Slidr
Slidr is an under-vehicle inspection creeper designed especially for truck inspection officers in the field.
User-Centered Design | Team member- Thilo Fiebig | 10 weeks | 2023 | University: Umea Institute of design
Overview
Slidr is a specialized creeper for under-vehicle inspections, designed specifically for truck inspection officers. It enables officers to move effortlessly beneath the truck without straining their bodies, using a remote attached to the board that allows them freedom of movement. By using Slidr, officers can swiftly and efficiently complete the vehicle inspection process. The board not only enhances their productivity but also helps ensure thorough inspections, leading to improved safety on the roads.
My Role:
Some of my specific roles during this project include ethnography, user-entered research, conducting interviews, sketching, CAD modelling, Experience Prototyping, Rapid Prototyping, and 3d visualization.
X
This project was carried out as a collaboration between the Umeå Institute of Design and the Umeå Police Traffic Division. The goal of this project was to identify human-centric problems and propose solutions for the issues that traffic police in Sweden face on a daily basis.
User-centered research
"How might we create a seamless and convenient solution that improves the process of truck inspection from the underside of the vehicle for traffic police officers out in the field?"
STOP
SUSPECT
INSPECT
Analysing
We met with our end users and thoroughly discussed their daily routines and workflows, aiming to comprehend their inspection process. By actively engaging with them, we identified and analyzed some common challenges they encounter during the process. As a result, we self-tested those problems to understand them better and narrow down some common pain points.
Swivel
Navigate
Visibility
Experience prototyping
We had numerous brainstorming sessions to explore various ideas and niche details related to the product. These mini-workshops helped us refine the concept thoroughly, particularly regarding user interaction and overall development. Additionally, we used the Wizard of Oz technique to evaluate key ideas through experience prototyping, which allowed us to make informed decisions and define the concept's essential features.
Remote-control
Easy maneuverability
Better visibility
ideation
Concept
“Slidr is a specialized creeper for under-vehicle inspection, designed specifically for truck inspection officers. It enables officers to move effortlessly under the truck without straining their bodies, using a remote attached to the board to move around freely. This allows them to complete the vehicle inspection process quickly and efficiently.”
Remote integration
The Board, while having its own integrated battery, is controlled by the remote, which is powered and charged when connected to the board. It features a dead-man-switch button that acts as a safety switch to accelerate the board.
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C.
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Interaction
The remote has buttons for various controls. The upper directional buttons allow for smooth swiveling, while the joystick handles directional movement. An additional button activates a flashlight for navigating dark areas during vehicle inspections. Proper illumination is essential while inspecting trucks from underneath. Daylight can be helpful but not always sufficient, so we've added a temperature-controlled light to the remote. Users can switch between different light settings (2000 to 7000 Kelvin) as needed.
A. Joystick | B. Swivel | C. Color temperature | D. Adjust brightness | E. Flashlight
All wheel control
One of the key aspects of the concept is to have an all-wheel steering system for easy maneuverability. This feature allows the user to move in any direction without straining their lower body. The wheel incorporates a directional motor and a rotational hub motor, enabling it to be omnidirectional.
Remote inspection
Slidr can be controlled remotely. During interviews with truck inspection officers, we discovered that crawling underneath some trucks is impossible due to their low ground clearance. To address this, we devised a solution using existing camera gear, such as GoPro, which can be easily mounted on a board to offer an overview of the truck's underside. This way, Officers can navigate the board under the truck and utilize the camera to inspect hard-to-see areas.
