Designing for autonomous underwater robotic systems
Crafting an end-to-end product and service experience with Aquatonomy
Designing for autonomous underwater robotic systems
Crafting an end-to-end product and service experience with Aquatonomy
Designing for autonomous underwater robotic systems
Crafting an end-to-end product and service experience with Aquatonomy
Designing for autonomous underwater robotic systems
Crafting an end-to-end product and service experience with Aquatonomy
Underwater inspections traditionally require human divers to navigate dangerous environments. Aquatonomy, a startup in autonomous underwater robotics, had developed breakthrough technology to eliminate these dangers, but faced a significant gap between their technology and a usable product experience.
As Product Design lead during my summer internship, I was tasked with designing Aquatonomy's minimum viable product (MVP).
Building on the success of my internship, I continued with the company to evaluate the designs for an academic independent study project.
Problem
How might we reimagine underwater dam inspections using novel autonomous robotics and 3D scanning technology?
Solution
Delivered UX/UI designs, documentation, and a service blueprint, informed by in-depth user evaluations.
Role
Lead (team of 6)
Product Design
Design Strategy
User Research
Organization
Timeline
May - August 2024
(Paid Internship)
August - December 2024
(Independent Study)
Underwater inspections traditionally require human divers to navigate dangerous environments. Aquatonomy, a startup in autonomous underwater robotics, had developed breakthrough technology to eliminate these dangers, but faced a significant gap between their technology and a usable product experience.
As Product Design lead during my summer internship, I was tasked with designing Aquatonomy's minimum viable product (MVP).
Building on the success of my internship, I continued with the company to evaluate the designs for an academic independent study project.
Problem
How might we reimagine underwater dam inspections using novel autonomous robotics and 3D scanning technology?
Solution
Delivered UX/UI designs, documentation, and a service blueprint, informed by in-depth user evaluations.
Role
Lead (team of 6)
Product Design
Design Strategy
User Research
Organization
Timeline
May - August 2024
(Paid Internship)
August - December 2024
(Independent Study)
Underwater inspections traditionally require human divers to navigate dangerous environments. Aquatonomy, a startup in autonomous underwater robotics, had developed breakthrough technology to eliminate these dangers, but faced a significant gap between their technology and a usable product experience.
As Product Design lead during my summer internship, I was tasked with designing Aquatonomy's minimum viable product (MVP).
Building on the success of my internship, I continued with the company to evaluate the designs for an academic independent study project.
Problem
How might we reimagine underwater dam inspections using novel autonomous robotics and 3D scanning technology?
Solution
Delivered UX/UI designs, documentation, and a service blueprint, informed by in-depth user evaluations.
Role
Lead (team of 6)
Product Design
Design Strategy
User Research
Organization
Timeline
May - August 2024
(Paid Internship)
August - December 2024
(Independent Study)
Underwater inspections traditionally require human divers to navigate dangerous environments. Aquatonomy, a startup in autonomous underwater robotics, had developed breakthrough technology to eliminate these dangers, but faced a significant gap between their technology and a usable product experience.
As Product Design lead during my summer internship, I was tasked with designing Aquatonomy's minimum viable product (MVP).
Building on the success of my internship, I continued with the company to evaluate the designs for an academic independent study project.
Problem
How might we reimagine underwater dam inspections using novel autonomous robotics and 3D scanning technology?
Solution
Delivered UX/UI designs, documentation, and a service blueprint, informed by in-depth user evaluations.
Role
Lead (team of 6)
Product Design
Design Strategy
User Research
Organization
Timeline
May - August 2024
(Paid Internship)
August - December 2024
(Independent Study)
0+
Screens
0
Fully prototyped
product features
0
User evaluations
0
Strategic vision
of the future
My Approach
My Approach
My Approach
My Approach
Having no prior experience in autonomous robotics (let alone underwater!), this was an entirely new domain for me. I approached this challenge by leaning on my principles.
Having no prior experience in autonomous robotics (let alone underwater!), this was an entirely new domain for me. I approached this challenge by leaning on my principles.
Having no prior experience in autonomous robotics (let alone underwater!), this was an entirely new domain for me. I approached this challenge by leaning on my principles.
Having no prior experience in autonomous robotics (let alone underwater!), this was an entirely new domain for me. I approached this challenge by leaning on my principles.
Technical Fluency
I embraced technology as a design material rather than a black box, which was essential for making informed design decisions.
Technical Fluency
I embraced technology as a design material rather than a black box, which was essential for making informed design decisions.
