Reimagined Microphone-Free Acoustic Volumetry: An Open, DIY Platform for Global Phenotyping

Abstract

We present a groundbreaking Do-It-Yourself (DIY) acoustic volumetry platform that redefines quantitative measurement by eliminating the conventional microphone. Our design exploits the inherent acoustic–electrical properties of a dynamic microphone cartridge mounted on a sealed chamber—representing the theoretically simplest possible acoustic volumeter. By focusing on resonance peak shifts, our streamlined sensor —utilizing an easily assembled circuit built solely from off-the-shelf audio connectors to split the sound card output between sensor excitation and response recording—delivers rapid, precise volumetric measurements with as few as three frequency points in several seconds. Calibration using both linear and logarithmic models demonstrated a robust correlation between resonance peak shifts and sample volume, yielding root mean square errors (RMSE) of 1.980 μL and 1.662 μL, respectively. Notably, when applied to a ten-grain assay, these values correspond to an average error of less than 0.2 μL per wheat grain, thereby affirming the device’s precision across a diverse range of sample volumes. An exclusive Python-based freeware, distributed globally, provides an intuitive interface for calibration and measurement, ensuring that this cost-effective and modular approach is accessible to researchers worldwide. This innovative method not only simplifies traditional volumetry techniques but also paves the way for further optimization, marking a significant advancement for applications across a broad spectrum of scientific fields.

Plant phenotyping relevance

音響容積測定プラットフォームとPythonソフトウェアを開発し、コムギ粒の体積測定で精度を評価しているため、植物器官形質の取得法が中心である。

Code and data availability

植物フェノタイピング解析を再現する公開資産であることを、入力本文と直接リンクから確認できなかったため保留しました。

No evidence-backed public reproduction asset is currently recorded.