TCT parts - List of parts often replaced on the TCT setup
Generating dispenser and dummy dispenser locations and placing them in the correct positions on the arena:
Generate list of randomized dispenser numbers that will determine which dispensers make up the triangle for any given trial
For this we will generate a list of 20 sets of 3 randomized dispenser numbers between 1 and 9
To do this run the TCTrandDispLocs2.m script found in stephen_code folder in dropbox
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/600oi5k0zdoq6j8haf21y/TCTrandDispLocs2.m?rlkey=27cfuvmi4wgfsbrudy7j6foa6&dl=0
NOTE - this script doesn't run perfectly - check that the dispenser numbers aren't repeated within a trial or adjacent to eachother within a trial (i.e. 1&2 in the same trial or 1&9 in the same trial)
Then copy and paste this list of randomized dispenser numbers into the trial_timings spreadsheet
Navigate to the DISP_CONFIG tab and paste the list onto the end of the list that is already there
You can then add the correct date and trial numbers (see examples already present
Generate list of dispenser locations that will determine positions of the dummy dispensers on a given day
To generate randomized positions for the decoy dispensers you can run the TCTrandDispLocs.m script (found in stephen_code folder in dropbox)
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/xn2blyd8zl831z2t5932e/TCTrandDispLocs.m?rlkey=cz21dwxwrculx1e55zqjhw8ey&dl=0
This will generate a list of 10 sets of 3 random dispenser locations between 1 and 12
One of these sets gives you the dummy dispenser locations for a given day
There is room to note these dummy dispenser locations in the TCT Auto Testing notes spreadsheet
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bUfUL9wvtD1qIGhwVzD_46C9Mteb7CLyVHRhOOohiFQ?usp=drive_fs
Dispenser Positions:
There are 12 positions in total - position 1 starts at the cross marked in tape outside the arena and then the positions increase clockwise around the arena to position 12
First place the decoy dispensers in their positions (the random ones you generated earlier). Then place the real dispensers in numerical order starting from the first available dispenser position (i.e. dispenser 1 is placed in position 1 if available or position 2 if position 1 is occupied by a decoy)
Priming the auto TCT system:
Making chocolate drink:
Fill a weigh boat will coco-powder and add it to 400ml of water - ideally let this stir on a stir plate overnight (this helps the coco powder stay in solution
Filling the Syringe:
First place the systems feeding tube into the chocolate drink container - make sure the end of the tube is fully submerged
Start the pump primer program - this takes a minute to launch so don't worry if nothing happens when you click initially
The UI for this program has two separate sections - pump control (on the left hand side of the UI) and dispenser control (on the right hand side of the UI)
Pump control simply controls filling and emptying big syringe
This syringe will store and pump the chocolate drink to each of the dispensers
Pump control consists of the OFF, FILL, EMPTY & PURGE buttons and also a dial - all on the left hand side of the UI
OFF - stops the pump - this is the default state
FILL - fills the syringe with whatever the feeding tube is submerged in
EMPTY - empties the syringe through the feeding tube
PURGE - cycles between the FILL and EMPTY functions - the number of cycles can be chosen using the dial below these buttons
Dispenser control allows the dispensers to be primed and cleaned
Dispenser control consists of a series of 9 switches (in the center of the UI) which control the valves leading to each of the 9 dispensers - switching ON opens the valve and switching OFF closes the valve
NOTE: If something goes wrong at any point and you want the system to stop what it is doing - hit the big red RESET button at the bottom right of the UI
When the primer program launches the syringe will fill automatically with chocolate drink
NOTE: there will most likely be some air in the syringe after the first fill - this can be easily purged by emptying and then filling the syringe again