FluxBot Progress Updates
September 6, 2023: Bench Demonstration of Auto Sampling System.
The video below shows a mock sample collection run, where three sample vials (9-ml) are filled with 12-ml of air from the chamber volume. In the field, the chamber shown would be inverted, with the rubber gasket sealing on the metal base installed previously in the ground. The sample collection run shown is for three samples in rapid succession; ultimately, samples would be collected more spread out (e.g., 0, 30, 60, and 90 minutes from start).
Layout of the FluxBot system: (1) chamber (2) rubber sealing gasket (3) battery (4) Raspberry Pi computer (5) controller for syringe pump (6) controller for motor to control chamber open/close (future) (7) controller for carousel motor (8) computer on/off switch (9) on/off switch for motors and controllers (10) sample carousel (11) syringe needle with hole in needle side for maximum durability (12) glass 25-ml syringe.
Close up of the FluxBot syringe pump system: The linear actuator is connected to the plunger of the syringe. The “clip” is essential for extracting the needle and syringe from a filled sample vial such that the syringe does not partially refill from the pressure in the sample vial.
Another close up of syringe system showing the clip more clearly.