On the first few days of the week we wrapped up engineering boot camp and finalized our anteater enrichment device project. We developed low and medium fidelity prototypes for our design solution. #team Ants Ants Revolution comprising of myself Zach and Nathalie developed a network of PVC pipes looped together using twine as our medium fidelity prototype. The design was developed such that the PVC pipes could hang on the fence inside of the exhibit. The PVC pipes had series of small holes drilled along its axes facing into the exhibit for the anteaters to reach the food with their tongues and 3″ extensions sticking to the outside of the fence for zookeepers to put food into the pipes. On the low fidelity prototype we modeled the fence and PVC pipe network using mesh, straws and tape. It was so funny that during medium fidelity prototyping, each member of ants ants revolution had unique expertise. Zach was good at drilling the holes, I was good at filing the drilled holes where as Nathalie was best at designing layout of the PVC network. I was so horrible at drilling that I damaged three separate PVC pipes in an attempt to drill holes but in the end Zach taught me the tips to drill successfully. I was so excited to be part of #team ants ants revolution

Later in the week, we got assigned to our teams for the main summer projects. #team Wrist_Twisters comprising of myself, Jeremy and Saad was assigned to rework on a previously built prototype of Forearm rotation measuring device. The initial prototype was developed by the Rad Torquies of Rice University during ENGI 120 and 200 projects. #team Wrist_Twisters was tasked to address the shortfalls of the Rad Torquies’ prototype. In brief the device aims to measure supination and pronation of the forearm which is necessary during physical therapy and rehabilitation. Upon interviewing Leah Sherman of the Rad Torquies we learnt that the current design lacked accuracy, unable to accommodate users with physical limitations just to mention a few. Unfortunately the actual prototype was disposed off as such #team Wrist_Twisters was tasked to rebuild the prototype using CAD files developed by the Rad Torquies to visually understand the problem concept.