Biological Acquisition Unit
Team Members:
Fred Avery
Ny ‘Jaa Bobo
Gene Council
Salvatore Giorgi
Advisors:
Dr. Helferty
Dr. Pillapakkam
Outline of Presentation
• Mission Overview
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Objective
Theory
Background / Previous Research
Biological Analysis
Success Criteria
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Design Process
Electrical System
Physical Model
Software Flow Chart
Power System
Components
Filter System
Optical System
Design Compliance
Testing
Biological Analysis
Shared Can Logistics
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Schedule
Team Members
Advisors
Part List / Budget Outline
Conclusion
• Design
• Management
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
• Spectrometer
o 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
• Magnetometer
o 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 Chart
Initialize System
Start timer for opening / closing valve
Check
connections
Sample Sensors (I2C, SPI, and analog pins)
First Timer
Finished
Open Valve
Sample Sensors (I2C, SPI, and analog pins)
Second Timer
Finished
Close Valve
Sample Sensors (I2C, SPI, and analog pins)
Write sensor data
Power
Basic System Requirements
Sources
• Magnetometer – 0.9 mA @ 3.3 V
• Voltage regulators will be used
to maintain the proper amount
of power for each sensor
• Microprocessor – 90 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
• Series of 9 V batteries will
power system
Components
Magnetometer
• 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
Components
XY-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
Components
Microprocessor
Flash Memory: 512K
RAM Memory: 128K
Operating Voltage: 3.3V
Operating Frequency: 80 MHz
Typical Operating Current: 90 mA
I/O Pins: 83
Analog Inputs: 16
Analog Input Voltage Range: 0V to 3.3V
DC Current Per Pin: +/- 18 mA
USB 2.0 Full Speed OTG controller
I2C and SPI interfaces
Filter System
Design
• Connects to two ports: Static and
Dynamic
o Dynamic port draws in samples
o 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
constructed
o One will be included one
rocket
o Other kept on ground
o Results compared
Mass Flow Rate
• The mass flow rate is expected
to be about 5.3×10-6 kg/s
Exposure Time
• System will open at 30 km and
close at 30 km
• Particle sizes ranging from 0.2
to 5 µm
• 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 System
Spectrometer Trade Study
Name
Range
BLUE200 Wave 1150 nm
BLACK- 190 – 900
Comet
nm
Red
Tider
200 – 850
nm
Interface
Size
Power
Weight
Company
Price
USB-2
1x3x5
inch
100 mA via
USB port
0.87 lb
StellarNet
Inc
$2500
USB-2
2.7x4x6 100 mA @ 5
inch
VDC
~1.0 lb
StellarNet
Inc
$2750
USB-2
1.3x2.5x1 90 mA @ 5
.4 inch
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 lbs
o Projected filtration system weight is less than 2 lbs
o More weight needed
• Payload Activation
o G-switch
• Center of Mass
o Preliminary Solid Works projection shows this constraint can
be met
Testing
Mechanical
• 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.
• BRDU
o 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 Microscope
o 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
Schedule
Goals:
November
December
Finalize Software
Construct canister plates
Construct Filtration System
Construct Payload
Sterilization Tests
Air Flow Tests
Sensor Tests
Spectrometer Test
Important
Dates:
November 30: Critical Design
review due
December 1: CDR Teleconference
Team Members
Fred Avery (ME)
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Filtration System
Center of gravity testing
Mass Flow Rates
Gene Council (EE)
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Hardware
• Magnetometer
• IMU
Chip programming
Ny ‘Jaa Bobo (EE)
• Hardware
• Magnetometer
• IMU
• Power
Salvatore Giorgi (ECE)
• Team Leader
• Spectrometer
• Microprocessor
• Data Acquisition
• Filtration System
Advisors
Electrical
Dr. John Helferty
Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering
Mechanical
Dr. Shriram Pillapakkam
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Biological
Dr. Erik Cordes
Department of Biology
Parts List / Budget
Parts
Manufacture
Cost
Quantity
Payload Canister
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$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
1
Filter Paper
Millipore
$37.99
Supplied by Bio
Department
Filter canister
Millipore
$388.00
1 pack = 8
canisters
Gyroscope
Analog Devices
$90.00
1
4 types
Parts List / Budget
Parts
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
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Opening and closing filtration system
Properly sterilizing and maintaining sterilization of the filtration system
Properly analyzing spectrum during flight
Possible addition of second microprocessor
• Recently Finished
o Ordered microprocessor, accelerometers, gyroscope, magnetometer, and
filter canister
o Wrote libraries for SPI and I 2C interfaces
• Future Plans
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Finalize Spectrometer / Optical port design
Purchase Spectrometer
Machine plates
Continue programming processor
Build and test filtration system