It seems that we are increasingly running into very small tight passages on our caving trips and its getting risky sending one person in solo to go explore

Ive been thinking about this for awhile, what do you think of putting together some sort of RC car/tank with a small cheap camera on it that we can run down a hole to see whats on the other side?

It would be a fun little shop project and if we did it right would turn out pretty sweet.

Ive also been thinking about throwing together an underwater ROV that we can drop in some of the lakes in the caves to explore the side shafts

Both projects could use the same camera system and would be relatively inexpensive

Anyone interested?

Interesting idea. But we have Dana, and you don't have any money. :)

First Q that comes into my mind: Range.
We know that walkie talkies aren't worth crap inside. The walls just absorb the waves. Wouldn't the same problem come into play?

2nd thought: Holes

Not a bad idea, that is logical. I thought you were going to say you wanted to bring some explosives and open the holes up.

we could use one of the RC Jeeps that we have (mine) and we can tie a rope to the bumper so if it gets stuck or falls in a hole we can just yank it out.

I will donate my Jeep for this cause and Chris can buy the camera equipment.

This weekend I will go to Chris's with you guys and put it back together to see if it still works.

skatchkins wrote:Interesting idea. But we have Dana, and you don't have any money. :)

First Q that comes into my mind: Range.
We know that walkie talkies aren't worth crap inside. The walls just absorb the waves. Wouldn't the same problem come into play?

2nd thought: Holes

Im thinking it will have to be a wired solution. Plus the wire can double as a puller if it gets stuck or we can't turn it around

My Dad's highschool enters into a battlebot competition every year against colleges like MIT and such. Im pretty sure I can order parts through them for a discount if we want to build something