Inviting transparency in autonomous intralogistics

B2B • Web

Team

Research

UX Design

Product leadership (Client)

Engineering (Client)

Role

UX architecture design

Cartography

Research partnership

Duration

12 weeks

Impact

Operating over 130 autonomous units on factory floors at Volkswagen, and also many other large scale factories

The Challenge

Consolidating a fragmented fleet operation into a unified web-based system for planning, monitoring, and managing autonomous guided vehicles inside large factory setups.

Context

Automation in factory settings is already enhancing shop floor efficiency, with autonomous robots and forklifts improving throughput. However, a major challenge in the current landscape of internal autonomous logistics is the presence of rigid and siloed processes. Interactions are spread across multiple software systems and touchpoints, creating significant friction in daily operations.

Our client SYNAOS was working on developing a platform that unifies these processes. They teamed with us to define the experience of the system.

The outcome

Our team developed a web application that integrated multiple systems into a unified platform. The focus of the first stage was on critical functions like tracking, planning, and essential emergency actions. In conjunction with an interface design, we also developed a semantic system for context-appropriate representation of the factory space.

Research and problem Definition

We began by conducting a comprehensive workshop with fleet operators, using a mix of contextual inquiry and task analysis to capture their daily workflows. Through direct observation and in-depth interviews, we gained insights into the key tasks they perform and the challenges they encounter. A priority analysis of these tasks in conjunction with the needs of the business helped us define the three most essential areas of the program that we would build in the first round of design.

Downloading research findings from the automotive factory visit

The outcome of the workshops was a focus on three areas where we found the greatest opportunity for impact.

Solution Discovery

Through extensive loops of wireframing and prototyping at various fidelities, we worked closely with our stakeholders to define the content architecture of the app and the flows to accomplish key tasks. We worked with the system managers from the factories and the client’s tech team to collaboratively drive the design.

Early ideations on the order details view, from which key concepts such as progress bar and overlaid route-points made it to the product

Scrutinizing the map content and generating solutions for a simplified schematic representation

Closer look at the final design

The tracking page outlines all the orders in the system while concurrently providing a spatial overview of the vehicles

Breakdown of the content architecture in the tracking overview — Blueprint of the content architecture in the tracking overview

A level deeper in the tracking page gives the user an overview of a specific order with correlated information on the vehcle

Breakdown of the content architecture in the order detail view — blueprint of the content architecture in the order detail view

Adapting the map to the context

We made several cartographic choices to improve the map for the control operator. Initially, we had a spatial layout map, but shifted to a more schematic design. This allowed us to simplify by focusing on essential details and adding dynamic symbols. Combining the spatial layout with a schematic approach has resulted in a map that enhances decision-making.

The final design with the spaces and tracks represented through a hybrid schematic language

Gates

The gates are the spaces where the cargo would get picked up or dropped off. They are treated as live and dynamic entities that change their states through the course of operation.

States of the Autonomous Guided Vehicles

The vehicles are styled to indicate the state of the vehicles with appropriate symbol and color application.

Rich tooltips

Displaying text in conjunction with various elements on the map as tooltips to help better identify them.

Release and impact

We collaborated with our client’s development partners to road map and deliver the web application, working with scrum methodologies and having feedback loops with our pilot site operators on a regular basis.

SYNAOS’ system now operates across multiple large-scale factories, including Schaeffler, Harry, and also Volkswagen where it manages over 130 autonomous robots.