GANTT Chart and Project Planning

Team Management

• Communication

• Team Meeting time for progress discussion

Task Categories

• Appropriate tasks categories identified 

  • Fluid Handler identified as separate category with multiple tasks

• Example Categories: Strategy, Automation, Fluidhandler

Tasks

• Each category has at least one Task

• Total # of Tasks

• Appropriate time period assigned to Tasks

• Responsibilities

  • Each task has at least one team memember assigned

  • Balance with number of people assigned to a task (some tasks might have multiple team memebers). By default all team members are responsible for the overall progress.

Game

The game objective is to handle fluids with a robot.

You will work in a teams of 3 and your team score is based on

• amount of fluid [ml] transported

• distance transported [cm] 

• number of stations passed

The team score is: 

• 3 x (volume [cc] bucket_4 / 10 cc) x [distance [cm] between 3rd and 4th bucket / 15cm]  

• 2 x (volume [cc] bucket_3 / 10 cc) x [distance [cm] between 2nd and 3rd bucket / 15cm]  

• 1 x (volume [cc] bucket_2 / 10 cc) x [distance [cm] between 1st and 2nd bucket / 15cm]

Your robot is your meArm. You will need to modify it to include a fluid handler. The fluid aspiration point can not extend past the end of the robot arm. Your fluid handler will need to use a syringe to aspire and dispense fluid.

There are 4 buckets. Bucket 1 will be continously refilled by the referee. Bucket 2 and 3 start each with 10cc of fluid. Bucket 4 is the end station and empty at the beginning of the game.

The Game will last 1 minute and the goal is to transport as much fluid as possible to bucket 4.

The decision of the referee is final.

UPDATES & DISCUSSIONS TO BE RESOLVED

Fluid Handler:

• Question: Do we need to use syringe? Likely yes.

• Question: Does syringe need to be the one we provided? Likely standard 10cc syringe commercially available.

• Question: Can we modify syringe? Likely no but we can discuss other standard syringes. I prefer to apply concept of standards and syringe tips are standardized. Modifying parts so that they no longer meet standards is not good engineer but you can propose new standards (?)

• Can we use other motor to activate syringe? Likely yes but we will provide no other motors than the ones you have for the meArm plus one standard NEMA stepper motor or the DC motors we have in stock. I have ordered more Steppers but I will not order more DC motors. We migth receive donation of stronger Servos but I can not guarantee they will be here soon.

• We will not provide items other then the ones listed below. But likely you can use other materials and components.

Buckets:

• Any number of buckets can be used but only water in buckets labeled 2, 3 and 4 will count towards the score.

• Fluid needs to move forward in the bucket sequence otherwise we have issue calculating score.

• Fluid shall not move based on syphon or gravity feed.

• All buckets shall be on a virtual plane of same height. That plane can be different than your motor base.

• Likely we will provide these buckets: https://a.co/d/0cDUjXbZ 

• If the bucket 4 is full we will replace it with an empty one.

• Question: Can we modify buckets? Likely not.

• Question: Can we push buckets? Likely yes.

• Question: Can we add structure so that buckets dont topple? Likley yes.

• Question: Can we attach the suction device/tubing to the bucket before game starts? Likley no.

MeArm:

• Question: Can we mount meArm upside down? Any orientation is allowed, postions are not specified.

• Question: Can we remove claw? Likely no.

• Question: Can we remove claw motor? Likely no.

• You can replace parts of the meArm as long as kinematic geometry remains intact, meaning the meArm shall no tbe able to reach further than standard meArm could.

• Question: Can we change base? You can attach the meArm to any platform. You need to keep the plate the meArm rests on but not the bottom plate.

Attendance

• In preparation of BME310 and capstone you receive flexibility to create your own tasks and deadlines. When staff sees you doing homework or preparing for exam or lecture of other course during lab time, I interpret this as your team not having developed appropriate tasks and responsibilities. Quickly looking up an item because you want to make sure you recall a concept for an upcoming exam I can understand, but not working on the project during lab time I do not understand.

• We created laboratory Zoom attendance option. Such option needs to be discussed for each ocurance with your team and the TA/instructor. When you attend remotely you can not do so on a phone, while driving and your camera and audio need to be on at all times. You will have option for breakout room with your team.

Design

Your team shall attach a fluid handling mechanism to your robot. It will need to be able to aspire and disperse fluid.

The aspiration/dispersion attachement can not extend past the meArm gripper but it can extend downwards from the gripper. 

You can modify your meArm but you can not change the overall dimensions.

You shall design and build a mechanical system that aspires and disperses fluid using a XX cc syringe. The fluid flow shall not rely on gravity.

You shall use cups to hold fluids. Their bottoms shall not be wider than 2 inches. Cups need to be placed on a platform at the same height level for all cups.

You can orient your meArm to any orientation.

