This week, our team shifted from planning to hands-on development as we began physically building our first functional prototype. After incorporating the feedback received during the Prototype Inspection Day, our focus centered on translating the refined design ideas into a physical prototype and preparing the documentation and presentation materials needed for the upcoming System Level Design Review (SLDR).
Most of our technical effort was directed toward prototype building. We began machining and assembling the primary components of the device, ensuring that the design adjustments suggested by coaches, particularly those related to fluid delivery and electrode positioning, were properly integrated.
We also dedicated significant time to developing our SLDR presentation. This involved organizing our current progress into a document, updating our diagrams, and reviewing the information from our PDR to update any decisions that we changed during the process.
Throughout the week, the team collaborated closely to maintain alignment between the build process and the system-level requirements. The main takeaways were:
- Ensuring that our machining plan stays synchronized with the functional requirements established during PID.
- Strengthening the clarity of our prototype for SLDR, particularly regarding fluid flow pathways and electrical integration.
- Identifying potential bottlenecks in the assembly process so we can adjust the timeline before SLDR.
These insights helped guide our priorities going forward. Over the coming week, we will:
- Continue machining and assembling the remaining prototype components.
- Begin preliminary fit checks and dry assembly to ensure full system compatibility.
- Finalize the SLDR presentation
Overall, this week marked an important transition from design refinement to physical implementation, setting the foundation for both a successful SLDR and a promising first prototype iteration.
