Collaborative robots (“cobots”) are being adopted at unprecedented charges, due largely to their user-friendly design. This optimistic consumer expertise is not any fluke. It comes because of in-depth analysis and design and ongoing testing to discover how the robots are literally getting used and the way they are often repeatedly improved.
UX DESIGNER CONNECTS R&D TO THE REAL WORLD
Maren Nelson Hadar is a consumer expertise (UX) designer with Common Robots (UR) whose job is to attach the corporate’s R&D work with what’s taking place within the area in order that new merchandise and options meet customers’ wants. Hadar visits UR prospects to see first-hand how they work together with the robots. “It’s not sufficient to simply hear about what they’re doing,” explains Hadar. “It’s worthwhile to watch folks and the robots in motion to grasp what issues they face every day.”
Hadar tries to fulfill with a number of typical robotic customers on her web site visits, together with the manufacturing supervisor, robotic operator, and programmer. “Probably the most attention-grabbing factor about visiting these firms is how totally different they’re and the way otherwise they use our robots,” says Hadar. “After I go to a smaller firm, for example, the one who applications the robotic is usually the identical one that operates it, so it’s vital that programming is straightforward to entry and use. Bigger firms may need these folks in separate roles. In that case, the programmer would possibly wish to lock down this system in order that operators simply want to have the ability to begin and cease the robotic.”
THE USER’S JOURNEY STARTS BY UNBOXING THE ROBOT
Though UR cobots are straightforward to make use of, they’re nonetheless refined robots. Some customers are novice programmers or operators who aren’t conscious of the entire robotic’s performance. UR is all the time taking a look at methods to enhance your complete consumer journey, from unboxing to programming, addressing totally different ranges of experience. Whereas Hadar is onsite, she might be able to level out what customers can do to handle a selected state of affairs. At different instances, the challenges customers face present suggestions for the place UR can enhance, comparable to with new coaching materials, guide content material, and assist options. By instructing folks how you can use the robots in the best method and to their fullest capability, that may circumvent many challenges that customers would possibly expertise.
Hadar’s analysis might in the end result in modifications within the graphical consumer interface (GUI) used to program the robots, or the place connectors needs to be situated on the robotic itself—something that may enhance the consumer expertise. “It’s attention-grabbing to see so many alternative contexts the place the robots are getting used, however that additionally makes it very difficult for us,” Hadar explains. “We’ve got to grasp all these totally different interactions, which signifies that totally different customers could have a really totally different sense of satisfaction. We have to meet all these wants.”
