Biological Acquisition Unit

Team Members:Fred AveryNy ‘Jaa BoboGene CouncilSalvatore Giorgi

Advisors:Dr. HelfertyDr. Pillapakkam

Outline of Presentation

• Mission Overviewo Objectiveo Theoryo Background / Previous Researcho Biological Analysiso Success Criteria

• Designo Design Processo Electrical Systemo Physical Modelo Software Flow Charto Power Systemo Componentso Filter Systemo Optical Systemo Design Complianceo Testingo Biological Analysiso Shared Can Logistics

• Managemento Scheduleo Team Memberso Advisorso Part List / Budget Outlineo Conclusion

Mission Overview

Objective• Measure the earth’s magnetic field as a function

of altitude. • Measure flight dynamics of the rocket.• Take biological samples in stratosphere and lower

mesosphere.• Mini-spectrometer will measure the absorption

spectrum of the atmosphere as a function of altitude

Theory• An inertial measurement unit (IMU) is an electrical

device consisting of accelerometers and gyroscopes that are used to measure the rocket’s flight dynamics (roll, pitch, and yaw).

• The magnetometer will measure the strength and direction of the earth’s magnetic field.

• The filtration system will collect organic and inorganic material suspended in the atmosphere.

• Spectrometer measures properties of light over a specific electromagnetic spectrum, specifically UV, VIS, and NIR.

Background• Biological aerosol defined as airborne solid particles (dead or

alive) that are or were derived from living organisms, including microorganisms and fragments of living things.o Include: bacteria, fungi, viruses, unicellular organisms

• In 2006, the European Science Foundation funded an exploratory workshop on “Microbiological Meteorology” at the French National Agronomic Research Institute (INRA) in Avignon. o Potential roles of micro-organisms

• Act as cloud condensation nuclei and to participate in radiative forcing.

• Many airborne micro-organisms likely metabolize chemical components of aerosols thereby modifying atmospheric chemistry.

Previous Research• In 2008, a study identified bacterial species

Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus endophyticus, and the fungal genus Penicillium.

• In 2005, a study showed about 25% of the particles suspended in air in the size range of 0.2 to 5 μm are primary biological aerosol particles.

Success Criteria• Acquire Stratospheric specimen

o Collect a statistically significant sample to compare to previous studies.• Amount of samples• Type of microbes

• Spectrometero Accurately measure and record atmospheric spectra o Determine environment bio samples survive in

• IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit)o Accurately and reliably record data such as:

• Velocity• Flight Dynamics • Gravitational Force

• Magnetometero Study magnetic field in upper atmosphere.o Compare experimental magnetic field to actual values .

System Overview

Design Process

Electrical System Block Diagram

Physical Model

Software Flow ChartInitialize System

Start timer for opening / closing valve

Check connection

s

Sample Sensors (I2C, SPI, and analog pins)

Sample Sensors (I2C, SPI, and analog pins)

Write sensor data

First Timer

Finished

Second Timer Finished

Sample Sensors (I2C, SPI, and analog pins)

Open Valve

Close Valve

PowerBasic System Requirements• Microprocessor – 90 mA @ 3.3 V

• Magnetometer – 0.9 mA @ 3.3 V

• Gyroscope – 3.5 mA @ 5 V

• XY-axis accelerometer – 15 mA @ 6 V

• Z axis accelerometer – 2.5 mA @ 6 V

• Spectrometer – 0.6 A @ 5 V

Sources• Voltage regulators will be

used to maintain the proper amount of power for each sensor

• Series of 9 V batteries will power system

ComponentsMagnetometer• Power: 2.5 to 3.3 V• Field Range: +/- 4 Gauss• Current: 0.9 mA• Bandwidth: 10 kHz• Weight: 50 mg• I2C interface

Gyroscope• Power: 5 V• Range: +/- 20,000 °/sec• Current: 3.5 mA• Bandwidth: 2 kHz• Weight: 0.5 g

ComponentsXY-axis Accelerometer• Power: 3.0 to 3.6 V• Range: +/- 37 g• Current: 15 mA• Bandwidth: 400 kHz• Serial Peripheral Interface

(SPI)

Z-axis Accelerometer• Power: 3.3 to 5 V• Range: +/- 70 g• Current: 2.5 mA• Bandwidth: 22 kHz

Flash Memory: 512KRAM Memory: 128KOperating Voltage: 3.3VOperating Frequency: 80 MHzTypical Operating Current: 90 mAI/O Pins: 83Analog Inputs: 16Analog Input Voltage Range: 0V to 3.3VDC Current Per Pin: +/- 18 mAUSB 2.0 Full Speed OTG controllerI2C and SPI interfaces

