The dream of a tricorder capable of scanning the surrounding world lives in the hearts of many science fiction fans. For over a decade, engineer Peter Jansen has been working to bring this dream to reality, and his latest development – the Open Source Science Tricorder Cyberdeck – has come closer to this goal than ever before. Unlike many previous attempts focused on external resemblance to the on-screen prototype, this tricorder prioritizes real scientific functionality.
The device, built on the Clockwork Pi uConsole and Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5, is equipped not with just three, but a whole suite of tools. It features a spectrometer for visible light analysis, a thermal imaging camera, a magnetometer, and sensors that measure temperature, pressure, humidity, volatile organic compound concentration, and CO2. While it won't be able to detect "veteron" radiation, this instrument is more than suitable for detailed environmental research, whether in a laboratory or in the field.
The project's main advantage is its openness. All necessary blueprints, schematics, and instructions for self-assembly are available on GitHub. This is not just a gadget for enthusiasts, but a full-fledged tool for those who want to explore the world around them more deeply using accessible technologies. Essentially, it's a step towards democratizing scientific research, where anyone can become a researcher.