Product Design
Shield AI
Tablet-optimized Ground Control Station
ROLE: UX Designer
COLLABORATIONS: N/A
DURATION: 5-Day Sprint
TOOLS: Figma, Photoshop
SUMMARY
For this challenge, I was tasked with designing a tablet-optimized Ground Control Station (GCS) that allows operators to seamlessly manage three V-BAT drones from a secure location. The system was crafted to enable efficient surveillance of two target buildings, ensuring precision and operational ease.
THE ASK
Below are the action items to produce expected solutions for.
RESEARCH INSIGHTS
Before initiating the research, I focused on creating a clear visualization of the task at hand. To ensure a structured approach, I developed a detailed checklist to guide the process and maintain alignment with the objectives.
SWOT ANALYSIS
Given the time constraints, I prioritized a competitive SWOT analysis over other methods. This approach offered a clear picture of competitor strategies while highlighting opportunities we could leverage to gain a competitive edge.
BREAKING DOWN THE HIGHLIGHTS
After identifying three key industry competitors, I performed a comprehensive SWOT analysis for each, assessing their top-level strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This evaluation provided valuable insights into market positioning and areas for strategic advantage.
WIREFRAMES
With the SWOT analysis complete, I incorporated the identified strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities into my early low-fidelity wireframes. While threats were not a primary focus for this challenge, I acknowledged their relevance from a technical standpoint.
My initial step involved deconstructing each requirement and tackling them individually to ensure every aspect of the design aligned with the project objectives.
Focusing on the key requirements and leveraging strengths from the SWOT analysis, I implemented a modular, component-based design strategy for this project.
The dashboard features a customizable layout and a versatile component library, empowering operators to adapt the interface to their specific needs.
Given the time constraints, a full exploration of these capabilities was limited, but the foundation ensures scalability and flexibility for future iterations.
This dashboard seamlessly integrates all mission-critical requirements, featuring live feeds for all V-BATs, a unified GPS map for real-time asset tracking, mission management tools, and launch controls—all within a centralized command interface for streamlined operations.
MISSION CONTROL
A key objective of this challenge was to craft an intuitive user experience that empowers operators with seamless control over V-BAT mission setup and execution.
To achieve this, I prioritized maximum customizability, ensuring operators maintained full authority over mission preparation. This led to the integration of the "Node Editor"—a system commonly used in 3D rendering software like Blender and Cinema4D. By leveraging this approach, the interface provides a highly visual and intuitive way to manage complex tasks.
With multiple variables at play, including multi-mission creation and diverse drone actions, the node-based system proved to be the most effective method for streamlining mission design and execution.
AEGIS
Although not explicitly within the challenge’s scope, I was eager to explore how intelligent systems could enhance mission creation and control. By investigating potential AI-driven enhancements, I aimed to streamline operations, optimize decision-making, and further elevate the user experience.
