Check out our demo video for our device!
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1e9pMehdP0JUmlBQ2g3Tnc5aHM
Category: Spring 2017
Our team had its final presentation. During the presentation we were able to demo the spinner and display our conceptual designs.
What is left now is to leave a great legacy for our next team. As the year ends, we plan to leave the incoming team with huge room to grow and expand on our project such as with the distribution system and with the heating of the formula. In addition, they will also be left with great materials such as the arduino.
and mixing shaft.
The team just finished it’s prototype! After multiple designs, we decided to go with an arduino to create the automated kitten formula mixer. With a power shield and motor driver, we were able to increase the voltage output. In addition, the prototype was done using a cardboard box and a 3D printed mixing shaft. The concept was that the formula and water would be manually inserted and the formula would then be prepared through an arduino. Laslty, the formula would then be poured into a bottle that will be used for the kittens.
By March 9th, our team has presented our current progress.
So here we have created a use flow chart for our systems. The problem with kittens is that they are not able to regulate their own body temperature. To solve this problem, kittens are served warm milk. The problem with this process is that this takes a lot of time and there should be an easy way to automate this. The system that we are creating will mix the milk using an re-purposed automated baby food mixer. Afterwards, the user will refrigerate the formula and heat it when needed. It will then be put in a disposable bag to feed the kitten so there will be no need to clean it anymore..
For the heating system, there are still many options to go such as a heating pad, heated bottle, and heated lamp. For this to be decided there are still many pros and cons to consider and some of these may be consider dangerous if not implemented correctly and accidentally burn the kittens. As of right now, a heating fan is the most viable as its the safest.
Lastly, the budget has been shown and there will be a cost of $150 this semester, leaving about $1850 for future costs.
A new team has inherited the project for the semester of Spring 2017! We met with the project partner and have decided to tackle the feeding system and the heating system. The feeding system that we were left with was a prototype.
Here the idea was to make it easier to feed the kittens as there will be less hassle to dispose expired kitten feed as it has a lifespan of about one hour. For this semester, instead of focusing on the distribution of the mix we will be focusing on the creation. This will be accomplished by creating a machine that can either shake, stir, or vibrate until the mix is made. Once the mix is made, it should be able to be dispensed and distributed among the kittens.
Secondly, the heating will also be a focus of this semester as well. Kittens at a young age cannot regulate their own body temperatures. For this reason, we will be discovering methods to heat the kittens. Our original idea followed this model.
We wanted to use a heating system as a fan in order to provide warmth via Convection. For this reason, we believed that a fan will accomplish this the best. The ideas are to either use a separate heater or to add a heater to the mixer and use that to heat the milk and the cage.
Next week we will update for our Mid-Semester Presentation!