The OpenLabTools project
http://www.openlabtools.org/index.html
The OpenLabTools initiative aims to provide a forum and knowledge centre for the development of low cost and open access scientific tools, with an emphasis on undergraduate and graduate teaching and research. The programme will officially start in October 2013. In order to bootstrap this initiative, a number of MEng projects (4-5 per year) will be offered to establish the core components required for such tools; these include data acquisition, sensing, actuating, processing and 3D manufacturing. Protocols, designs and tutorials will be published on this website. These components will be subsequently combined to establish a documented collection of instruments, to be developed and maintained by a community of undergraduate and graduate students of the University.
We anticipate that the core tools will be rolled out in undergraduate laboratories from 2014 onwards. We would like to invite anybody interested in this programme to get in touch with us and explore ways to contribute, either by using the tools (once ready) or by supporting their development.
The programme benefits from the financial support of the University of Cambridge through the University's Teaching and Learning Innovation Fund.
Summer internships funded by the Raspberry Pi fundation
10 places are currently available for summer internships funded by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, including projects on data logging and imaging. Full details of the projects and contacts are available via the Raspberry Pi Summer Internship Programme link.
Projects on offer for 2013-2014
Four MEng projects are available to CUED students, to be selected using the usual routes (COMET). Project descriptions and additional information are available on this website:
Data acquisition
3D printing
Imaging and image processing
Actuation
Project - Data Acquisition and Sensing
http://www.openlabtools.org/project_2013_1.html
Background
Sensing and measurement of environmental and state variables is ubiquitous in engineering. Typical systems in industry and labs include a sensor, a data conditioning module, and a personal computer or data logger to connect the signals to a readable output. Today, most smart phones have sufficient processing and memory capabilities to allow data acquisition for most common laboratory experiments. Yet we continue to use dedicated PCs and data acquisition boards at a high cost. This project is part of a larger network of researchers dedicated to creating simple, low cost solutions to data acquisition and logging for most generic laboratory purposes. The project based on the Raspberry Pi and Arduino boards, and using open source software, but may also expand into using other platforms. A preliminary data acquisition module based entirely on the Raspberry Pi has been built and is currently being tested under a IIB project, and the proposed activity will build on the lessons learned from the first round.
Aims
The project aims to develop simple low cost data acquisition solution to the most common types of sensors: single ended, low current/voltage input (thermocouples, pressure transducers, pH sensors, photocells), and differential inputs (hotwires, strain gauges).
The specs for the unit will include a few single ended and/or differential channels, and a couple of digital I/Os for communication. Target frequencies are up to tens of kHz – or as high as it can be pushed to. The unit should ideally be powered by one of the 3.3 V pins out of the Raspberry Pi, or one of the USB ports. Possible alternatives to Arduino or custom interfaces can be considered, by using low cost amplifiers, with the project focussing on software development. The final product interface and demonstration platform will be deployed over a range of potential applications.
Open software based on C, C++, Python or other open language and protocols will be used throughout deliver data streams, plotting and spectral analysis capabilities.
A particular important output will be the documentation throughout the project, including software sharing on github or other open repositories.
Requirements
A solid background and interest in electronics and programming.
Resources available
The student will be allocated a consumables budget of up to £500.
Project students will be required to spend an extra week after the end of their project integrating their work into the OpenLabTools web resource. Students will receive a £250 grant for that purpose. This contribution will not be assessed as part of the MEng project.
Project - Imaging and image processing
http://www.openlabtools.org/project_2013_3.html
Background
A large number of tasks in materials characterisation, biological analysis or medical diagnostics rely on the detection of specific features in images. Most applications do not require particularly high frame rates or resolutions and a typical webcam often provides sufficient image quality. However, professional software and off the shelf systems are costly and rarely rely on such low cost solutions, leading to unnecessary cost for schools and research teams. Creating blueprints and tutorials to interface a standard webcam with open-source hardware and software would be useful for a large number of undergraduate and research projects, as well as for school activities and small scale industrial applications running on a tight budget.
This project will form part of the Cambridge OpenLabTools initiative, which aims to develop a suite of laboratory tools for both research and teaching (including sensing, data acquisition and component manufacturing), that are low cost, adaptable and employ open source languages and protocols.
