CUAV GS
Type: Mobile App (Android)
Timeline: 10 months (Dec.2017 — Sep.2018)
Contribution: User Research, Persona, Journey Map, Prototype, Logo, Promotion Video and website design
Team: Project Manager (1), Designer (me), Android Developer(1)
01 Overview
CUAV GS (Ground Station) is an android application that is compatible with our new product LTE-Link(image and data transmission system). It enables users to control the drone by planning the flight route and execute flight tasks.
Here is the promotion video for 4G LTE-Link that I made, you can jump directly to 0:21 to have a look at how CUAV GS works.
CUAV is a technology company focusing on software and hardware of UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle). The hardware products include flight control system, GPS positioning system, wireless digital link system (image and data) etc. Software products include android, PC and web applications for UAV control.
02 Goal
Design a new APP based on the original open-source APP Hflight. It includes:
- Optimize route planning and setting functions;
- Add account function, and be compatible with our new product LTE-Link (image and data transmission system);
- Improve user experience and visual design.
03 Problem
· User experience path too long: user needs to switch to other pages to plan the route and set parameters, and then return to the main page to execute the route;
· Unrelated functions, such as waypoints, surveying, and waypoint actions, are put together on the same page, and cause confusion;
· Over shallow information architecture: there are too many options at each layer, but the core functions are not focused enough
04 solution
1）Map
· All route-related operations are integrated into one page;
· Clearly display aircraft status information: attitude, distance and speed, and so on;
· Clearly distinguish different functions.
Here’s a video showing how to plan a route:
2）Route Setting
You can easily change global or single waypoint setting, or change parameters such as speed, altitude and yaw angle.
3）Image transmission
05 Process
5.1 Market Research
Most UAV users are older than 34. (Askci.com, 2017)
Male 96.4% > Female 3.6% (Askci.com, 2017)
Industry Users and General Consumers’ Preference
· Similarity: stability, quality and operability;
· Difference:
Industry UAV users care more about professional, such as load capacity and professional functions while general consumers value more price and auxiliary functions. (81uav.cn, 2016)
5.2 Competitive Research
5.3 Stake Holder Map
This diagram helped me understand different roles in the project and how I should cooperate with them.
5.4 User Research
According to metric as the frequency of usage, marketing size, potential profit and our competitive edge, we finally agreed with the priority:
Survey User > Test User > DIY Lover
5.5 Ideation
In order to tackle the pain points of our core users, I used the brainstorming method to generate solutions.
I used the NUF (new, useful, feasible) metric to evaluate and integrate similar ideas. Finally, we decided to focus on the four features:
5.6 Information Architecture
06 Reflection
These two projects gave me a lot of room to practice my professional skills and learning about how to work with different people. Working in the industry environment I need to balance users’ interests with business goals from stakeholders and the limited resources we have. Although challenges were inevitable, I have been able to adapt and produce great work with my team. It has been very fulfilling to witness my creative ideas being assembled step-by-step. However, the most rewarding part is to see the way our product improves people’s lives upon release.
The biggest pity was I left soon after it released, so I couldn’t follow our users’ feedback and grow with my work. But I do very appreciate this experience and wish I could start a better journey.
Reference
Askci.com. (2017). 2017年无人机用户分析：大部分用户年龄在46岁以上-中商情报网. [online] Available at: http://www.askci.com/news/hlw/20170510/09134097636.shtml [Accessed 10 Dec. 2019].
81uav.cn. (2016). 2016年Q3无人机互联网用户行为数据分析报告_全球无人机网. [online] Available at: https://www.81uav.cn/uav-news/201611/16/21105.html [Accessed 10 Dec. 2019].
