Projets de semestre
Current projects recruiting at Sailowtech are dedicated to prototyping low-tech oceanographic and lake measurement tools. By carrying out a project credited to Sailowtech, you automatically become a member of the association, and can take part in expeditions and other events!
If you are interested in a project, please contact us at vp.science@sailowtech.ch .
Available credited projects - Fall 2025
Expansion Microscopy of Planktons from Atlantea
Ultrastructure expansion microscopy (UExM) is an extension of expansion microscopy that allows the visualisation of preserved ultrastructures by optical microscopy. This method allows near-native expansion of various structures in vitro and in cells and, when combined with super-resolution microscopy, it reveals details of ultrastructural organisation, such as centriolar chirality, that could otherwise only be observed by electron microscopy.
This project involves the analysis of plankton from the Atlantea transatlantic expedition in the Caribbean and Greenland.
It is in partnership with the Dudin lab in Geneva, so you will need to travel to Geneva once a week. Transport should be paid for by the lab. This project is equivalent to a Master’s thesis (PDM).
Project description -> HERE <-
Recommended sections: SV,SIE…
Example of plankton images obtained by UExM :
Improve our Low-Tech Raman spectrometer for microplastics analysis
Raman spectroscopy – which analyses the light scattered by a laser beam on a sample – is a technique that can be used to identify plastics, as each plastic has a unique optical fingerprint. Furthermore, when coupled to a microscope, plastics down to < 1 μm in diameter can be studied. However, most commercial Ramanmicroscopes are bulky, expensive pieces of equipment not fit for use on a boat. The aim of this project is to perfect a low cost, small Raman microscope that can be used on a Sailowtech cruise and that identifies microplastics in samples. Several examples of low cost Raman systems exist in literature, though these have not been adapted for use on boats.
A first prototype of the Raman technology was achieved last semester. A database (OpenRamanDatabase) was developed.
However, challenges remain.
Project description -> HERE <-
This project corresponds to approximately 10 credits and is in partnership with the LNET laboratory.
Recommended sections: PH, MT, Robotics, GM, MX…
Improve our Low-Tech Gas Monitoring Station
The development of the gas monitoring station strives for a successful balance between affordability, functionality, and sustainability in the context of marine environmental monitoring. Designed to operate under the constraints of sailboat expeditions, the station aims to offer a compact, low-cost, and repairable solution for tracking key atmospheric pollutants—ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM)—along with solar irradiance. It also features humidity, temperature and pressure sensors to help fine tune and calibrate the gas sensors. The objective of the project is now the following: Complete the design, integration, and testing of a multi-sensor gas monitoring station. In particular, the project aims to address key areas of improvement identified during initial development phases, including mechanical sealing, electrical redesigns, software enhancements, and user access optimization.
Project description -> HERE <-
This project corresponds to approximately 10 credits.
Recommended sections: SIE, Energy, PH, MT, EL, Robotics, GM…
Prototype a Dissolved CO2 Measurement Station
The open SeaO2 is a device for measuring the flow of CO2 between the atmosphere and the ocean. It has been designed in the low-tech philosophy, i.e. to be open-source, sustainable, useful and low-cost.
The aim of this semester’s project is to redesign the work of Alexandre Tellier, who designed the device at Sailowtech and Yanis Mouzaoui, who did his semester project on it last semester. One should restore the original prototype, improve its reliability and compute some laboratory test.
The Open Sea02 tool contains one equilibrium chamber with two pumps, one that pumps water inside the chamber, the other pumps the water out of chamber. There is also an air pump that transfers air to a NDIR sensor that measures C02 levels where we can deduce it partial pressure. A ToF sensor is used to maintain the water level in the chamber constant, and two microcontrollers are used to operate the pumps
Project description -> HERE <-
This project corresponds to approximately 8 credits and is in partnership with the Sense Lab in Sion. The lab pays the transport fees.
Recommended sections: MT, EL, Robotics, GM…
Improve our Multi-Function Pedalboard
This project aims to improve a multi-function pedal system that can be adapted for various uses beyond its current blender setup. The challenges include increasing the applied force through mechanical amplification, designing the pedal mechanism so it can be easily reconfigured for different functions, and connecting it to an energy storage system (e.g., a battery) for later use. The goal is to create a versatile, user-friendly, and sustainable pedal-powered tool.
Project description -> HERE <-
This project corresponds to approximately 4 credits.
Recommended sections: SIE, GC
Available non-credited projects - Fall 2025
Open source our CTD
— Coming soon —
An uncredited project in partnership with the SenseLab in Sion.
Repair our submarine camera 'Kosmos'
— Coming soon —
It’s an uncredited project.
Improve the open-source Planktoscope microscope and analyze images.
Le Planktoscope est un microscope modulaire open-source imaginé par Fairscope. Après avoir constuit notre V1, nous souhaitons passer à une V2 de notre outil pour en améliorer sa qualité et son accessibilité.
Cet outil permet d’obtenir des images quantitatives de planctons. Une base de données open-source EcoTaxa permet de répertorier et identifier les espèces observées. Ce projet consiste à fabriquer la V2 de notre planktoscope mais aussi à le tester sur le Léman et à s’approprier la base de données. Le projet peut être adapté pour être crédités de 4 à 10 crédits. Ce projet est en collaboration avec le laboratoire d’imagerie bio-médicale de l’EPFL.
Project description -> HERE <-
Recommended sections: SV,SIE…
Images obtenues de planctons du Léman avec un Planktoscope :
