After multiple iterations, the autosampler finally works. While I assembled the hardware, Stefan Seeger did all the software programming and designed the PCBs. Our System currently has the capacity to load 46 sample bags. The samples are each pricked with a cannula which is connected to a valve. The valves can individualy be opened, allowing the Picarro laser spectrometer to analyse the samples in sequence.

While the autosampler takes longer to analyse each bag, the major benefit is the fact, that it can also work during night, enlarging sample processing drastically.

In a next iteration we want to switch to different valves and pipes with smaller diameter to reduce “dead” system volume. The goal is to open access publish the partslist plus software so other (geo-)scientists can also scale up their sampling quantity.