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Team Status Report for 3/29/25

This week we started to shift our focus from one simple drink working to a scaled out system that serves multiple ingredients. With this, managing the more valves and components introduces high chances of leakage, timing mismatches and hardware failures. To mitigate this risk, we created a valve system that been scaled to handle multiple valves with additional screws to minimize leakage. We also tested the integration between the wheel and arm using serial handshakes. A contingency plan will be reverting to fewer valves for the final demo if necessary.

Another risk that we had was timing and synchronization issues. The pouring of multiple ingredients in parallel introduces incorrect timing that can impact the overall latency of the product. To mitigate this, we incorporated multi-threading (concepts that we learned from Carnegie Mellon system classes like 15-440 and 15-418). Specifically, the threading was implemented to handle concurrent valve control with specified delays. Here is the video of that working

Another risk was the physical support and structural stability. Specifically, we had to create a wooden bookshelf structure was built to mount and support the valves. We will be adding 3D-printed components like the stir cup holder both for functionality and secure fitting.

The dispensing system was redesigned to support parallel valve control and expanded from handling 1 drink to a scalable system for 6 drinks. We did this because we need to support multiple drink combinations on demand.

Some other accomplishments we have is a fully working AI Drink recommender with voice integration. We also had issues with the robot malfunctioning. We were able to get the root cause of the error being a power and motor issue and debugged accordingly.

Currently we are still on schedule with the following tasks planned for next week

  • scale up to 6 working drinks
  • Integrate stirring and cup holder as base.
  • Measure and calibrate flow rates for consistent pouring.
  • Perform full integration testing
  • Finalize hardware layout.

The following are deliverables from this week.

Parallel Valve Control + Integration Demo
Parallel pouring system now works using Python threading:
Code: Valve Threading Code
Video: Parallel Pouring Demo

Valve System Physical Expansion

Expanded system to handle 2 valves with plans to scale to 6.
Photo: Valve Setup

Wheel and Arm Integration
Components now communicate via serial handshakes.
Video: Integration Video

AI Drink Recommender with Voice Interaction
Voice-assisted AI bartender implemented.
Demo: AI Bartender Demo

Core Stirrer Functionality

3D printed magnet holders integrated with motor.

Demo: Stirrer Core Demo

 

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Howard Ma’s Weekly Report For 3/29/25

Personal Accomplishments

  • Debugged circuits and control logic for integrating multiple components, focusing on the handshake between the robotic arm and garnish wheel.

  • Completed the stirring mechanism, including all circuitry, code, and core physical structure using 3D-printed parts. The system now reliably spins the stirrer.

  • Started early planning for mounting the stirring unit and aligning it with the cup position and other subsystems.

Next Week Deliverables

  • Complete the structural setup for the stirrer, including cup holder and motor mount.

  • Integrate and test the stirring mechanism within the full system.

  • Add more poses to the robotic arm for expanded garnish placement.

Status Report: On Schedule

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Rohan Shenoy’s Weekly Report For 3/29/25

Personal Accomplishments

 

Next Week Goals:

  • Scale out the dispensing system for 6 drinks
  • Figure out pouring rates in terms of flow rate and timing
  • Test out full integration multiple times
  • Build platforms for orientation of system accordingly

Current Status: On Schedule

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Arda Akinci’s Weekly Report For 3/29/25

Personal Accomplishments

  • Implemented the AI drink reccommender for the website, including a voice that communicates with the user that simulates an actual bartender encounter:
  • Cleaned up the routing within the website so it all connects
  • Built the bookshelf that will be needed to hold the valves using wood scraps at the woodshop
  • 3d printed the stir cup holder for the mixing of the drinks

 

Next Week’s Goals 

  • Scale up the current one drink to have all 6 working by the demo
  • Test the current implementation

Current Status: On Schedule

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Team Status Report for 3/22/2025

This week, our team focused on completing functionality tests and adjustments for individual components and made significant progress towards full-system integration. Most of the main components — valve dispensing, rotating garnish wheel, robotic arm — are all operational individually (save for the stirrer which is still being manufactured and testing) and we began putting them together with the control of the webapp interface.

The garnish wheel was integrated with the solenoidal valve system, allowing both components to operate with signal commands from the webapp. A drink holding structure was also constructed using wood scraps from the shop, providing a stable base to support multiple bottles and tubing. Circuitry was further organized and cleaned up to support safe and scalable wiring

On the backend, the WebApp was updated to support garnish selection and ingredient amounts, and these inputs were mapped to specific valve and garnish wheel controls. This lays the groundwork for user interaction and future testing of custom drink combinations.

