Beauty & Failures..
The Cave Rover Project: Latest video! Find the beauty in failures, and strive on! First Cave ROVer Robot Cave Dive Attempt Mar 7,2020.
Category: Cave ROVer
Cave ROVer
Exploring Bath!
The Cave Rover Project: Sumpy First Dive Test! Go Exploration! Enormous Thank You to Galen Hekhuis for his support to the Cave Rover Project and adventure!
Pulling Hair….
The Cave ROVer Update: Me: 0 – Mystery Robot Leak: 1. Thus far replaced all 4 leak sensor probes, new color indicating desiccant, 2 new expanding foam inserts, removed, cleaned, inspected, resealed primary enclosure, triple O-Rings on forward, camera dome, triple O-rings
New Robot Member!
The Cave Rover Project Update: All Hail the newest member to the robot team! For we shall call it Sumpy! The newest robot to the team comes to the project thanks to the incredible amazing wonderful inspirational Galen Hekhuis! Galen from day
Preliminary Report..
The Cave ROVer Update: A Brief post Florida cave dive preliminary report. In summary during a recent cave dive attempt 3/6/2020, the robot entered the water, all systems go, as it neared the cave entrance, the leak sensor system went into alarm
Bonus Photos
A few photos from Marianna FL Dive sent to us from Donald Harter.
What a birthday..
The Cave ROVer Update: What a great birthday, thank you everyone for such warm kind words. Just basking in this Florida weather, spent the first part of the day at Florida Caverns, I have wanted to see it since I was a
Cave Adventurers!
Great time visiting with Edd and hanging at Cave Adventurers.
Post Tear down
Post tear down update: disassembled and completely dry inside, we are starting to suspect the sudden drop in water temperature might of condensated and sat the alarm off. As Joshua and I both noted no prior to dive loss in test pressure.
Leak Detected!! :(
The Cave ROVer Update: Divers in the water, cave rover descending to the cave…Leak Detected! Emergency surfaced. I suspect I may have gotten some fine sand in the O-rings.. ? So extremely bummed that had to call the dive, so now no
Yay Florida…
Officially arrived at the Florida Cave Crawl! Lots of fun to follow..
Southern Bound…
The Cave ROVer Roject – Southern Bound… IN….KY….TN….AL….FL!
Back to Business
The Cave ROVer Update: Back in Business!! Third time was the charm and the primarily in-field control laptop is operational once more. Now to run the system through a final extensive system test, charge all the power packs, ready the cameras, and
Mmm More Bearings!
The Cave ROVer Update: Our second pair of custom ceramic bearings are in and installed! Remind me these are in Forward Starboard, that’s now both fwd most thrusters running on the new bearing. Now to spin them up for a break in,
2 LiPo is better then 1
The Cave ROVer Update: Second battery unit is in, charging and conditioned in preparation for our up coming robot cave dive in Florida. The additional power unit will be a fantastic addition, as present test dives have demonstrated our average operating time
Presenting Cali!
Getting to be a part of a presentation live in California at a makerspace (via Robot, while I’m home in Indiana), and see Cave Rover on the Screen, warms the heart!! So thankful to have such talented, amazing friends and community, truly.
System Check!
The Cave ROVer Project Update: Continued systems checks in preparation of our Robot Cave Dive coming up March 6-7th, if all goes as planned we will try to even stream it Live! Software development code testing in collaboration with our Sonar Sponsor
Florida here we come!
The Cave ROVer Project Update: Our First Official Cave Robot Cave Dive Nears! Be sure to send all those positive energy vibes, as coming this March 6 & 7, after months of development and testing, the robot heads to Florida to conduct
That’s a Big Box!
The Cave Rover Update: Special thanks for Nikolous Bender Cox for the lead on a transport case for the bots. It might not be the prettiest or fanciest, but finally having something to transport in will be very helpful. Thanks Nik!
New Overlay
The Cave ROVer Update: More software updates and bench testing. New video overlay allows for important sensor data to display on the recorded video in real time, and turns on/off like subtitles. Very pleased with that feature. Additionally the new 360 Sonar
Code Code and more Code
The Cave ROVer Update: Lots of software and code update today. New firmware in the lower sonar unit, Operating System update in on-board computer #1, Firmware/OS update in on-board computer #2, topside control software update. Special Thanks to a contribution from the
Public Appearance Feb 13, 2020
The Cave Rover Project will be presenting tonight at 7:30pm at the Bloomington Indiana Grotto. See you there!
Simulator Advancements
The Cave ROVer Update: After months of hair pulling and many hours of coding, the Robotic Simulator is coming along. When the weather is to yuck to take the out the Cave Rovers, the advanced simulator allows test & training to continue.
New Utility Blade & Gyro Controls!
The Cave ROVer Update: Completed the utility blade cutter accessory, and Very pleased with the results! Looks nice, functions great, stainless replaceable blade. To be utilized with and without the Benthic Sediment Sampler, for vegetation research, utility or aid for self rescue.
Thaasta Knife
The Cave ROVer Update: Thaasta Knife, prototyping accessory utility blades for the Cave ROV, for use in vegetation sampling, various utility work and possible self rescue situations.
