheel is clamped to...

apps.apple.com

Since, in Bulgaria we have very small number of cave divers real world testing is slow. I invite anyone who is intersted in the subject to print the wheel, and download the app.

 

[Chris Curry]

Looks great, well done Andrey! Does the magnet in the wheel not interfere with the compass readings?

 

[Andrey Manolov]

hey thanks, yes it does. The work around it that the app is constantly calibrating the compass. so when you reach a tieoff you rotate the phone around until the accuracy marker loght is green. the. you align the phone with the line and save manual data point. this way you have accurate reading. then you start measuring the line section where you dont care about interference. I will post a short video soon about the actual survey method as a tutorial.

 

[Andrey Manolov]

Here is my first map using the app/device.

 

[Andrey Manolov]

There is also an experimental feature for fully automated Visual Inertial Odometry and mapping which creates a point cloud in 3d. you can test this even in the dry cave. idea is using only visual processing as lidar is absorbed underwater.

 

[Andrey Manolov]