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Space2021–2022

AWESOME-O robotic interface

A camera on a linear rail that photographs plant experiments for astrobotany research. The team rebuilt it with a new interface, a touchscreen enclosure, an automatic filter switcher and a sturdier rail.

The orange touchscreen enclosure next to the AWESOME-O linear rail and camera
Client
Dr. Richard Barker, Gilroy Lab
Years
2021–2022
Area
Space
Built
UI, enclosure, filter switcher, rail

The problem

A NASA rig that needed a rebuild

In 2014 the Gilroy Lab built a system for a NASA project: arrays of petri dishes photographed by a camera on a 2D pivot.

In 2021 Dr. Richard Barker brought it to Insight Wisconsin. He wanted software that was intuitive to use, a more robust linear rail, an automatic lens switcher and upgrades to the control system.

How it was built

Step by step

2021The brief

Sketching the new system

The team split the work into the electronics, the interface, the filter switcher, the rail and an enclosure, and started from the existing wiring.

First sketch on the whiteboard.
The control system schematic.

April 7, 2022Design review

Five upgrades, one review

At the design review the team presented every part of the rebuild.

Electrical circuit

  • Better wiring quality
  • Status lights

User interface

  • More intuitive
  • Documentation

Filter switcher

  • Battery powered
  • Automatic

Linear rail

  • Cable pulley
  • Rewritten motor firmware

Interface enclosure

  • Touchscreen
  • Enclosure for the microcontroller, PCB and power switch
The new interface: time between iterations, number of iterations, length of experiment.
Building the filter switcher.
The filter switcher.
Touchscreen enclosure on the rail.
The full system.
Enclosure with the power switch.
Inside the enclosure.

Credits

Who made it

Client

Dr. Richard Barker, Gilroy Lab, UW–Madison

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