The team made significant progress on their plate scanner hardware and software. They finished constructing the plate scanner hardware by mounting the microscope and adding metal braces for stability. On the software side, they are able to take individual pictures using OpenCV but still need to calibrate motor movement, implement image stitching, and update the GUI. They also designed a new microgravity habitat for tardigrades consisting of a minimalistic container that holds grow lights over an acrylic top with a cutout for a carbon sheet and spring to secure a petri dish. Their goals for the next period are to finish the plate scanner software, build the tardigrade habitat, finalize the summer program details, and find a location and teachers. Overall, the team

1. ROUND 2 WEEK 2
Moon Bears to
Space
1

2. GOAL 1
Finish plate
scanner hardware
GOALS
GOAL 2
GOAL 3
Make software
progress
Constella/Summer
Program.
2

3. SUMMER PROGRAM
UPDATES
● The team does not have an update from Constella yet, and we are waiting to
hear back the parents
● We also discussed program requirements that will need to be figured out:
○ Insurance for students (because of liability)
○ Teacher background checks
○ Location
■ SJSU?
■ Silicon Valley Business Center?
■ Hacker Dojo?
● We also decided that the program would be for profit.
3

4. 3D PRINTER ERRORS
WERE FIXED
We figured out that the problems from the 3D printer were due to setting
errors.
To fix the error, we changed support settings from using the right
extruder to the left extruder.
4

5. PLATE SCANNER
HARDWARE PROGRESS
● WE FINISHED!!
● The microscope has been
mounted
● Everything is stable now.
○ We added braces made
out of metal pieces
and door hinges.
5

6. What was done this week:
- Got cameras working in program
Stuff that needs to be done:
- Get the plate scanner moving with new motor shield
- Finish OpenCV work to calibrate movement of plate scanner
- Write image stitching program
- Update GUI
6
PLATE SCANNER
SOFTWARE PROGRESS

7. We are able to take pictures with the camera manually by grabbing
individual frames over OpenCV. We tested the camera by taking snapshots of
letters printed on paper.
7
PLATE SCANNER CAMERA
DEMONSTRATION
The image taken shows the dot on an
“i”.
The edge of an “e” is shown.

8. A new design was created using the same
concept and materials as the original
design:
● The new design is made to be put over
a petri dish so we can easily remove
the habitat and examine the dish
without transferring tardigrades onto
another platform.
● Minimalistic and small.
● Holds the grow lights over an acrylic
top, which has a space cut out for a
small carbon sheet.
● A spring is placed in the bottom to
ensure the petri dish is tightly
fastened within the device.
TARDIGRADE
MICROGRAVITY HABITAT
8

9. MICROGRAVITY HABITAT DECONSTRUCTED
9

10. GOALS FOR NEXT
ROUND/BETWEEN ROUNDS
● Finish plate scanner software
● Build tardigrade microgravity habitat
● Combine results from Constella and finalize summer
program
● Find location and teachers for summer program.
● Look into insurance.
10

11. HOW WE FEEL ABOUT
THIS WEEK...
Alessia - : 9: I made a lot of progress this week and was able to get things done quickly,
also I think collectively as a team we were much more productive and could work at a faster
speed then the previous week.
Christina - 9.5: I think this week was definitely more productive than last week and we
made some great progress on the plate scanner. I am also excited to see that we are getting
started on the microgravity habitat.
Holger - 9: I got a lot of things done with the plate scanner program. I also started the
week strong unlike last week.
Justin - 9: We did a lot this week, and it’s exciting that we finally have a stable plate
scanner. I’m excited to move on to different steps of our plan.
Alex - 9: I feel good about finishing he plate scanner and the design for the containment
chamber. I think we were much more productive this week than the last.
Drew -9:It seems like we are mostly done with the plate scanner, hardware wise. It looks
like we Holger is in a good place with the software. The only issues that we’re having is
with focusing the microscope.
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