2021-07-08

Owned by Former user (Deleted)
Last updated: Aug 04, 2021 by Former user (Deleted)
2 min read

Teams Involved: Science and Mechanical

  • Science Plan 2021  
  • Limited bay access means we do not know what chemicals we still have and will not be able to order new supplied and conduce tests for new experiments in a timely manner 
  • Make improvements to soil and rock testing experiments from 2019/2020 but keep test procedure very similar so that mechanism will be very similar to previous years (focus on making improvements to past systems rather than something entirely new) 
  • Have test procedure and mechanism requirements ready for next week to provide to Mechanical team (set up meeting with leads)  
  • Soil Testing (potential options) 
  • Observe the soil at the station: 
  • -make observations; colour, moisture 
  • Ensure the test tubes are at the correct position 
  • 3 test tubes receive the SAME soil 
  • Research number of tests required at each test site. Currently performing one per site, potential to increase if required 
  • Six test tubes total (three control)  
  •             -Ninhydrin* (most important)  
  •             -pH 
  •             -Nitrogen 
  • Watch SAR videos from previous years to see winning teams' tests and mechanisms and check if there are better options 
  • Auger drills the soil. 
  • Scooping mechanism rather than drill depending on if soil needs to be extracted from the group or from a given bucket 
  • Soil is dispersed into test tubes.   
  • Test tube openings are covered. 
  • Centrifuge for 1 min 
  • Just to mix  

 

  • Rock Testing (potential options) 
  • Real-time camera feed (higher resolution, capability to zoom in) 
  • Look into magnification, if necessary, add microscope 
  • How many cameras (colour, frame rate) 
  • Mechanical team needs to validate existing camera resolution, quality and zooming capabilities 
  • Create rock identification manual (stratigraphy, signs of extinct or extant life)  
  • Research more ways to detect signs of life simply using the real-time camera feed (rocks cannot be altered in competition and other sensors might be too expensive)  
  • Send a complete and detailed list of all tests to be performed to the electrical, mechanical and software team (upload on Confluence) 
  • Sensors (potential options) 
  • Ask electrical team what sensors they already have  
  • Temperature 
  • Moisture 
  • PH 
  • Need to test all of these for functionality. Make a benchmark for all of the different equipment for future purchases.  
  • Mechanism Requirements (2019)  
  • Soil Testing  
  • vertical elevator, a soil collection auger drill  
  • soil mixing spinner 
  • sensor arm 
  • The elevator is lowered to ground level, at which point the auger spins sending soil up its flutes.  
  • The soil then travels to one of twelve test tubes with reaction chemicals prestored in the tubes.  
  • Tubes can then be sealed using the elevator and spun to mix.  
  • A camera is used to detect color change while the sensor arm places temperature, pH, and moisture sensors in the dug hole.  
  • To reduce contamination, drills, and containers holding soil will be sterilized pre-competition.   
     
  • Rock Testing (2019) 
  • Rock samples will be analyzed through a camera feed in real time to determine whether extinct, extant or no life is present 
  • Science Mission Questions  
  • Find science mission questions for 2021 and start answering them (research) 
  • Science Team Members  
  • Introduce Clare to team on Tuesday  
  • Share past Google Drives and Confluence (ask Asha to add her) 
  • Assign tasks and share timeline with her