Cavway X1: a promising return and a warm wish for its ideator

The next generation of cave surveying is taking shape, and Siwei Tian is back at work

Following surgery, Siwei has resumed development: an update he shared personally on social media

Versone italiana qui:; https://www.scintilena.com/cavway-x1-novita-dal-successore-del-distox-con-un-augurio-speciale-al-suo-ideatorentore/06/23/

Cavway X1, the long-awaited successor to the DistoX, is moving forward — and so is its ideator, Siwei Tian. Over the past months, Siwei kept the caving community informed via Facebook about his health and recovery. Now, with the worst behind him, he has shared an encouraging update on the project’s progress — and it’s impressive.

In his latest blog post, titled “Here’s what I’ve accomplished since getting back home,” he details the recent advancements in design and production, confirming that Cavway X1 is closer than ever to becoming a reality.

**Siwei Tian on Facebook**
https://www.facebook.com/siwei.tian.7/

A vital tool for underground exploration

Cave surveying — “topografia ipogea” in Italian — is a fundamental part of speleology. It involves the detailed measurement and mapping of underground passages, often in narrow, dark, humid, and magnetically unstable environments. To do it properly, speleologists need portable instruments capable of recording direction, slope, and distance with great precision.

Accurate surveys are essential for documenting discoveries, planning safe explorations, conducting scientific studies (in geology, hydrology, or biology), and protecting fragile cave environments. Over the past two decades, digital tools like DistoX — and now Cavway X1 — have revolutionized this task, making it faster, more accurate, and more accessible even in difficult conditions.

Cavway X1 was presented in 2024 at several international events, including the 17th Balkan Cavers Camp in Croatia, the 26th China Speleological Conference in Beijing, and the International Meeting “Siphonia” in Italy, which was promoted by the Italian Speleological Society (SSI ETS) and hosted in Caselle in Pittari.

Cavway X1 is also designed to be fully compatible with TopoDroid, one of the most widely used Android apps for cave surveying. It integrates smoothly into existing workflows, allowing users to adopt it without having to change their tools or habits.

A device built for accuracy and reliability

Between December 2024 and March 2025, Cavway X1 was extensively tested in caves. Results showed:

Superior accuracy and resistance to magnetic interference
Long-term calibration stability, even when stored near non-magnetic electronics
A dual-sensor system that continuously monitors calibration quality
A smart calibration assistant that reduces human error during the process

All of these features support a clear goal: making BCRA Grade 6 precision easier to achieve — the highest classification for cave survey accuracy as defined by the British Cave Research Association.

Manufacturing status: trial units coming soon

As of June 23, 2025, Siwei reports that:

Silicone components (buttons, USB port covers) have been completed with high-quality printing
A rugged, removable silicone protective case has been developed for better drop resistance
ABS housing is in the final mold-making phase
Trial production of around 50 units is planned for July, depending on user demand

With this, the Cavway X1 is moving beyond the prototype stage — and into production.

Siwei’s journey

Beyond the technical progress, this moment also marks the personal resilience of an inventor who never stopped believing in his vision — even while recovering from surgery. Siwei Tian’s openness, dedication, and determination are deeply appreciated by the caving community.

From Italy and from speleologists everywhere, we send Siwei our warmest wishes for a full recovery.
We look forward to welcoming both him — and the Cavway X1 — underground.