REDESIGNING
STARSHIP
ROBOTS
February 2024
UX Learning Studio 1
PROJECT BRIEF
In this project, my group investigated a new way to broaden the services offered by Starship Robots, which are small self-automated cars that are currently only used for food delivery.
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The goal of this project was to not only expand the popular invention’s uses, but also explore the boundaries of human-human interaction.
PRIMARY RESEARCH
To find out what aspects of Starships could be improved, we conducted field observations and interviews.
An affinity diagram of each team member's findings
INTERVIEWS
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Each team member interviewed a college student who has used a Starship Robot at least once. We asked them questions such as what they like and dislike about the current system, and what they think could be improved upon.
INTERVIEW FINDINGS​
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Some of the main complaints we heard were that Starships tend to get stuck on sidewalks, resulting in delayed delivery or cold food. Additionally, the ETA and location tracking is frequently inaccurate. However, we heard positive feedback about the convenience of delivering food and the user-friendly nature of the app.
FIELD OBSERVATION
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Our field observation occurred on Thursday, February 15th at 9:00 am to 9:20 am outside the Wetherill Hall of Chemistry.
OBSERVATION FINDINGS​
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When they approached a crosswalk, Starships spent a significant amount of time stationary and hesitating to cross the street. Additionally, they frequently interfered with pedestrians and bicyclists trying to go to class. We also got to witness a restaurant employee interact with a Starship. They approached the robot, clicked something on their mobile device, opened the lid and inserted the food, closed the lid, and clicked something on their device again. Shortly after, the Starship drove off.
IDEATION
In the very initial phase of our design process, we brainstormed some potential ideas for new uses of a Starship robot. Here are some of our ideas:
A salt distribution attachment and wheel change for icy roads
Mobile charging station using solar panels
Environmental monitoring (air quality, humidity, etc)
Garbage collecting bins with a robotic arm
Watering plants or distributing fertilizers in public places
Intra-campus borrowing and lending system
DESIGN SPACE
After brainstorming, we decided to focus on the frequent lending and borrowing of household items that occurs between students on campus. Many students have busy schedules and thus struggle to find time to meet with the person they are borrowing from or lending to.
REASONING
We wanted our design to be something that could benefit students in various respects, rather than just a one-time use. Thus, we settled on our idea for five main reasons: its feasibility, its year-round utility, its novelty, its potential for fostering human-to-human interaction, and its ability to offer mutual benefits for both lenders and borrowers.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Many Purdue students, especially freshmen, those with disabilities, and those without cars/on-campus housing, struggle with borrowing household items, appliances, etc. from others due to time constraints and distances. A solution is needed to streamline item exchanges.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
Create a system using the Starship robots that allows students to efficiently rent out and borrow items from each other locally on campus. This provides benefits for both borrowers and lenders.
SKETCHING
When prototyping, my team sketched an app that would allow students to either request or post an item, and lend or borrow it for a certain amount of days. The lender would be able to set a price on the item in order to create accountability and ensure their item is returned.
The sketch on the left is mine, and it shows what the app would look like for someone who is lending. Lenders will see what is needed within a certain radius, and they can click on each item for more details. They can also create a storefront for items they are willing to regularly rent out.
FINAL DESIGN
This is a prototype I created that shows the first two pages of the app. Upon opening it, the student is given the option to either lend or borrow (Figure 1), since they are allowed to switch between the two at any time. When they select lend, they are taken to screen 2 (Figure 2), where they can see what people within a 1-mile radius have requested.
Figure 1
Figure 2
PERSONAL CONTRIBUTIONS
TAKEAWAY
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Research
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Ideation
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Interviews
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Data Collection
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Affinity Diagrams
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Sketching
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Prototype Mockup
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Documentation
This project allowed me to fully experience the UX Design process while simultaneously understanding the purpose and effect of what I am doing.I enjoyed researching, evaluating, and redesigning something that is such a key part of the Purdue campus experience. By doing field research, I was able to observe features of the Starships I had never noticed before, which makes me excited for future projects. It was inspiring to see the success that can be achieved through the structure of research, interviews, storyboarding, sketching, and prototyping.