Table of Contents

Introduction

This week had all the right ingredients to keep our momentum going: learning, refining, collaborating, and even a bit of unexpected drama (more on that soon). As we moved deeper into the technical and organizational aspects of our project, we continued building the foundations for a solid second half of the program.

Hands-On Learning

Arduino Workshop

A few members of our team had the opportunity to attend a practical workshop focused on the Arduino platform. This session gave us a great introduction to the microcontroller’s capabilities, common use cases, and how it can be applied in projects like ours - especially as we begin exploring how to integrate different sensors and communication protocols. The experience was especially valuable for boosting our technical confidence and will definitely help guide our prototype development in the weeks ahead.

Mid-Program Presentation

(Part II… Coming Soon)

We also dedicated a good portion of the week to refining and finalizing our Mid-Program Presentation, originally scheduled to take place during this period. We took time to reflect on our progress, sharpen our message, and polish the way we communicate our project’s evolution - from early concepts to the more grounded, sensor-based system we’re now developing.

However, sometimes real life decides to throw in a plot twist. A nationwide power outage disrupted our plans, affecting various parts of Portugal and making it impossible to carry out the presentation as intended. While disappointing, we took it in stride and will reschedule for a later date. Fortunately, the extra prep will only make the final presentation stronger.

Internal Check-In

Alignment & Accountability

In parallel, we held a team meeting to regroup and check in on each member’s availability and commitment for the upcoming stages of the project. It was a valuable moment to ensure that everyone is on the same page, share any personal or technical blockers, and realign expectations moving forward. With clearer task distribution and improved coordination, we’re set up for a more efficient and collaborative workflow.

Week Recap

While the lights may have gone out, our progress didn’t. Week 8 gave us a much-needed opportunity to grow technically, organize strategically, and ensure we’re moving forward as a united team. With stronger communication, a clear direction, and a few extra lines of Arduino code under our belt, we’re more prepared than ever for what’s next.

Now that our direction is fully defined and roles are better aligned, our next steps include:

• Moving from planning to prototyping

• Integrating technical knowledge into the physical design

• Staying focused on user needs while building our first working version

If Week 8 taught us anything, it’s that unexpected delays don’t stop progress — they just make the story more interesting.

Stay tuned for more to come.