On the motion control side, the robotic arm was recalibrated for full-range motion, and the stirring mechanism’s circuit and 3D model were ready for printing and testing.

Next week, we plan to physically integrate the robotic arm to the rest of the system, and begin working on component timing and coordination to prepare for the mid-term demo.

Main challenges will include synchronizing the timing between dispensing, stirring, and garnishing, and ensuring physical stability across all components during operation, while keeping the workspace clean and safe since we are dealing with a lot of liquid.

We remain on schedule, but integration and testing in the coming weeks will be critical.

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Rohan Shenoy’s Weekly Status Report for 3/22/25

Personal Accomplishments

Next Week Goals:

  • Scale out the dispensing system for multiple drinks
  • Plan out logistics regarding how to orient system and where components should be placed for stability of system
  • Stress test the integrated valves and rotating wheel with various drinks and amounts

Current Status: On Schedule

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Arda Akinci’s Weekly Status Report for 3/22/25

Personal Accomplishments

  • Designed and built the drink holding structure using wood scraps in the wood shop. I intentionally used this as this is the cheapest option and allows us to have high structurally integrity. The structure is sturdy and doesn’t have any tilt or unbalance
  • Integrated the moving wheel from last week with the solenoidal valves so they can happen at the same time
  • Here is a video of it: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/home

Next Week Goals:

  • Stress test the integrated valves and rotating wheel with various drinks
  • Integrate Howard’s robotic arm with the code

Current Status: On Schedule

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Howard Ma’s Weekly Status Report for 3/22/2025

Personal Accomplishments

  • Completed the circuit and 3D model for the stirring mechanism, preparing it for physical printing and testing.

  • Recalibrated the robotic arm’s control software and hardware, expanding its operational range from a limited 1/4 of its surrounding space to nearly full-range motion. This involved modifying control parameters in the existing library and validating smooth, stable movement across all angles. Calibration Testing: Link

  • Assisted in debugging and integrating the wheel structure with the valve system, helping wire and test hardware connections to ensure consistent and coordinated motion between modules.

Next Week Deliverables

  • Physically integrate and test the stirring mechanism, confirming its performance and compatibility with the drink mixing process.

  • Integrate the robotic arm into the complete system, ensuring it functions with the valves, garnish wheel, and WebApp.

Status Report: On Schedule

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Team Status Report for 3/15/25

This week, our team began building and testing the individual components that make up the system including the electronic valve liquid dispensing system, the rotating garnish wheel, electromagnetic stirring system, and robotic arm.

In terms of the hardware involved in the liquid dispensing system, we got the circuitry to properly open and close a single solenoid valve for a programmed amount of time from the Arduino. We also experimented and found the appropriate tube size for our system (1/4 tube diameter) and attached the tubes to our bottles for demoing flow. We also drilled appropriate size holes in an extra wooden wheel we had to hold the bottles, and thus built a single liquid dispense tube which we plan to scale out to 5-6 drinks.

In terms of the hardware involved in the rotating garnish wheel, we correctly were able to program the wheel to rotate a defined amount based on the Arduino programming and began keeping track of the state of the wheel in our Django web app.

In terms of the hardware with the robotic arm, we were able to output fixed, linear movement which is appropriate since the robotic arm will simply be picking from one area in placing to another.

In terms of the software, we created the interface between the django application and Arduino for communication regarding which pins on the Arduino and hence valves to control from user input as well as precise angle movement of the garnish system also based on user selection.

Next week, we plan on scaling out the valve system and begin regulating multiple drinks to showcase customize drink making and experiment with timing to deem appropriate volume amounts. We also plan on integrating the robotic arm movement and garnish system, so that the arm can reliably pick up a custom selected garnish. We also are planning the logistics regarding how we will orient the system in terms of holding the drinks up, and height of the cup, garnish system, and mixing system.

Our main technical challenges will be figuring out precise timings of valve openage to amount of liquid dispensed in mL which will depend on the orientation of the system and the reliability of the valves. Another challenge will be integrating the arm to the garnish system because we will have to coordinate when and how the arm will move for different degrees of rotation.  The final challenge, will be coordinating the dispense system and garnish system as the latter must come after the former is completely done, hence a communication protocol will have to be established between these components.

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Rohan Shenoy’s Weekly Status Report for 3/15/2025

Personal Accomplishments

 

Next Week Deliverables

  • Scale out to about 5 or 6 drinks using solenoid valves and the appropriate tubing and bottles.
  • Figure out how to elevate the wheel holding the bottles to ensure downward flow while ensuring the electronic circuitry is secure
  • Map out and experiment time valve is open to volume of liquid dispensed in order to program amount in mL user wants to time valve should stay open

Status Report: On Schedule