Our system is fragile due to the threaded rod system, and it was very difficult to get the alignments of the sliding rails correct. To commercialize the product would be difficult because the manufacturing would require high precision.
The motors do not move at the desired speed, and have lower torque than preferred.
Due to the lack of position feedback to the motors, we are unable to perform more advanced motion due to the lack of automated calibration systems.
A significant limitation we had on thsi project was time. We were only able to construct the prototype and barely perform any testing.
We were also limited by financial resources (budget of 500$) and had limited workspace.
Perform testing of surgical instruments on the designed pegboard with instrument attachments under the Instron E3000 test system
Redesign the platform/pegboard with durable materials and cleaner fabrication such as titanium and aluminum alloys - this allows for a wider range of surgical instruments
Casing for electronic components used in the platform to improve aesthetics and portability
Integrate motor feedback systems for higher precision position tracking through the implementation of Optical laser/light or Sensors/Encoder
Versatility in testing for contact mechanisms scenarios like sliding, rolling, and impact conditions
Improve the user experience and convenience
Integrating the Arduino to cater to a user interface with more complex trajectories where the user can define the path
Incorporate predictive models using previous results to estimate the number of cycles for the lifespan of the surgical instruments
Iris