PRJ-02 · Mariner Ocean Research Institute (MORI)

Mariner Ocean Research Institute (MORI)

Outcome: Developed research instrumentation and data infrastructure supporting optical alignment, experimental data acquisition, and remote analysis. My contribution: I designed and built optical hardware, sensing electronics, and a Raspberry Pi and Arduino based acquisition system, integrating the physical experiment with its software and data pipeline.

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Fig. 1 — MORI research instrumentation and optical alignment system. [Replace with staged, well-lit hero photo.]

What I Did

  • Designed custom optical and sensor mounting hardware through repeated CAD iterations for lasers, mirrors, detectors, and supporting instrumentation.
  • Built a Raspberry Pi and Arduino based data acquisition system integrating optical sensing, experiment control, and alignment monitoring.
  • Developed a Python and Tkinter interface for experiment monitoring, visualization, and management of research data.
  • Implemented an SCP based workflow for transferring and processing more than 1 TB of experimental data across three off-site servers.

Motivation

MORI required reliable instrumentation for long term experimental research involving optical alignment, data acquisition, and remote processing. The system needed to combine custom mechanical hardware, electronics, software, and data infrastructure while remaining adjustable as the experimental setup evolved. The work was completed over several years in a small research environment where individual subsystems had to operate reliably as part of a larger scientific workflow.

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Fig. 2 — In progress optical instrumentation and alignment hardware. [Show the process.]
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Fig. 3 — Close up of the custom optical mounting and sensing hardware. [Annotate your contribution.]

Results

The completed system connected optical hardware, sensing electronics, data acquisition, and remote processing into a single research workflow. Alignment changes could be detected and corrected on approximately a 200 ms timescale, while the software and server workflow supported the transfer and processing of more than 1 TB of experimental data across three remote servers. The interface and processing workflow reduced post-observation analysis time by approximately 40 percent. Repeated hardware iteration also produced more reliable mounts and improved the maintainability of the experimental setup.

Technical Details

The system combined Raspberry Pi and Arduino hardware with optical detectors, lasers, mirrors, and custom fabricated mounts. Sensor readings were used to monitor optical alignment and support rapid correction when the optical path shifted. Python software and a Tkinter GUI provided experiment monitoring and visualization, while SCP was used to move experimental data to three off-site servers for redundant storage and remote processing. Mechanical components were iterated through CAD and 3D printing to improve optical positioning, environmental protection, and integration with the experimental hardware.

Role
Research Apprentice
Team
Small research team
Timeline
September 2021 – June 2024
Context
Saint Monica Preparatory
Tools
Python, Tkinter, Raspberry Pi, Arduino, CAD, 3D printing, SCP
Skills
Systems design · Fabrication · Team leadership
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