A primary goal of planetary exploration is the search for life beyond Earth, particularly by 
detecting biomolecular signatures on celestial bodies like Europa and Enceladus, which may have the 
conditions to support life. The Electronic Life-detection Instrument for Europa/Enceladus (ELIE) is 
designed to detect amino acids, RNA, DNA, and other charged polymers indicative of life. Based on 
the benchtop nanogap detection technology developed by Osaka University, the original ELIE 
prototype successfully demonstrated the detection of single molecules in a zero-g flight. However, 
this system was relatively large and required manual operations such as chip loading and cleaning. 
Designed to address these limitations, the ELIE 2.0 prototype marked a significant improvement by 
reducing the system’s mass and volume and demonstrating the novel ability to monitor gap size 
during nanogap formation. ELIE 2.0 also laid the foundation for automated sample delivery and 
electrophoresis. Despite these advancements, ELIE 2.0 had critical issues relating to noise, 
leading to the development of ELIE 3.0. ELIE 3.0 aims to address these challenges and increase the 
instrument’s TRL. This work focuses on developing software architecture to integrate new hardware, 
including a new amplifier to enable multi-channel detection and control across the nanogap chip; 
and a smaller vacuum-compatible piezoelectric actuator, requiring software modifications to 
optimize its performance. To improve precision detection, calibration scripts will be developed to 
fine-tune voltages across the E4 channels, ensuring minimal noise and maximum signal clarity. 
Additionally, a centralized dispatch loop will automate key ELIE functions, accounting for each of 
their dependencies, and streamlining 30 μl sample delivery, gap formation and control, and sample 
measurement. All this functionality will be packaged into GUI software that provides user- friendly 
testing and system operation. The ELIE 3.0 prototype will enable experiments that advance the 
instrument hardware/software from TRL 2 to TRL 4.
Committee
•  Prof. Christopher Carr – School of Aerospace Engineering (advisor)
•  Prof. Masatoshi (Toshi) Hirabayashi – School of Aerospace Engineering
•  Prof. Brian Gunter – School of Aerospace Engineering