Logbook

This is your logbook. Insert here all relevant information regarding the evolution of your project

The first week of the program focused on organizational structure and team integration. We were officially divided into 6-person project teams. During the introductory sessions, the faculty presented the overall curriculum and outlined the specific objectives and learning outcomes for each course.

To foster collaboration, we participated in two key sessions:

1. Teambuilding: We engaged in integration exercises, including mutual introductions and a creative task where we designed our own future team-building activities.
2. Technical Workshop: We attended an introductory session on the ESP32 microcontroller, which provided the foundational technical knowledge necessary for our upcoming project work.

The primary goal for this week was to integrate the group and define our project direction. We followed a two-step selection process:

1. Brainstorming (Feb 26): During our first meeting, we held an intensive brainstorming session, generating a wide variety of ideas.
2. Selection and Voting (Feb 27): During the second meeting, we reviewed all ideas and conducted a formal vote. As a result, we selected three main topics, ranked by preference:

1) Smartification of Everyday Objects - A smart, reusable water bottle connected to a mobile app to track hydration. 2) Smartification of Buildings - Integrating embedded intelligence into technical devices to extend their operational lifespan. 3) Aircraft Surface Treatment Robot - A specialized robot designed for de-icing, cleaning, or damage inspection of aircraft.

The first week was successful in establishing a strong group dynamic and narrowing down our technical focus. Our immediate next objective is awaiting feedback from our supervisors to evaluate the feasibility of our ideas and finalize the selection of a single project theme.

The team participated in a series of interdisciplinary sessions designed to refine the product's market fit and technical execution. In the Marketing track, work focused on the Value Proposition using the Business Model Canvas and the development of a concise Elevator Pitch. Management classes introduced various project leadership styles, including Scrum, Agile, and Waterfall, providing a framework for organizing our workflow. Additionally, a Design Thinking workshop allowed the team to deeply analyze the target audience and identify potential buyers for the system.

On the technical side, a hands-on workshop was held using Ultrasonic (Sonar) sensors to practice distance detection and signal integration. To improve internal dynamics, team-building activities were conducted in the park, where each group prepared an exercise to strengthen communication and team spirit.

Significant progress was made in defining the brand identity and technical requirements for the product. The team officially named the device “Traqua,” a combination of the words “Track” and “Aqua,” and created the initial logo.

Formal documentation has also commenced, with the team drafting the Introduction section of the project report. During team meetings, we discussed the initial product concept and the specific technical challenges involved in selecting and integrating the right sensors to ensure accurate data. To optimize this research phase, the team divided into specialized subgroups, with each group focusing on examining sensors capable of measuring water quality, tracking water quantity, or implementing water filtering solutions.

The week concluded with the finalization of the core concept and the preparation of materials for the upcoming project milestone. The team was informed of the requirement to produce a Black Box Diagram, a Schematic Draft, and a pitch progress presentation for the next meeting.

Moving forward, the primary focus will be on refining the Traqua pitch and finalizing the technical drawings to illustrate the system's data and energy flow. These deliverables will be essential for the next project review, where we will present our progress and the finalized hardware architecture.

During the third week of the project, the team focused on transitioning from abstract concepts to structured business and technical documentation. A significant portion of the week was dedicated to the Design Thinking Workshop, where the group developed a promotional video to visualize the Traqua user experience and communicate the core value of active sanitization. This creative exercise allowed the team to better define the product's market positioning and user interaction flow.

In parallel with the marketing sessions, the team refined the fundamental business architecture of the project. This included the formalization of the Problem Statement, the development of the Business Model Canvas, and a detailed breakdown of the Value Proposition. By focusing on these strategic elements, the team was able to clearly articulate how Traqua addresses the “invisible” hygiene gap in the reusable bottle market through a combination of hardware sterilization and software-driven hydration coaching.

The technical focus of the week was directed toward hardware research and system architecture. The team conducted extensive research into specific electronic components, prioritizing the selection of the UV-C LED, TDS sensors, and the ESP32 microcontroller. These research findings were integrated into the first iterations of the Structural Drafts and the Black Box Diagram. While these initial diagrams provided a foundational overview of the system's logic, the team identified the need to further standardize the functional blocks to meet professional engineering requirements in the upcoming week.

During this week, the team made progress across both technical and documentation aspects of the project. We worked on the selection and presentation of materials and components, ensuring that they align with the project requirements. At the same time, we continued developing and refining the system design, including updating the black box diagram and correcting previous errors.

