Goals
- This project centres around developing the OpenScope microscope field-use, for example in testing blood and water samples. This project is likely to be carried out with some collaboration with the WaterScope team (developing a water quality testing kit for South Asia).
- The requirements for the microscope are that it is robust, easy to use and set-up, and performs a very specific task reliably and effectively. The prototype microscope developed by the 2015 iGEM team will be taken as a starting point, but needs to be significantly modified.
Specific Tasks
- Design of a 3D-printed chassis including sample holder (stage), mount for optics system and housing for the electronic components
- Design of manually- and motor-controlled axis systems (x,y and z) on the chassis, and integration of the motors. The motorised systems must give smooth and reliable movement
- Development and optimisation of software for motor control, image capture and analysis. This could include integration of a smartphone app with the microscope controls
- Optimisation of the electronics for axis control and sample illumination. This is likely to be based on Raspberry Pi (computer) and Arduino (micro-controller) platforms
- Optimisation of the optical pathway including choosing appropriate lenses, sample illumination and integration of the digital camera
- Prototype testing through imaging of real-world biological samples
- Comprehensive hardware documentation so that other groups can reproduce the product easily
- Writing-up of results, and ideally publication