This week, I was able to finally set up the Raspberry Pi and initialize everything (git cloning, installing necessities). Now I needed to collect data for training the model but due to diverse unforeseen issues on the dispenser, I wasn’t able to start doing that until today (April 19). The dispenser had too many parts that couldn’t ensure certainty in its capability or attributes, together as a whole resulting in a non-functioning dispenser. Most of the uncertainties came along with our unfamiliarity with 3D printing. The dimensions and the quality of the product were mostly all out of our expectations, causing more manual effort to modify them in our initial design, which essentially resulted in delays in our timeline.
As such, I’m only left with one day to really test the model, so I’m planning to max out tomorrow to work on it. Next week, my primary focus will be towards preparing for the demo, which would include fine-tuning the model, finalizing design, and finalizing the integration.
Throughout the project, I was able to learn and reinforce many concepts as I was applying many different knowledge and tools. Specifically, I learned how to write code in Rapsberry Pi. This may sound vague, but it pretty much captures the idea. This includes setting up Pi for coding environment via ssh and making correct configurations. Furthermore, I learned how planning ahead and really working towards that goal is an imperative to any project’s success. While we had many obstacles that caused delays in our project, following along the timeline really helped us with getting on track with our project.