Rush
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Rush is a tailored and reliable cleaning support robot for the service industry. It focuses on solving the ever-changing cleaning and sanitation challenges in high-traffic segments.
It ensures contactless and secure experiences for consumers.
Samsung Research America
Think Tank Team
5 months / 2021
My responsibility
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As a design lead, develop a comprehensive industrial design concept
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Generate and communicate the design concept, development process, scenarios, use cases, and proposal features.
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Collaborate with vendors for functional prototype manufacturing and determine CMF direction.
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Maintain constant communication with engineers for configuration brainstorming and housing design guidance.
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Establish a robust UX foundation through quantitate& qualitative research, information architecture, user journeys, wireframes, and prototypes.
01. Understanding User Interactions in Airport Cleaning
Before designing the airport robot, we brainstormed the user experience for managing the airport cleaning system. This process helped us understand the necessary interactions and features.
To grasp the necessary interactions between the Rush system and users, I developed a user flow based on the cleaning cycle of the Rush robot.
By referencing the user journey, we organized user interactions and consequently, it allowed us to pinpoint the essential features for each hardware component.
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An automated cleaning and sanitation robot
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Self-sufficient battery swapping
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Automatic replacement of end-effector consumables
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Customized end-effectors for each robot
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Returns to designated cleaning section when tasks are completed
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Hub for maintenance
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Mop pad exchanger: Swaps mop pads automatically
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Staff notification for mop pad refill and replacement
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Battery exchanger: Automatically swaps batteries
02. Configuration Development
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At the beginning of the project, I initiated a collaboration with a ME. Together, we engaged in brainstorming sessions to design an optimal robot configuration.
Main objectives were; efficient form to clean various surface, easy pad replacement,
cost-effective mechanism.
03. Form Development
I maintained constant communication with ME and SWE to determine the positioning of sensors and developed a design vision to propose a concept based on a minimal list of internal components and configurations. Focused to maintain reliable companion robot design language.
Replace tools
Wide base for weight balance
Flat & wide surface to integrate camera
Create a seamless transition from face to arm
Split surface to group camera and arm together
Soft curvature surface from base top to inner tower
Wider length & shorter depth tower for better proportion
LED+speaker to minimize visitor's interaction
White color choice for a clean, resistant look
04. Building working prototype
I worked with engineers to build and test robot mechanisms based on the ID vision concept.
Various prototypes were constructed to optimize mop exchanging features.
Testing robot mechanism
Adjusting camera and sensor positions.
End effector development
Created a self-maintaining wet mop attachment.
Mop exchange system
Designed a robot-arm-operated pad management system for automatic mop pad replacement.
05. Home-dock Development
I led a brainstorming session for Home dock designs.
We came up with a single dock that can exchange mop pads from Rushbot's well and replace used batteries.
However, due to time limitations, we decided to only create a concept visualization through rendering for the project proposal.
06. Refining design details
After a prototype test, I adjusted the design to match configuration changes, repositioned the sensor, maintained the angular tower for an RGB camera, added a slight outer tower angle for balance, and increased the base thickness for extra mop pad storage.
07. Building housing prototype
I designed and built robot housing for an upcoming demo. To accommodate tight timelines for internal adjustments, I made the housing design more accessible for changes and troubleshooting.
Safe navigation
Autonomous movement with the ability to pause upon detecting objects.
