Team Reflections

• Building on Each Other’s Strengths
  When we first started the project, the technical aspects seemed overwhelmingly difficult as we lacked engineering knowledge. As we progressed, we realised how crucial teamwork was in overcoming challenges. By leveraging each other’s strengths, whether in design, coding or hardware, we became more efficient in delegating tasks and solving problems. The collaboration significantly smoothed out the process, and we eventually managed to develop a functional prototype.

• Persistence When Things Don’t Go as Planned
  The process of testing and troubleshooting the circulation system and Peltier module was extremely frustrating. Things kept breaking down, and often, the code or connections refused to work. Despite facing failure after failure, we remained optimistic. We viewed each setback as an opportunity to learn something new and constantly reflected on how to improve. This persistence helped us stay motivated even when progress was slow, and our consistent efforts eventually led us to resolve most of the issues.

• The Value of Research and Reaching out for Help
  Initially, we had no clear direction on how to integrate the Arduino as the control unit for the various devices, such as the pump and vibration motor. This was a major challenge in assembling the system, as we were unsure how to make the components work together. After consulting with the TAs and creating our first block diagram, we finally gained clarity and confidence. By conducting extensive research through online tutorials, we learned how to incorporate the Arduino effectively into the system. This experience taught us the importance of not hesitating to ask for help and effectively using available resources to fill the knowledge gap.

• Flexibility and Time Management
  The project was also hindered by external factors, such as the pump taking over two weeks to arrive and malfunctioning parts slowing down our progress. On top of this, coordinating schedules across team members from different disciplines required us to be flexible. We had to make compromises and adjust our timelines, learning to manage time effectively and prioritise tasks. These challenges reinforced the importance of staying adaptable and maintaining patience when things didn’t go as planned.

 

Conclusion

Although the final product is not perfect, we are proud of the functional prototype we developed from scratch. This Making and Tinkering project reinforced the importance of teamwork, communication, and resilience. By drawing on each team member’s strengths and adapting to the steep learning curve, we were able to navigate through uncertainties. Despite the challenges we faced with powering different electronics, troubleshooting malfunctions, and dealing with material delays, we gained valuable insights and practical skills that will benefit us in future projects.