Back in February of this year, Vayyar Imaging announced the launch of Walabot, a new type of device that works with your smartphone in order to allow for in-wall imaging. Vayyar Imaging is a 3D imaging sensor company whose technology makes it possible to see through objects, liquids, and materials. They created the Walabot division to offer their consumer devices for 3D imaging. In the consumer range they have their “Maker” line, which has three different models; the Starter, the Maker, and the Pro. These are bare boards for developers to incorporate into their own enclosures using their own software/app. The other side of Walabot is called DIY, which comes as a fully enclosed device ready for use. Based on the specifications, the Walabot DIY appears to have the same guts as the Maker, with the DIY currently selling for $100 less, available directly from the Walabot website for $199.



The Walabot DIY is shown in the promotional image above (the item on the left), and you can see that it has a compact footprint much like a mobile phone. Considering it is meant to work with your mobile phone via USB OTG, the size and shape is one of the key features to it being a useful tool in your box. Before taking a look at the unit provided for review, let's cover the information below, which is taken from the Walabot website and from their press release.

Features and Specifications:

Walabot is a programmable 3D sensor that looks into objects using radio frequency technology that breaks through known barriers, bringing highly sophisticated sensing capabilities to your fingertips. Walabot uses an antenna array to illuminate the area in front of it, and sense the returning signals. The signals are produced and recorded by VYYR2401 A3 System-on-Chip integrated circuit. The data is communicated to a host device using a USB interface, which is implemented using Cypress controller.

» Three-dimensional radio-frequency based sensor
» Uses an array of linearly polarized broadband antennas
» Frequency range:
   » 3.3-10.3 GHz (US/FCC model)
   » 6.3-8.3 GHz (EU/CE model)
» Based on VYYR2401 A3 System-on-Chip for signal production and recording
» Cypress FX3 controller for USB communication and data pre-processing
» Walabot interface connectors:
   » Micro-USB 2.0 for high-rate data communication. Option to provide supply from USB.
   » Single supply voltage 4.5-5.5v input for non-USB power applications.
» See up to 4 inches/10cm in concrete and drywall
» Multiple sensing modes of raw data and pipe
» Adjustable sensitivity for optimal calibrations to your specific construction
» Easy snapshot taking for offline analysis
» Requires Android phones running 5.0 Lollipop, or 6.0 Marshmallow with OTG. Android 7.0 Nougat preliminary release. * Samsung Note 7 and LG G4 are not supported.
» Case dimensions: 145mm x 85mm x 17mm (21mm by magnet)

Below is a chart showing additional features/capabilities of the Starter, Maker and Pro versions. Since the Maker and DIY both have 15 antennas and the box FCC ID has Maker in it, the DIY should have the same capabilities as the Maker developers version.