This week, Gator Waves jumped right back into working on the project. The team met last Wednesday to discuss plans for the spring semester, including manufacturing timelines, resolving issues with the solenoid and striker rod interaction, and improving the facing of the striker rod. On Monday, our team met with our coach Dr. van Oostrom and liaison Dr. Subhash. We discussed the status of the project and our plans moving forward. That afternoon, the mechanical engineers met to begin attaching the striker rod to the newly acquired rail, which is intended to greatly reduce friction. The electrical engineers also met to continue soldering components onto the PCB that was designed and ordered last semester. The team also worked on clarifying our risk and mitigation strategies, work breakdown structure, and a timeline for the spring.

On Wednesday, the electrical engineers met once again to finish the PCB and test it with the solenoid. The spring semester has definitely started with a bang considering that two electrolytic capacitors were blown up in the process of testing the board. Though the explosion (and screams) were loud, no one was injured, and the board is still operable.