Prototype Inspection Day (PID) is one week away! The team has been hard at work developing a preliminary prototype capable of showcasing the progress we’ve made throughout the many weeks of research and experimentation. Our liaison engineers were able to provide us with more supplemental materials in the form of CAD drawings and electrical schematics of their products. These tools have been extremely helpful as we continue to explore concepts and work towards creating our own designs.

The mechanical sub team met to test the Oster steamer that Newell Brands had also sent to us. Manipulating the initial conditions like the cooking time, the tiers on the steamer, the water in the reservoir, etc. allowed us to determine the ideal conditions for brewing our specialty beverage. This data was later applied when we met again on Thursday to discuss design ideas. The team sent in a CAD model with the hope of printing it out for testing next week. Similarly the electrical team has been working hard to develop a systematic means of producing the perfect cup of our beverage each and every time, through the use of sensors. Multiple iterations were tested to create a calibration curve used to estimate the ideal properties of our beverage. Looking forward to Prototype Inspection Day, we are looking forward to getting solid feedback on the progress we’ve made thus far. Additionally, we are looking for feedback on the user’s experience, as ultimately we are looking to create a machine that requires the minimum amount of work on the user’s part.