The home security robotic project is targeted for residents living in 1-2 bedroom apartment in California Bay Area with security concerns. It’s a smart home initiative by Bosch Research and Technology Center in Palo Alto, CA. The project outcome is a concept of interactive security robot that can patrol in a one-floor space. It monitors home environment, delivers information on its head display, and connects to IoT. The robot is not only a central hub for the entire smart home system, but also a home butler and companion with its friendly interfaces.
My role
I created my own design concept based on the previous research findings. I collaborated with engineering team and produced two prototypes. By participating the second round of research with Lunar in San Francisco, I explored new design directions for the next design stage.
Project timeline
The entire project was targeted for three-year development including multiple research and design phrases. My individual design proposal was completed in 5 months, on Feb. 2015
Design Challenges
Without participating in the initial research, I was able to identify core use cases from research insights and build a good understanding about user needs in home security.
Learnings from previous research
14 participants were interviewed, that included 10 residents in Bay Area with home security concerns and 4 SMEs in robotic field.
Extending Your Vision
Being away from home raises a concern for security for loved ones, valuables left behind. People expressed the need to be able to monitor home while being away.
Security of Security
It is important for the security solution to be able to protect itself or else it refutes the purpose. The concerns were around its size, and being conspicuous – to avoid being noticed and thus manhandled or exploited.
Security on Mobility
There is a clear difference in attitude of people who rent and those who own. People who rent do not feel responsible for the home and tend to delegate this to the landlord. They would not typically invest in a security system because of the permanence attached to a security system, which probably comes from installation.
See Effectiveness
Direct feedback on the job done by the product / tool is an important indicator of its effectiveness. Being able to view results with transparency gives a sense of satisfaction about the job well done.
Privacy Concern
When talking about security monitoring, people always have the concern about being watched and don’t feel comfortable with that situation at home.
Futuristic
Streamline
Complexity
Transparency
Lighting
Ideation
Feminine
Sculptural
Clean
Curvy
Sleek
Cute
Round
Colorful
Playful
Friendly
Final Concept
Futuristic + Feminine
The final design is a hybrid form of futuristic and feminine style to deliver feeling of trust and safety. The product functions in two modes. One is patrol mode with its wide angle camera visible from outside. This mode will be activated while residents are away or asleep at night.
The other mode is info mode. The camera will be hidden and the head screen will display home security information while residents are at home. At info mode, the robot can also be set as a static smart device for video or voice call.
Prototyping
To test the full physical size of the robot and how it worked with wheels and camera, I created two full scale prototypes. The first one is a static model made by myself. And second one is a mobile prototype that I created with the engineering team.
1st Prototype
Validate the full-scale product size
Test legibility of information on head display
Goals
Methods
Layering, Volumization
Materials
Foamboard
2nd Prototype
Test base mobility in full size
Test the size and position of camera
Goals
Methods
Laser cutting, programming
Foamboard, Arduino, wide-angle camera
Materals
Security + Interactivity + Aesthetics
The robot is equipped with cliff sensor and laser ranger finder to detect surrounding environment. It is supported by four-wheel base to achieve maximum mobility. On patrol mode, its camera will roll up to obtain a wide angel view and sync with smart phone. So residents can access real-time video recording of home monitoring on their phone.
Head Display
The robot head display shows simple security information and highlights any unexpected events. Users can also place robot on table and have video call. When residents come home, the robot greets them with smile emoticon on head display to build a connection with them.
Home page
Security status summary is shown in the center and visualized in the same robot form. Secondary info includes temperature, humidity, electricity consumption and noise level.
Alert Notification
When the robot detects any unusual condition, for example temperature at home goes too high, it highlights the stats and turns flashing red on head display to call for attention.
Video Call
The robot can be used for voice or video call. During the call, users can still be able to see home monitoring stats at the bottom as secondary info.
Smile and Greet
The robot recognizes members of the household. It introduces itself once activated and greets with friendly face on its display. The robot is not just a security police. It builds connection with residents asa companion and butler.