Kivi: the smartest of pebbles

Abstract

Kivi is a new smart pebble sensor designed to simultaneously capture impact (1kHz) and inertial and pressure measurements (100Hz) in geomorphological studies. This paper presents the design and development of Kivi, which is available as either a 55mm diameter sphere or as an ellipsoid with dimensions of 80mm x 63mm x 56mm. The sensor is equipped with a microcontroller and rechargeable battery, and has a storage capacity of 8GB. Preliminary testing, including static pressure measurements, impact tests, and flume laboratory experiments, demonstrates Kivi's ability to accurately capture sediment behaviour in riverine environments. The sensor holds significant potential for enhancing our understanding of fundamental sediment transport and erosion processes, with applications in environmental protection and infrastructure development.