Your teams design can not be a set of downloaded and imported parts from someone elses design. You can use someone elses design as reference for your own design. Your team shall divide the design into components and each team member shall contribute to the design. Your team can produce a single design or decide to create individual designs by each team member. You shall have ability to show your design on onShape or simlar and you shall be able to change dimensions in your design.

Example Aspiration and Dispensing Systems

• https://wenzel-lab.github.io/syringe-pumps-and-controller/ (we do not make gear box available)

• https://www.mass-spec.ru/projects/diy/syringe_pump/eng/ 

• https://github.com/manimino/OpenSyringePump 

Storage & Parts

You can store your systems in the laboratory. At no time can you take or borrow parts from another team or grab items that were not given to you by TA/ULAs/Instructor. You can incorporate your own parts. The parts ordered for this challenge are listed below.

Tasks and Deadlines

Your team will need to develop tasks and assign deadlines. Your team will need to meet during laboratory hours. Your team will need to report progress to all team memebers as well as TA/ULAs each week. You shall honestly represent your ability to complete a task by a deadline and you shall honestly represent the work you completed. Your team can change deadlines and responsibillities at the weekly progress discussions, however your team needs to justify and approve such changes.

Project Management

You will need to define tasks and assign people to each task. You will need to set deadlines for your tasks. You will need to communicate internally with all team members on the progress and obstacles on reaching the completion of the tasks. You can adjust deadlines and tasks during the project phase. Your attendance will affect your design competition grade.

• Gantt Chart Example (You will need to adjust it to the tasks you define)

• Progress Follow Up with TA and ULAs each Friday during Lab. 

Relevant Documents

• Game Manual 2026 

Project Inspection

• No later than Friday May 1st or Saturday May 2nd

• (Project) Demo Day Rubric

Upload Task List & Gantt ChartReport

• Final Report Outline

• Final Report Rubric

• Final Report Submission Link

Materials ordered for Design Competition

Ordering Instructions for 60 students:

• 12x lead screw T8 with lead screw nut, 200mm length, 2mm pitch 2mm lead, pack of 5 $13.48 https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807066312961.html   YOU  NEED TO SELECT CORRECT LENGTH 

• 12x linear bearing 8mm diameter internal, 15mm diameter external, 24mm length  8x15x24, pack of 10, $13.41, https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808498103173.html YOU NEED TO SELECT CORRECT DIMENSIONS

• 30x linear motion rod, 8mm diameter 200mm length, pack of 2 $11.75 https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832693307508.html YOU NEED TO SELECT CORRECT DIMENSIONS

• 60x motor coupling 5mm to 8mm, YOU NEED TO SELECT Aluminum D19-L25 5-8mm pack of 1 $1.17, https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808473961989.html  YOU NEED TO SELECT CORRECT SUBITEM

• 8x M3 heat insert 4mm diameter 4mm length AliExpress pack of 50 $4.37 https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807370973203.html YOU NEED TO SELECT CORRECT DIMENSIONS  

• M3 Torx stainless screws

  • 12x M3 6mm pack of 50 3.34 https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808633594484.html YOU NEED TO SELECT CORRECT SUBITEM

  • 18x M3 8mm pack of 50 3.45 https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808633594484.html YOU NEED TO SELECT CORRECT SUBITEM

  • 6x M3 10mm pack of 50 3.66 https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808633594484.html YOU NEED TO SELECT CORRECT SUBITEM

  • 10x M3 12mm pack of 50 3.90 https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808633594484.html YOU NEED TO SELECT CORRECT SUBITEM

  • 5x M3 20mm pack of 50 5.49 https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808633594484.html YOU NEED TO SELECT CORRECT SUBITEM

  • 5x M3 25mm pack of 50 6.65 https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808633594484.html YOU NEED TO SELECT CORRECT SUBITEM

• 12x M3 nuts pack of 50, $1.5 https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808439425533.html  YOU NEED TO SELECT CORRECT SUBITEM

• 1x 14Gage blunt needle pack of 100 $14.78 https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256809085449817.html YOU NEED TO SELECT 14G

• 6x Silicon tubing 10meter ID2mm OD3mm $6.97 https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805922933896.html   YOU NEED TO SELECT CORRECT DIMENSION

• 5x S3003 Servo  https://ebay.us/m/A7jBtn pack of 4 $20, IF YOU DID NOT ALREADY ORDER 20 ELSEWHERE

• 3x E Series Nema 17 Stepper Motor Bipolar 42x42x39mmm 5mm shaft 17HS15 1504S https://ebay.us/m/SPOOIR  $36 for pack of 5

• 25cc Syringe, donated

• 35mm x10mm Petri Dish, or dental cups, donated

Estimated costs: $1200-1500, per student ~ $20

Tournament

Qualifaction Runs

Through the remainder of the semester, teams can attempt qualifaction runs and their score will be recorded.

Final Runs

The top 10 ranking teams will compete for 1st, 2nd and 3rd rank during the Finals

Location: Salterlab tentative

Time: Tuesday, 12:30pm, Door Opens Noon, Closes 2pm.