This week the team finished of our prototype! We had our Final Design Review presentation and showcase where we got to show off our prototype to the liaisons. They were very happy with the results and we were so excited to share with them all our hard work.

At the showcase, we had a video playing about our prototype as well as a poster that summarized the last year of work that went into developing our prototype. The team is excited to film one last video to share with the liaisons on the overall machine process!

We are quickly approaching FDR and the team is hard at work making sure that we get everything done so we can be successful!

The mechanical team has sent all of the components of the prototype to be printed. The team will work this weekend to put final touches on these components and assemble our prototype. We plan to continue testing and gain user feedback once we have a completed prototype assembled.

The electrical team has received their final iteration of the PCB. The team is very excited to get that set up and implemented into our prototype. Overall, the team has continued doing testing on the individual components of the prototype.

The team is very excited as the final prototype comes to life. The team also had the opportunity to give a presentation at the Cade Museum. We got to share our experience in the IPPD program as well as some of our work on our prototype.

FDR is in 2 weeks!! With that being said, the mechanical and electrical subteams are sprinting during the final stretch.

The mechanical team is currently enhancing the designs of the subassemblies to optimize the overall design and functionality of the prototype. We’re planning on sending out our final prints this weekend in hopes of assembling the full prototype next week just in time for FDR. Once the final prototype is fully assembled, we plan to continue testing

The electrical team has been hard at work finalizing the final iteration of the PCB. It was finally sent out for production and we’re awaiting it’s arrival. While we wait, we’re following our testing plan to ensure everything works flawlessly. We’ve been able to work out some kinks and we’re actively working to solve other issues that have surfaced.

We’re looking forward to finishing up the semester and presenting our final working prototype soon!

Just three weeks away from FDR presentations, all hands are on deck to complete the team’s prototype. This week, the team began working on the Final Design Report (FDR). This novel of a paper is designed to capture the entirety of the last 6 months’ work, as well as predict future implications (ie. environmental/legal effects) and applications of the device. Additionally, the team is developing a promotional video for their specialty beverage maker. The video will set the scene for the problem at hand, as well as demonstrate the intuitive nature of the device.

As for prototype development, the team is actively referring to feedback given from prototype inspection day to fine tune their design. The electrical team finished their second rendition of the PCB, successfully converting the power from AC to DC, simplifying the footprint of board. Similarly, the mechanical team continues to develop their parts, adding screw holes and other means of fastening the electrical components inside the device. The stirring mechanism was also optimized to for a quiet less bulky design, perfect for anyone’s kitchen counter.

With the Prototype Inspection Day presentation on Tuesday, this was a huge week for the SimpliciTea team. The team met over the weekend and Monday to finalize the first iteration prototype. Unfortunately, we were unable to boil water without minor leakage from the steaming chamber base, so the only automated function that was presented was the automation of the stirring process (the most important in our opinion). The water leakage from the steaming chamber base was the result of a poor seal between the steaming chamber heating element and the steaming chamber base and will be easily fixed in the next iteration. During the presentation, several videos of both heating elements successfully boiling water were shown. Our goal moving forward is to have these working consistently with no leakage while secured within the housing.

Our feedback from the PID presentation was great. The judges were very impressed with our progress and overall design to date. They also provided feedback with some very helpful suggestions for us moving forward. As stated previously, we would like to conceal automation of the stirring process within the housing. The judges suggested that we try a magnetic rotation or friction contact rotation, both of which would eliminate several external gear components and still accomplish our goal. They also asked that we generate a much more detailed testing plan. A well-defined testing plan will definitely help us to make faster progress and ensure that components are tested against relevant criteria. The weeks to come will be very busy as we work to implement these suggestions.

After relaxing and destressing over a well deserved spring break, the team came back and went straight to work on design development and manufacturing our first iteration prototype to present next Tuesday. The goal for Prototype Inspection Day (PID) was to present in-person or through recordings of previous testing that all aspects of our design can work at the bare minimum independently and ideally together. We would then like to receive feedback from the judges on how to make the independent components work congruently with one another or how we can modify our design to be better moving forward.

Some challenges we have been facing are 1) automating the stirring mechanism in such a way that water doesn’t leak out of the steaming chamber base, 2) automating the stirring mechanism with the least amount of vibration and electrical noise possible, 3) hiding components for automation within the housing, and 4) operating the steaming chamber heating element without any leakage from the extreme heat produced.

Additionally, we have had accomplished several goals this week including but not limited to 1) successfully providing power to both heating elements and monitoring their temperature through the PCB, 2) automating the stirring process through a gear on the steaming chamber base, and 3) testing with various epoxies to make the steaming chamber food-grade. See the figure below for a high-quality render of our current plan for automation.