ComponentsMicroprocessor

Filter SystemDesign• Connects to two ports: Static and

Dynamico Dynamic port draws in sampleso Air flow exits through the static

port• Contains four filters in series

o Filters are decreasing in size from 5 to 0.2 μm

• Filter system terminates with NPT connector at each end

Testing• All parts must be autoclave-able• Two filter systems will be

constructedo One will be included one

rocketo Other kept on groundo Results compared

Mass Flow Rate• The mass flow rate is

expected to be about 5.3×10-6 kg/s

• Particle sizes ranging from 0.2 to 5 µm

Exposure Time• System will open at 30 km

and close at 30 km

• Based on previous data we estimate the filter system will be open for 5 min

Filter System

Rough sketch of mechanical valve system

Proposed placement of filter system on plate

Optical SystemSpectrometer Trade Study

Name Range Interface Size Power Weight Company Price

BLUE-Wave

200 - 1150 nm

USB-2 1x3x5 inch

100 mA via USB port 0.87 lb StellarNet

Inc $2500

BLACK-Comet

190 – 900 nm USB-2 2.7x4x6

inch100 mA @ 5

VDC ~1.0 lb StellarNet Inc $2750

Red Tider

200 – 850 nm USB-2 1.3x2.5x

1.4 inch90 mA @ 5

VDC 0.41 lb Ocean Optics $1154

Design Compliance• Predicted final mass is 10+0.2 lbs

o Total weight of sensors is less than 3 lbso Projected filtration system weight is less than 2 lbso More weight needed

• Payload Activationo G-switch

• Center of Masso Preliminary Solid Works projection shows this constraint

can be met

TestingMechanical• Air Foil

• Test to see if filtration system can withstand drag force

• Low pressure• Contacted Physics Department

at Temple and Drexel• Test to see if filtration system

functions at low pressures• Spectrometer

• Ability to measure spectrum while in motion

Biological• Autoclave

• Test to see if filtration system can be properly sterilized

• Test to see if filtration tube can be completely sealed

Electrical• Sensors

• Test accuracy• Functioning Properly

• Data• Test processor is

properly handling incoming data

• SD Card / Reader properly storing

Biological Analysis• DAPI

o DAPI (6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) is a stain used in fluorescence microscopy. DAPI passes through cell membranes therefore it can be used to stain both live and fixed cells.

• BRDUo Bromodeoxyuridine (5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine, BrdU) is a synthetic

nucleoside that is used for detecting actively dividing cells.• Genetic Sequencing

o Determines the number of nucleotides in sample’s DNA: adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine

• Scanning Electron Microscopeo Scans the sample and re-generates image to be analyzed, i.e.

structural analysis of microbes

Shared Can Logistics• Sharing canister with Drexel University• Communication has been opened up between the teams

o Both teams expect to use half the canister space and weight

• Drexel’s proposed experiments will not effect ours• Close proximity will allow us to integrate entire canister prior

to flight• Resources from both Universities will be used for testing

Management

ScheduleNovember December

Goals: Finalize Software Construct canister platesConstruct Filtration System Construct Payload

Sterilization TestsAir Flow Tests  

Sensor Tests

Spectrometer Test

Important Dates:

November 30: Critical Design review due

December 1: CDR Teleconference

Team MembersFred Avery (ME)• Filtration System• Center of gravity testing• Mass Flow Rates

Ny ‘Jaa Bobo (EE)• Hardware

• Magnetometer• IMU

• Power

Gene Council (EE)• Hardware

• Magnetometer• IMU

• Chip programming

Salvatore Giorgi (ECE)• Team Leader• Spectrometer• Microprocessor

• Data Acquisition• Filtration System

AdvisorsElectrical

Dr. John HelfertyDepartment of Electrical and

Computer Engineering

MechanicalDr. Shriram Pillapakkam

Department of Mechanical Engineering

BiologicalDr. Erik CordesDepartment of Biology

Parts List / BudgetParts Manufacture Cost Quantity

Payload Canister - $7,000 1

Microprocessor Microchip $49.50 1

Magnetometer Honeywell $19.95 1

G-Switch Digikey $12.95 1

SD card 2 GB SanDisk $27.99 1

SD reader Microchip $37.99 1

Filter Paper Millipore Supplied by Bio Department 4 types

Filter canister Millipore $388.00 1 pack = 8 canisters

Gyroscope Analog Devices $90.00 1

Parts List / BudgetParts Manufacture Cost Quantity

XY-axis accelerometer Analog Devices $99.00 1

Z-axis accelerometer Analog Devices $75.90 1

Spectrometer $2500 1

Fiber Optics Cable $100 - $200 1

Conclusion• Concerns

o Opening and closing filtration systemo Properly sterilizing and maintaining sterilization of the filtration systemo Properly analyzing spectrum during flighto Possible addition of second microprocessor

• Recently Finishedo Ordered microprocessor, accelerometers, gyroscope, magnetometer, and filter

canistero Wrote libraries for SPI and I2C interfaces

• Future Planso Finalize Spectrometer / Optical port designo Purchase Spectrometero Machine plateso Continue programming processoro Build and test filtration system