Ford Motors Electronic Scooter
StreetSmart: Revolutionizing E-Scooters with Semi-Autonomy
With Ford Motor's new goals in mind, My team and I designed a novel interaction paradigm for semi-autonomous E-Scooters by balancing innovation with practicality.
UX/UI Design
Autonomous Vehicle Design
Physical Design
Role:
Lead Product Designer - Course Project
Duration
August 2023 - December 2023
Team
Michelle Dang (PD)
Alex Pravat (PD)
Methods
Digital Prototyping
Physical Prototyping
Surveys & Questionnaires
Guerilla Research
Task Flow Analysis
Solution
Our semi-autonomous e-scooter comes with two new solutions: an upgraded scooter with a new dashboard that provides seamless integration with our second solution - a mobile app. Our solutions aim to enhance safety in transportation while catering to the needs of our digital age, where mobile phones are extensively utilized.
Research revealed the significance of phone integration for scooter users while acknowledging the cognitive load associated with digital screens. Our solution integrates & streamlines navigation and provides essential information while also reducing distractions and cognitive load for users. By merging the benefits of autonomous features with the convenience of smartphone connectivity, our e-scooter offers a holistic and user-centric solution for modern transportation needs.
We designed and developed a new level of interaction through our innovative and practical solution for semi-autonomy, by offering a new physical dashboard and a corresponding mobile app that effectively tackles the numerous concerns associated with existing e-scooters.
Premise & Problem
How can we develop an autonomous electric scooter that prioritizes safety considerations inherent in autonomy while also addressing the concerns commonly associated with functionality and usability of existing electric scooters?
Over the past few years, Ford Motor Company has been looking into the realm of autonomous vehicles. Recognizing the declining interest in car ownership and the push towards a more micro-mobility vehicle usage, Ford aims to pivot towards markets that cater to younger demographics, particularly those inclined towards electric and semi-autonomous vehicle adoption. My team was tasked with reimagining the functionalities and approaches for semi-autonomous electric scooters.
Relationship Between Digital & Physical Functionality
The relationship between the mobile app and e-scooter was integral to the success of the overall experience. So, the users were always introduced and reminded of how the interaction played a role in using the e-scooter.
For instance, semi-autonomy functionality on the e-scooter would be disabled if the user decides to not open the app or place their phone on the physical dashboard. For semi-autonomy state 2 or higher, the users would need a destination in order to control itself and provide safety notification when autonomy would fail.
Safety Interruptions During Semi-Autonomy
Preparing the user for takeovers is crucial to ensure they can regain control and navigate safely in unpredictable situations, emphasizing the importance of redirecting their full attention to autonomy failure.
This is why our semi-autonomy uses multiple modality of grabbing the users attention such as flashing red on the digital app, vibrations on the physical dashboard, and a countdown of when to take over.
Practical All-in-One Semi-Autonomous E-Scooter
StreetSmart is a practical and easy to use e-scooter that offers seamless integration of semi-autonomous features, enhanced safety and convenience for users. It's design addresses common concerns of traditional scooters while offering advanced functionality tailored to modern transportation needs.