New Benthic Sediment Sampler
The Cave ROVer Project Update: Look who gets to spend 40hrs refabricating the Benthic Sediment Sampler. I can report that the sampler is Extremely Rugged. Out of the desire to push it to the limits to test for a failure point. I
Brewing a plan
Brewing a plan to take the Cave ROVer Project to the Florida Cave Crawl Match 6-8th for some true epic cave diving. Anyone interested or going let me know. Please consider a donation to the project to help make this and several
Wireless Controls
The Cave ROVer Update: Not sure why I wasn’t doing this all along, but after some drivers and code, the ROV is now able to be controlled additionally by multiple wireless controllers. Nice to no longer be cord bound to the control
More precious then gold
The Cave Rover Project Update: More precious then gold….apparently. Up today installing the first pair of Boca Bearings into the Cave ROVer to evaluate their performance. These tiny little gems are salt water, chemical and corrosion resistant, specialty x904/Ceramic and rather pricey,
Play Ball!
The Cave ROVer Project Update: Play Ball! The ROV Sediment Sampler is completed. Quick (4) stainless bolt attachment, maintains standard gripper functionality, while adding a 333ml scoop sampler, fabricated in hydrophobic, environmentally safe carbon reinforced materials. For use in environmental sediment research,
Who wants icecream!
The Cave ROVer Update: Who wants icecream! And 18 hours later, we have the the first half of the sentiment sampler prototype. Came out beautifully, perfect fit and bolted right on. The second half should be fabricated by this time tomorrow. Then
Sediment Sampler & New Bearings
The Cave ROVer Project Update: The past few COLD Indiana days have been focused on R&D for upgrades & accessories for the Cave ROV. Working on the water analysis array & sampler designs while awaiting necessary funding for components. Designed and prototype
Dive Ready
The Cave ROVer Update: All back together and dive ready! Geee thanks to a corrupt windows auto security update on the control laptop, I got to spend 9hrs freaking the heck out, mucho cursing and diagnostics later and thankfully the ROV was
Showing some love
A Cave Rover Project fan sent some photos of the Cave Rover Stickers!
Retainer Fabrication & Frustration
The Cave ROVer Update: Soo frustrated today. The good, cap retainers are fabricated and pleased with how they came out. The bad, decided to run one last full test before bolting the cage back on and now having software and primary camera
Cap Retainers
The Cave ROVer Update: Fully disassembled, extensive system tested full pass, all new color desiccant, O-rings inspected, resealed, assembled & vacuum tested. Serviced the thrusters and pleased with how well they are holding up and performing. Three of them were given a
Dual Display System and More
The Cave Rover Project Update: To better accommodate the ever expanding scientific data display needs of the Robot team, the master control is now equipped with dual 1080p HD displays and incorporated multi camera & sensor display broadcast system to be able
Ecstatic Report
The Cave ROVer Update: I am ecstatic to report the robot has been completely disassembled, inspected, 100% full system diagnostic/analyzed and passed! During our test dive today, a build up of internal pressure had pushed out the dome protective end cap that
Surface Videos from the CHSE Dive
Some fancy Cave ROVer maneuver testing.
CHSE Test Dive
The Cave ROVer Project Update: Incredible day (with a scary end) with enormous thank you to the days organizer and dive support Jim Lemke, Columbus Indiana Fire Department, Columbus High School, Film/Rover support Trent Gains, Rover support Joseph Bowmer, we were able
CHSE Dive Videos
Added Protection
The Cave ROVer Update: Oh just putting a Tampon in a Robot, what did you do today? Trust me, your day, my day… different ?. Yesterday had a very enjoyable time giving a Cave Rover Project Presentation to the Central Indiana Grotto.
Photometry 3D Test
The Cave Rover Project: Sample Photometry 3D test as we move closer to testing the system on the Cave ROV, for cave & submerged 3D imaging.
Live Control at CIG
Ever dream of attending a Caving Organization Grotto Meeting as a robot? You may get that chance tonight 1/8/2020 as the Cave Rover Project presents at the CIG meeting in Indianapolis. Signal permitting, sometime after 730pm EST use your Chrome Browser to:
New Facebook Fundraiser Started
The Cave Rover™ Project is seeking funding assistance to continue to expand the Deep Water Cave Exploration Robotic Unit. The Cave Rover Project is Developer & Donation funded, to create robotics and tools, for exploration, survey, and scientific data gathering in caves,
CIG Public Appearance
The Cave Rover Project Update: Public Appearance this Wednesday 1/8/2020 held by the Central Indiana Grotto. We will be showing the robots and talking about developments in 2019 and what is in store for 2020.
Simulator & Autonomous Testing
The Cave Rover Project Update: Wanted to share a brief look into Cave ROV simulations to prepare for up-coming Cave Rise Pool and lake Bathometry (water depth) scans, under full autonomous control. Research & Designs are underway for equipping the ROV with
Live New Years Robot Control
The Cave Rover Project Update: Robot Play Date! Sybergoose Jr and his Telly Bots: Tan’i, Adoreo & Clippy drove 14hrs round trip to spend New Years with the Cave Rover Family! They were online for internet control throughout the New Years.
Dual Sonar Dive
The Cave ROVer Update: The Cave ROVer Project (in Collaboration with BlueRobotics) First test/training dive utilizing both the Ping360 & Ping1D in low visiblity. Evening sun, high sediment, run off lake, 12 foot descent on this test, with visibility ~1m at surface
First Dual Sonar Dive Test
The Cave ROVer first dual sonar test with a new dive record of approx 10.5 feet 🙂 Need to disassemble to inspect why we lost the barometric pressure/depth, time to wire inspect. Didnt realize this glared so bad, will do another test