Safety pump and sensor
ZAF (and ZAF+) must run with minimal human supervision. The main failure mode is leaking due to splashing, or due to disconnected or clogged tubbing. Therefore, we added a security system to avoid accidental flooding. The safety container is the first line of defense. However, in the case of serious leaks, water will eventually accumulate. To prevent an excessive amount of water in the safety container, we installed a water sensor coupled to a water submersible pump. In the case of a leak, the sensor detects water in the tank to activate the pump to remove the excess water.
Furthermore, in order to avoid electronic failures we embedded the top part of the sensor in silicone. We anchored the pump using the magnet trick described before to attach the the water container tank to the ZAF body and the servo and food container . The sensor is attached to the tanks using a tube holder suction clip like the one used in the funnel of the food preparation flask.