Aims
In this project, a standard USB webcam (or USB microscope) will be interfaced with a Raspberry Pi computer using Python and/or C. The maximum frame rate and sensitivity of the camera will be measured. The pixel intensity will be calibrated so that the camera can be used in quantitative measurements. In the second part of the project, this knowledge will be applied to the automation of a simple task such as cell counting or flow/strain tracking. The project will involve collaborations with other 4th year students, and has financial support from the OpenLabTools project.
Requirements
A solid knowledge of programming and experience with using unix are required for this project.
Resources available
The student will be allocated a consumables budget of up to £500.
Project students will be required to spend an extra week after the end of their project integrating their work into the OpenLabTools web resource. Students will receive a £250 grant for that purpose. This contribution will not be assessed as part of the MEng project.
Project - Actuating
http://www.openlabtools.org/project_2013_4.html
Background
Actuators, such as motors, relays, or piezoelectric devices, allow electrical systems to generate movement and interact with their direct environments. They are key components in any robotic design and perform the most heavy duty tasks in industrial environments. Boosted by the high demand in low cost consumer products and the development of a strong hobbyist community in robotics and home automations, a wide range of electric motors is now available, together with simple protocols and libraries to control them using open hardware technologies, such as the Raspberry Pi computer or the Arduino microcontroller. Many simple research applications and undergraduate teaching exercises would also benefit greatly from the development of low cost and highly customisable tools using such actuators.
This project will form part of the Cambridge OpenLabTools initiative, which aims to develop a suite of laboratory tools for both research and teaching (including sensing, data acquisition and component manufacturing), that are low cost, adaptable and employ open source languages and protocols.
Aims
The project will involve the creation of a selection chart for mechanical actuators based on their performance and the application needs. Software will need to be adapted or developed in order to control and test some examples from the main motor families (stepper motor, continuous current, etc). The second part of the project will apply the knowledge gained to develop a simple mechanical testing device for soft materials like rubber. An actuator will be used to deform the material while a force sensor will measure the loading. The material characteristics will be evaluated against measurements obtained with high-end testing devices available in the Materials laboratory. The project will involve collaborations with other 4th year students, and has financial support from the OpenLabTools project.
Requirements
Good knowledge of programming and electronics, a taste for mechanics and materials.
Resources available
The student will be allocated a consumables budget of up to £500.
Project students will be required to spend an extra week after the end of their project integrating their work into the OpenLabTools web resource. Students will receive a £250 grant for that purpose. This contribution will not be assessed as part of the MEng project.
Project - 3D Printing, design and limitations
http://www.openlabtools.org/project_2013_2.html
Background
Additive manufacturing - 3D printing - is a topic of growing interest in industry and research. In contrast to traditional manufacturing techniques for shaping materials, such as casting and machining, additive manufacturing builds up the structure cumulatively, layer by layer, allowing unprecedented flexibility in terms of geometric complexity and material choices. A wide range of 3D printing techniques have recently become available, suited to different applications and materials.
This project will form part of a new Cambridge OpenLabTools initiative, which aims to develop a suite of laboratory tools for both research and teaching (including sensing, data acquisition and component manufacturing), that are low cost, adaptable and employ open source languages and protocols. The project will focus on the development of a polymer 3D printing capability for the OpenLabTools suite. As well as supporting research into innovative materials and manufacturing, wider lab applications of 3D printing are expected to increase, for example building specialist apparatus such as test rigs, mechanical components and tools, which would otherwise be expensive or time consuming to produce. The project has financial support from the OpenLabTools project.
Aims
1. Printing procedures. Using a RepRap 3D printing kit as a starting point, the first aim is to construct the 3D printer and develop an open source protocol for printing a component. Tasks to consider will include input file generation and printer control procedures.
2. Characterisation of the printer output. Using a variety of techniques (e.g. microscopy, mechanical testing), the output of the printer will need to be characterised, and related to the input and control parameters.
3. Design of standard validation cases. Future users might be interested in assessing particular aspects of printer performance for certain applications. This might include the mechanical strength of printed components, surface finish, geometric resolution (feature sizes), accuracy, joints and interfaces. A suite of validation cases will be developed to provide this information.
Resources available
The student will be allocated a consumables budget of up to £500.
Project students will be required to spend an extra week after the end of their project integrating their work into the OpenLabTools web resource. Students will receive a £250 grant for that purpose. This contribution will not be assessed as part of the MEng project.
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