A significant part of the work focused on addressing technical challenges related to the safe use of UV-C light. We explored different solutions, including bottle geometry modifications, the use of magnetic sensing systems, and alternative material choices to reduce reflectivity. Additionally, we considered the implementation of geometric barriers as a simple and effective safety feature. These concepts were discussed and further evaluated to determine their feasibility.

We also made progress on the written report. We started working on sections related to Marketing, Ethics, Sustainability, and Project Development. We also focused on our product’s branding, developing a proposed color palette, logo, and fonts. Additionally, we created the first version of the TRAQUA flyer.

Furthermore, we continued improving the overall quality of the report by updating the material table and ensuring proper formatting of references using the required BibTeX standard. Overall, this week’s work contributed to both the technical development of the project and the advancement of the accompanying documentation.

The team continued to advance both the design and documentation of the project. We created a cardboard model of the product, which allowed for better visualization of the overall concept. In addition, the detailed schematics were reviewed and further refined based on feedback.

Work on promotional materials also progressed, as we developed and presented the second version of the flyer. After discussion and evaluation, we finalized the preferred version. We also continued working on the report chapters related to Marketing, Ethics, Sustainability, and Project Development, improving their content and structure.

During this week, we focused on clarifying the requirements for the project management chapter and began working on this part of the report. We also received feedback on the sustainability chapter, which allowed us to make further improvements. Overall, this week focused on refining designs, finalizing key concepts, and improving both documentation and project planning.

The sixth week of the project was primarily dedicated to the finalization of the Interim Report and the strategic planning of the upcoming Interim Presentation. This involved a comprehensive review of the structural drafts, the Business Model Canvas, and the competitive analysis to ensure all sections met the required academic and professional standards.

In addition to finalizing the written documentation, the team focused on the development of the Interim Presentation. This process included defining the core narrative of the presentation to effectively communicate the Traqua value proposition to the evaluation panel. The team conducted a strategic planning session to divide the presentation responsibilities.

1. Presentation
2. Modus operandi
3. Project proposals
4. Electronic logbook (Wiki)

The first team meeting was primarily focused on establishing our work framework and generating project concepts. Following the agenda, we covered the following:

• Presentation & Modus Operandi: We discussed our internal team structure, communication methods, and how we will collaborate effectively as a 6-person group.
• Project Proposals & Brainstorming: The core of the meeting was an intensive brainstorming session. We generated a wide range of potential project ideas, focusing on innovation and practical application.
• Electronic Logbook: We reviewed the requirements for maintaining our project documentation on the Wiki/Electronic Logbook to ensure consistent progress tracking.
• Decision Making: The group agreed to review the list of ideas overnight. It was decided that during the next meeting (Feb 27), we will conduct a formal vote to select our top three project proposals.

  1.2 Meeting (2026-02-27)

1. Review of brainstorming results
2. Project selection (Voting)
3. Action plan and communication with supervisors

The primary objective of the second meeting was to narrow down the wide range of ideas from the previous day into a concrete list of project proposals.

The team conducted a formal voting process to evaluate the ideas generated during the brainstorming session. Based on the group’s expertise and interest, we finalized our Top 3 Project Topics:

• Smartification of Everyday Objects
• Smartification of Buildings
• Robot for Aircraft Surface Treatment Operations

Action Items: Bernardo was assigned the responsibility of drafting and sending the confirmation emails to our supervisors. These emails will outline our chosen topics and request official feedback and validation.

1. Discuss introduction part of the report
2. Discuss the black box diagrams.
3. Present the core concept of our product.

During the meeting we have gone through Ideation phase showing our way of thinking and how we imagine our product. A key part of the discussion was defining the Black Box Diagram to map out the connections between our power source, sensors, and the ESP32 microcontroller. Key notes:

• Design & Ergonomics: The bottle will feature an ergonomic shape for a comfortable grip. We also prioritized easy cleaning—ensuring the interior has rounded edges and the base module is accessible for maintenance.
• After evaluating sensor limitations, we decided not to include a pH sensor. The large physical size and the requirement for frequent calibration make it impractical for a portable bottle. Instead, we agreed to use the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) sensor, which effectively measures mineral levels to provide a clear water quality score.

Next Steps: The team is tasked with preparing Structural Drafts for the next meeting (Thursday 12.03) and Black Box Diagram.

