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Camelot: a computer-automated micro-extensometer with low-cost optical tracking.

Nicola Trozzi^1,2,3, Wiktoria Wodniok⁴, Robert Kelly-Bellow¹

¹Department of Computational and Systems Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK.

|April 27, 2025

Summary

Researchers developed Camelot, a low-cost automated micro-extensometer with optical tracking, to measure plant mechanical properties. This system accurately assesses elasticity and stiffness in plant tissues, aiding biomechanics research.

Keywords:

Arabidopsis Cell wall mechanics Creep Elasticity Micro-extensometer MorphoRobotX Optical tracking Plant biomechanics Tissue stiffness Yield stress

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Area of Science:

Plant biomechanics
Mechanical properties of biological materials
Plant morphogenesis

Background:

Plant growth and development are mechanically regulated processes.
Measuring mechanical properties of plants is crucial but faces challenges with cost and equipment availability.
Software development for mechanical testing equipment integration is complex.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a cost-effective, computer-automated micro-extensometer with optical tracking for plant mechanical property measurements.
To overcome technical challenges and high costs associated with specialized biomechanics equipment.
To provide an accessible tool for researchers studying plant mechanical responses.

Main Methods:

Developed Camelot: a system with a force sensor, actuator, and camera for measuring elasticity, creep, and yield stress.
Utilized a stepper motor for sample stretching and a digital microscope or camera for deformation tracking.
Integrated the system with open-source MorphoRobotX software for automated control and data acquisition.

Main Results:

Camelot accurately measured stiffness in delicate plant samples like Arabidopsis hypocotyls, differentiating between wild-type and mutant strains.
Experiments on onion epidermal peels yielded results consistent with previous studies.
Anisotropic deformation of individual Arabidopsis leaf epidermal cells was successfully measured during stretching.

Conclusions:

Camelot is a portable and suitable tool for high-resolution optical tracking in plant biomechanics.
Its low-cost nature makes it ideal for researchers in resource-limited settings.
Facilitates exploratory biomechanics research and detailed analysis of plant mechanical behavior.