The OtterVIS LGL spectrophotometer was created to be a cost-efficient alternative to the plastic spectrometers used in many high schools. The design goals were:

1. To keep the cost below 500 DKK (app. 80 USD)
2. To achieve resolution comparable to or better, than commercial (and expensive) USB-spectrophotometers.

The optical design is simple enough that it may also serve as a lab-project, where students build their own spectrometers.

The achilles heel of the project is that the linear CCD module requires a linux computer, prohibiting most students from running the software on their own laptops.

Further reading for design details:

• Spectrograph design
• Sensor choice
• Lens choice