image: Students now plan to develop a waterproof version that could support underwater cave divers.
Credit: Monash University
The student team created ANTRUM, a wearable tracking and navigation system,, designed for high-risk underground settings such as caves and mines, where GPS and phone signals are often unavailable.
The palm-sized devices are strapped to a user’s leg before entering an underground environment. Using motion sensors and radio communication, it allows users to locate their exploration partner and navigate back towards the cave entrance from the point where route recording began.
The team developed a complete working system, including hardware, software, electronics and a 3D-printed casing. They are now hoping to develop a waterproof version that could support underwater cave divers.
The project was inspired by the 2018 rescue of the Thai youth soccer team trapped in the Tham Nang Non cave system in Thailand's Chiang Rai province.
“We were inspired by the story of the Thai youth soccer team cave rescue and wanted to explore whether technology could help prevent people from becoming stranded in the first place,” said project team member Maria Demina, who is studying a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering.
ANTRUM also includes a web dashboard, ANTRUM DASH, which records movement data during use. Once users return to the surface, the data uploads to the cloud, allowing them to review and analyse their route.
The development comes at a critical time and highlights the growing need for technology that can help prevent people becoming trapped underground.
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