Technical Fluency
I embraced technology as a design material rather than a black box, which was essential for making informed design decisions.
Technical Fluency
I embraced technology as a design material rather than a black box, which was essential for making informed design decisions.
Immersive User Research
I conducted research with over 20 users and observed robot pilot tests in real-world settings, uncovering human needs that traditional research would have missed.
Immersive User Research
I conducted research with over 20 users and observed robot pilot tests in real-world settings, uncovering human needs that traditional research would have missed.
Immersive User Research
I conducted research with over 20 users and observed robot pilot tests in real-world settings, uncovering human needs that traditional research would have missed.
Immersive User Research
I conducted research with over 20 users and observed robot pilot tests in real-world settings, uncovering human needs that traditional research would have missed.
Balancing Stakeholder Needs
I facilitated meetings with engineering and leadership to navigate complex tradeoffs between technical constraints, business priorities, and user needs.
Balancing Stakeholder Needs
I facilitated meetings with engineering and leadership to navigate complex tradeoffs between technical constraints, business priorities, and user needs.
Balancing Stakeholder Needs
I facilitated meetings with engineering and leadership to navigate complex tradeoffs between technical constraints, business priorities, and user needs.
Balancing Stakeholder Needs
I facilitated meetings with engineering and leadership to navigate complex tradeoffs between technical constraints, business priorities, and user needs.
Analogous Domains
I turned to analogous domains for inspiration, analyzing interface patterns from self-driving cars, drones, and video games.
Analogous Domains
I turned to analogous domains for inspiration, analyzing interface patterns from self-driving cars, drones, and video games.
Analogous Domains
I turned to analogous domains for inspiration, analyzing interface patterns from self-driving cars, drones, and video games.
Analogous Domains
I turned to analogous domains for inspiration, analyzing interface patterns from self-driving cars, drones, and video games.
Insight: Balancing Stakeholder Needs
When customers expressed interest in AI flaw detection, I facilitated crucial conversations around technical feasibility, business risk, and ethical implications. This highlighted the need for a hybrid approach that balanced automation with human oversight in high-stakes applications.
Insight: Balancing Stakeholder Needs
When customers expressed interest in AI flaw detection, I facilitated crucial conversations around technical feasibility, business risk, and ethical implications. This highlighted the need for a hybrid approach that balanced automation with human oversight in high-stakes applications.
Insight: Balancing Stakeholder Needs
When customers expressed interest in AI flaw detection, I facilitated crucial conversations around technical feasibility, business risk, and ethical implications. This highlighted the need for a hybrid approach that balanced automation with human oversight in high-stakes applications.
Insight: Balancing Stakeholder Needs
When customers expressed interest in AI flaw detection, I facilitated crucial conversations around technical feasibility, business risk, and ethical implications. This highlighted the need for a hybrid approach that balanced automation with human oversight in high-stakes applications.
Insight: Analogous Domains
The analogous domain research demonstrated that – despite the specialized nature of underwater robotics – design principles are universal and can be applied to create intuitive interfaces.
Insight: Analogous Domains
The analogous domain research demonstrated that – despite the specialized nature of underwater robotics – design principles are universal and can be applied to create intuitive interfaces.
Insight: Analogous Domains
The analogous domain research demonstrated that – despite the specialized nature of underwater robotics – design principles are universal and can be applied to create intuitive interfaces.
Insight: Analogous Domains
The analogous domain research demonstrated that – despite the specialized nature of underwater robotics – design principles are universal and can be applied to create intuitive interfaces.
Design
Design
Design
Design
Screens and details omitted due to NDA. Please contact me if you would like to learn more.
Screens and details omitted due to NDA. Please contact me if you would like to learn more.
Screens and details omitted due to NDA. Please contact me if you would like to learn more.
Screens and details omitted due to NDA. Please contact me if you would like to learn more.
Simplified user flow for conducting a 3D scan and infrastructure assessment using Aquatonomy's technology
Simplified user flow for conducting a 3D scan and infrastructure assessment using Aquatonomy's technology
Simplified user flow for conducting a 3D scan and infrastructure assessment using Aquatonomy's technology
Simplified user flow for conducting a 3D scan and infrastructure assessment using Aquatonomy's technology
Product Features
Product Features
Product Features
Product Features
The final product is a working prototype—including 12 fully built-out features tailored to user goals—demonstrating user interactions during the two key workflows.