1. Review of Structural Drafts and Black Box Diagram
2. Discussion - Sensors, Filters, and UV-C Research
3. State of the Art Discussion, Background Research
4. Material Selection Proposal
5. Scrum Board Review
6. Bibliography & Citations

-The project meeting focused on refining the TRAQUA structural drafts and the technical integration of the sensor array. It was determined that the current Black Box diagrams must be redrawn to follow professional engineering standards.

-The team analyzed the selection of TDS and temperature sensors, prioritizing a balance between accuracy, physical size, and unit cost to ensure the “Smart Base” remains compact. To support these hardware decisions, the team was asked to prepare a power budget table to calculate the maximum voltage and current requirements for the ESP32 and UV-C driver. The team should also think of the design of the filter and how and when it has to be changed. All components have to be water resistent and food-safe.

-During the early development phases, standard blue LEDs will be used as a safe visual proxy for the sterilization cycle to test the mechanical housing. We also have think about the safety issues of UV-C.

-There was a suggestion to replace placeholder images in the report with original models and to include a new “Smartness Features” table to better differentiate TRAQUA from current market alternatives.

1. Present Selected Materials
2. Present Selected Components
3. Discussion about UV-C technical challenges
4. Updated Black Box Diagram
5. Present Chapter concerning Marketing, Ethics, Sustainability and Project Development
6. Present Branding

This week’s meeting mainly focused on discussions regarding the technical protection of the UV-C light. First, we presented our ideas related to the bottle geometry and the use of magnetic sensors. The teachers complemented these ideas with additional approaches. One suggested solution was to integrate a magnetometer by placing a magnet in the bottle cap. However, a potential disadvantage of this concept is that the bottle could still be operated in a vertical position. Another option discussed was the use of a material with lower reflectivity in the upper part of the bottle. Additionally, implementing geometric barriers at the top of the bottle could protect both the filter and the user, while also representing one of the simplest technical solutions. To further evaluate this concept, we need to analyse the reflection angles and conduct additional background research.

Furthermore, we were advised to verify whether our logo and brand name already exist. If the brand name is used in a completely different field, it may still be possible to use it, but we should ensure sufficient differentiation. This should also be part of the ethics chapter.

In addition, we need to update the material table and continue working on the report. For the bibliography, we are required to use the BibTeX format provided in the Wiki portal. The black box diagram also needs to be updated, including correcting spelling mistakes.

Regarding the background research section, the material chapter should be revised to present a more general overview rather than focusing specifically on the prototype.

1. Presentation of the cardboard model
2. Review of detailed schematics
3. Presentation of the flyer
4. Clarification of differences between sprint overviews, sprint outcomes, and evaluations
5. Discussion of the Gantt chart and backlog
6. Discussion regarding the 3-piece concept

Firstly, the teachers provided information about the interim presentation. The presentation should consist of approximately 10 slides and last around 10 minutes. Each team member is expected to present. The following topics should be covered: the problem, project development, state of the art, marketing, sustainability, ethics, and the solution design, including structural drawings and the smart system, followed by a final conclusion.

Regarding the schematics, some mistakes and potential improvements were identified. For example, issues were noted in the connection of the UV-C lights.

The flyer could be improved by using consistent font sizes and by adding a QR-code linking to the website or the wiki. Additionally, the perspective of the bottle was criticized.

For the report, it was suggested to describe the Gantt chart, backlog and the project development in general in more detail in written form.

Finally, we presented the idea of using a three-piece bottle, which was well received.

1. Code Submission Requirements
2. Product Budget Presentation
3. Detailed Schematics Review
4. Interim Report Confirmation

During this meeting, we presented our revised budget plan, which now includes more expensive components such as batteries, wires, and other materials. We also discussed the battery configuration and presented the corresponding schematics.

The teachers pointed out that 16 V batteries are not standard and recommended creating a table to verify that the battery consumption requirements are met. They advised us to consider using 12 V batteries instead, while ensuring that they provide sufficient power for the UV-C lights and sensors. Afll changes should be sent to Louis.

In addition, we presented renderings of the water bottle, showing both the interior and exterior views, as well as its three main components.

Finally, we reviewed the requirements for the interim deliverables. We will upload the interim report as a PDF and share the website and app code via GitHub.

For the report, the website and the app the SI have to be corrected.

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