Cavway X1 enters the global cave surveying comparison

The NSS – National Speleological Society dedicated a webinar to the new instrument developed by Siwei Tian: precision, autonomous calibration and continuous scanning for the possible successor to the DistoX2 a new protective case for underground use — Italian version of the article available here: Scintilena article

“NSS Webinar Series – Introduction of the CAVEWAY X1” https://caves.org/webinars/nss-webinar-series-introduction-of-the-caveway-x1/

After years in which the DistoX2 represented the main reference for digital cave surveying, the international caving community is now looking with growing interest at the Cavway X1, the new instrument developed by Siwei Tian.

The Cavway X1 has now officially entered the international caving communication and training circuit. On February 26, the American National Speleological Society dedicated one of its official webinar series events to the presentation of the new surveying instrument developed by Siwei Tian, a young engineer and highly active caver from Beijing.

During the webinar, Siwei introduced the Cavway X1 as a device designed to inherit the legacy of the DistoX2, maintaining the operational philosophy that made the digital surveying system famous among thousands of cavers worldwide, while at the same time attempting to overcome some of its long-standing limitations.

The presentation mainly focused on technical aspects related to measurement reliability, calibration stability, and resistance to magnetic interference — issues that have long been central to digital underground surveying.

During the webinar, Siwei Tian explained why the Cavway X1 was specifically designed for cave environments, describing the device’s robustness, high autonomy (the battery capacity is approximately three times larger than that of the DistoX), handling comfort, and IP67 waterproof rating.

A particularly important section of the webinar addressed magnetic interference and calibration stability, tackled in the Cavway X1 through the use of two pairs of tri-axial sensors. As Siwei noted, all technical specifications are thoroughly described in the user manual.

Among the most notable specifications are:

distance accuracy below 5 mm;
azimuth accuracy around 0.4°;
inclination accuracy around 0.2°.

One of the most interesting aspects emerging from the presentation concerns calibration. The Cavway X1 adopts the same approach used by the DistoX2/XBLE but introduces advanced assistance functions and automatic error checking. Calibration can be performed directly on the device itself, without requiring a smartphone or tablet.

The display guides the user graphically by showing spatial direction coverage during calibration groups, while the system produces a detailed report including mean error, standard deviation, maximum error, and local magnetic dip.

The webinar also devoted space to the continuous scanning mode (“SCAN MODE”), in which the laser remains active and the device automatically acquires measurement sequences once sufficient stability is detected. Scan speed can be adjusted across different levels depending on whether the user prioritizes speed or precision.

Other functions presented included:

special shot markings;
advanced memory management;
CSV data export;
firmware updates through the Cavway Assistant software;
BLE compatibility with TopoDroid.

Siwei also described Cavway Assistant, the dedicated PC software allowing users to update firmware, download historical data, and manage calibration coefficients. He invited developers interested in creating desktop applications connected to the Cavway X1 to refer to the Cavway Assistant source code and the device communication protocol implementation.

The attention dedicated by the NSS to the Cavway X1 is significant: the technological transition in cave surveying has become an international topic of interest. This is not simply about replacing the DistoX2 — whose spare parts are now becoming increasingly difficult to obtain — but about evolving toward instruments capable of integrating quality control, digital acquisition, continuous scanning, and advanced data management.

Tools made by cavers, for cavers.

The Website – https://cavedevice.com/

Siwei Tian has created a dedicated website where users can find information about the Cavway, purchase the device, and access additional caving equipment not limited to surveying tools.

In the dedicated section , users can find downloads and useful links, including:

Cavway X1 user manuals translated into several languages;
firmware downloads;
Bluetooth LE and USB communication protocols;
FAQs;
webinar recordings;
the Cavway Assistant software and GitHub repository.

Useful links below: access to the updated firmware, manuals, and communication protocol documentation is particularly important for users who want to fully integrate the device into their surveying workflows.

Siwei Tian also took the opportunity to thank the international caving community that helped test, improve, and support the development of the Cavway X1 over the past years.

The world of cave surveying is entering a new phase, increasingly oriented toward digital integration, quality control, and three-dimensional data management.

As always, we look toward the future.

A new protective case for underground use

One final piece of news falls outside the scope of the NSS webinar and comes from recent days: Siwei Tian is preparing production of a dedicated protective case for the Cavway X1.

As written on his social media page:

“First prototype version of Cavway pouch. The pouch’s frame is constructed from rigid materials, while the interior features foam cushioning. Can be attached with a carabiner.”

From the first prototype images, the structure appears semi-rigid, with padded interior protection designed to safeguard the instrument during transport and cave use, along with attachment capability via carabiner.

A simple but very interesting accessory for Cavway users: it should provide useful protection for the instrument and especially for the front lens glass.

Looks like this is only the beginning!