156B Week 7

Overview of Status of Analysis, Design, Fabrication, Tests, etc.

• • Calibrated the water delivery system to get the pump to deliver 15mL with the push of a button

  • Modified the adaptor piece on the home chamber to be make the sides shorter

    • This allows us to use the PVC pipe that is symmetric

  • Modified Behavioral Chamber

    • Parts are ready to be laser cut and assembled

  • Picked up more parts from Prototyping Lab 

    • Last parts missing: Circuit Board & Case

  • Started an instruction manual for assembling Adaptor piece 

Accomplishments from Previous Week

• • Tested water delivery to see how many steps would be needed to pump 15mL

  • Modified Acrylic parts that need to be re-cut 

Goals for Next Week (list names after each item). Use specific and measurable objectives.

• • Have next Behavioral chamber cut and glued together

    • Have everything that we have from prototyping lab attached as well

  • Have Instruction manual for adaptor piece done

Sponsor Comments from Last Meeting and Actions Taken to Address these Comments (indicate date of comments and if via email or in person)

• • The gap between the PVC tube and the adaptor is not a big deal (5/8 in person)

    • They liked the closing door that locks off the adaptor when the bridge is not attached

  • Clarified where the rats would be when the cages are cleaned (5/8 in person)

    • they will have twice as many cages as rats - when one cage is being cleaned, the rat will be taken to another clean cage 

    • our concern that the rats might escape while the bridge is being taken out is not longer relevant

  • Rats will probably not be able to push the top of the behavioral chamber off, but might want to look into a small lock to keep it from lifting (5/8 in person)

Instructor Comments from Last Meeting and Actions Taken to Address these Comments  (indicate date of comments and if via email or in person)

• • Make the PVC bridge symmetric (5/7 in person)

    • We will use our previous PVC tube that is symmetric and modify the adaptor on the home chamber

  • Consider redesigning the adaptor on the home chamber to be less complex (5/7 in person)

  • Where will the rat be during the cage cleaning process (5/7 in person)

    • We have clarified this concern with our sponsors

    • They will be transported to another clean cage while one cage is being cleaned

  • Look into ordering a PCB for our water delivery system (5/7 in person)

  • Presentation: Simple slides with simple messages are good (5/7 in person)

Comments from Other Students in the Class (indicate date of comments and if via email or in person)

• • N/A

Risks and Areas of Concern

• • Where will the 15mL be stored in the case that the rats do not drink it right as it is being delivered?

    • The limit attachment from their normal water bottle does not hold all 15 mL

  • If the prototyping lab does not get us the circuit board for the behavioral chamber, then we cannot test our chambers

Resources or Information Required but not Available

• • The PCB from prototyping lab needed for our behavioral chamber to work

Budget (list amount spent and amount remaining)

• • Amount Spent: $348.44

  • Amount Remaining: $2651.56

Progress on Report and Webpage

• • Need to add CAD Pictures to both report and Webpage once design is finalized

  • Fix report based on feedback

Schedule

• • Upcoming milestone:

    • Assemble new behavioral chamber

    • Make an instruction booklet for the adaptors

  • Updated Gantt chart: