Project Overview
This project is a contender in the Toyota Logistic Design Competition 2024. Its goal is to minimize work-related injuries among warehouse material handlers and imply systematic design thinking to develop a seamless, efficient inventory tracking system.
Team
Wang Chen: 3D Artist
Xinyi Wang: Product Design, UX Designer
Ze Zeng: Business and Market Consultant
Time
4 Weeks
Tool
Figma
Solidworks
Keyshot
Problem
How can we help warehouse material handlers lift heavy items safely and speed up accurate inventory tracking?
Solution
This project focuses on creating a specialized exoskeleton for warehouse material handlers, designed to facilitate heavy lifting, reduce injuries, and improve comfort. It features an integrated, advanced tracking system to enhance efficiency and reduce human error in warehouse operations.
Primary Research
Research Method: Field Study & Interview
Understand worker’s daily tasks and work-relative challenges.
Find out how workers' responsibilities are intertwined with the inventory tracking system.
Research Goal
Research Findings
Material handlers are required to lift items weighing at least 100 pounds, leading possibility of work-related injuries, particularly affecting the back and shoulders.
Material handlers use paper checklists to track their tasks.
Secondary Research
Top 2
Overexertion & Bodily Reaction are
Work relative Injuries.
255,490
Incidences in 2020
User Journey Map
To explore the solution, I break down users’ daily responsibilities into seven steps.
Industry Design
The user journey map revealed a critical need to reduce work fatigue and the excessive energy spent on double-checking tasks. This insight led to the idea of combining assistive lifting devices with an integrated system to address these issues.
Ecosystem Mapping
Currently, the warehouse system relies on people to scan and revise inventory.
To enhance performance, the system could integrate sensors, computer vision, and an exoskeleton to directly track inventory, thereby reducing human error.
Circular Economic Consideration
High tensile strength.
Produced from renewable sources.
Recyclability.
Polyamide 11 (PA 11)
End-of-life exoskeletons can be donated to nursing homes.
People who have disability.
Donate to ones in need
Uses hydrogen as fuel and oxygen from the air.
High Energy Density.
The primary byproduct is water
Quick Refueling.
Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell
User Flow
Story Board
Interfaces Design
Real-time data from the system will be integrated into stock management system.
A wearable screen on the Exoskeleton, equipped with sensors, streamlines and ensures accuracy in tracking tasks.