As stipulated in the original plan of the Project, the first test in a pig intestine has been carried out with the assistance of a surgeon doctor from the project partner HUVH.

As expected, the seam was not good at all and it could not finish the entire sewing.

However, the surgeon doctor determined that the stitches made in the pig intestine were perfectly correct and tight, and the first impression is that this is even better than handmade stitches.

During this period the WP7 has been continued. To obtain successful results at the tests in non-human tissues that will take part in the next step (WP8), the first sewing with yarn and fabric had been carried out.

Lower side

Upper side

During these tests, the same problem that was explained at the previous report appeared, one of the more stressed gear broke again. In order to eradicate this problem for the rest of the project, it was accorded to make the gear on the mechanic workshop in UPC-INTEXTER but in aluminium.

The electronic devices, as well as the control software have also been iomproved to provide higher reliability during the process, avoiding stops that ocurred in the first tests during the process.

During this period, the work partners already finished the following packages:

WP4: Mechanical design implementation

WP6: Electronic design implementation

 After that, the team has continued working with the next package:

WP7: Subsystem implementation and first start-up of the device

The work follows the initial schedule plan of the Project and there are no significant deviations.

In the following picture we show the complete device, the sewing part at the top of, the electric engines below and the electronic parts in the bench work. Furthermore, the PC with the software.

Workbench and operative device

The work during this period has been very similar to the last one, becuase the partners are focused in the final steps of the system implementation; therefore, during this period the team has continued working in the following work packages:

WP3: Mechanical design of the device

WP4: Mechanical design implementation

WP5: Electronic and control system design

WP6: Electronic design implementation

This work matches with the initial schedule of the Project. The construction of the prototype started during the last period and now many parts of the device are available (see photo); also the electronic tests have started.  And it is foreseen to have the 1^st complete version of the prototype during the next reporting period.

The project was also presented in the ITMA 2011 (The most important textile machinery trade fair in Europe, with more than 120.000 visitors), in the booth of INTEXTER-UPC, as a sample of textile mechanical technology.  the photo shows the device in the booth:

During this period the team has continued working in the following work packages:

WP3: Mechanical design of the device

WP4: Mechanical design implementation

WP5: Electronic and control system design

WP6: Electronic design implementation

This work matches with the initial schedule of the Project. The construction of the prototype started during the last period and now many parts of the device are available (see photo with the main head device completed); also the electronic tests have started.  And it is foreseen to have the 1^st complete version of the prototype during the next reporting period.