The final product is a working prototype—including 12 fully built-out features tailored to user goals—demonstrating user interactions during the two key workflows.
The final product is a working prototype—including 12 fully built-out features tailored to user goals—demonstrating user interactions during the two key workflows.
The final product is a working prototype—including 12 fully built-out features tailored to user goals—demonstrating user interactions during the two key workflows.
Human-Robot Interaction
A mission control interface providing real-time situational awareness and collaborative human-AI route planning for operators managing inspections.
Human-Robot Interaction
A mission control interface providing real-time situational awareness and collaborative human-AI route planning for operators managing inspections.
Human-Robot Interaction
A mission control interface providing real-time situational awareness and collaborative human-AI route planning for operators managing inspections.
Human-Robot Interaction
A mission control interface providing real-time situational awareness and collaborative human-AI route planning for operators managing inspections.
3D Data Analysis Portal
An intuitive platform and virtual workflow enabling engineers to navigate, analyze, and assess 3D infrastructure models for structural defects.
3D Data Analysis Portal
An intuitive platform and virtual workflow enabling engineers to navigate, analyze, and assess 3D infrastructure models for structural defects.
3D Data Analysis Portal
An intuitive platform and virtual workflow enabling engineers to navigate, analyze, and assess 3D infrastructure models for structural defects.
3D Data Analysis Portal
An intuitive platform and virtual workflow enabling engineers to navigate, analyze, and assess 3D infrastructure models for structural defects.
Reflections & Impact
Reflections & Impact
Reflections & Impact
Reflections & Impact
The role of UX in deep tech
Working in deep tech reinforced that even the most groundbreaking technology must be anchored in user needs. As the Founding Roboticist said after one of my presentations: "The technology is nothing without the user."
The role of UX in deep tech
Working in deep tech reinforced that even the most groundbreaking technology must be anchored in user needs. As the Founding Roboticist said after one of my presentations: "The technology is nothing without the user."
The role of UX in deep tech
Working in deep tech reinforced that even the most groundbreaking technology must be anchored in user needs. As the Founding Roboticist said after one of my presentations: "The technology is nothing without the user."
The role of UX in deep tech
Working in deep tech reinforced that even the most groundbreaking technology must be anchored in user needs. As the Founding Roboticist said after one of my presentations: "The technology is nothing without the user."
Leadership and teamwork
I learned that effective leadership is about creating the right conditions for each team member to succeed. After transitioning from summer intern to leading a six-person research team, I overcame initial uncertainty by reorganizing around individual strengths. This approach improved both work quality and engagement.
Leadership and teamwork
I learned that effective leadership is about creating the right conditions for each team member to succeed. After transitioning from summer intern to leading a six-person research team, I overcame initial uncertainty by reorganizing around individual strengths. This approach improved both work quality and engagement.
Leadership and teamwork
I learned that effective leadership is about creating the right conditions for each team member to succeed. After transitioning from summer intern to leading a six-person research team, I overcame initial uncertainty by reorganizing around individual strengths. This approach improved both work quality and engagement.
Leadership and teamwork
I learned that effective leadership is about creating the right conditions for each team member to succeed. After transitioning from summer intern to leading a six-person research team, I overcame initial uncertainty by reorganizing around individual strengths. This approach improved both work quality and engagement.
Impact and future directions
By bridging advanced robotics with user needs, we created not just a product but a compelling narrative about the future of underwater infrastructure inspection that stakeholders can see, feel, and believe in. My work culminated in a functional MVP prototype that now serves as the foundation for Aquatonomy's strategic direction as they launch customer pilot tests.
Impact and future directions
By bridging advanced robotics with user needs, we created not just a product but a compelling narrative about the future of underwater infrastructure inspection that stakeholders can see, feel, and believe in. My work culminated in a functional MVP prototype that now serves as the foundation for Aquatonomy's strategic direction as they launch customer pilot tests.
Impact and future directions
By bridging advanced robotics with user needs, we created not just a product but a compelling narrative about the future of underwater infrastructure inspection that stakeholders can see, feel, and believe in. My work culminated in a functional MVP prototype that now serves as the foundation for Aquatonomy's strategic direction as they launch customer pilot tests.
Impact and future directions
By bridging advanced robotics with user needs, we created not just a product but a compelling narrative about the future of underwater infrastructure inspection that stakeholders can see, feel, and believe in. My work culminated in a functional MVP prototype that now serves as the foundation for Aquatonomy's strategic direction as they launch customer pilot tests.