Crunch Time

Following our latest meeting, the team at IDT team has underlined the importance of maintaining momentum in the coming weeks to ensure we can adhere to our strict timeline and achieve ultimate success in our project.

Within the Analysis subgroup, significant challenges have arisen regarding the undertaking of the FEA study. Although our first simulation initially provided satisfying results, errors were identified that suggested significant inaccuracies in comparison to original predefined load cases. The team is now working together with our laboratory colleagues here at Tokyo Institute of Technology to resolve these issues and have made some promising advances. It is hoped that by the end of this week we can resolve these in full and push forward with this key part of the project. It will then be the responsibility of the Analysis subgroup to work in unison over the next 2/3 weeks and ensure finite element study is completed within an optimal timescale. As this progresses the team will also focus on initiating the post processing data analysis that will support development of our novel injury criterion.

With the Concept Design stage now completed, the Design subgroup is focussing on detailed prototype design. Over the last week, has included significant strides forward on 3-D modelling of our final gum guard concept. A plan has been now been agreed that will see this model completed and fabricated through 3D printing techniques over the next 2 weeks. Following this installation of our new accelerometer array can begin. Within software development significant progress has been made with our GUI which is now up and running and awaiting data. Sadly, significant issues have arisen with regards to serial communications that feeds this data, the team will complete research over the coming days with the aim of resolving these issues, however if this is not achieved other options may have to be considered.

On Wednesday of this week IDT completed their mid-term presentation. The presentation summarised our project background & progress to date and was pitched to a collection of teaching staff and students at Tokyo Institute of Technology. The team received a great response thanks to the sharp tongues of our presenters; Campbell McFadden and Robert Peacock, as well as all of the other team members who were on hand to answer questions.

Although the team has faced some significant challenges this week we believe by applying hard work and dedication over the coming weeks we will overcome these effectively and progress forward. With just 5 weeks to go, the project has reached a critical stage on our timeline. It’s now time to roll up the sleeves, stick in and get the work done.