147
Unified Bridge
to polystyrene milled out in the correct measurements and designs. The levers were
developed from their original shapes through iterations of feedback from focus
groups with experienced operators. They explained in detail the issues they had with
the levers available today and were given the possibility to give direct input to the
industrial designers on which changes they wanted. The designers then presented 3D
drawings of the input devices, where the operators could vote and comment on the
suggestions they preferred. At the next focus group meeting, physical clay models of
the input devices were presented. The operators could then experience their feedback
and shape the devices according to their preference. To counteract the effect where
only a few could influence the design, the developers took the final 3D-printed models on tour on board vessels to ask on board crew their opinions. In addition, general
opinions were gathered from inexperienced users to gain feedback from a different
perspective.
A similar prototyping procedure was carried out for the development of the new
operator chair. Looking to other industries such as the automotive industry gave
inspiration to the design. The seats in sports cars often has a midfield of alcantara, a
synthetic, durable and breathable fabric. This gave friction when seated, in addition
to removing dampness when being seated for a long time. It is all connected to removing the little issues that might seem like a trifle but could potentially be the drop that
could make the glass spill over in a s afety-critical situation. Not alone, but together
with all the other little trifles. During observations, it was discovered that the operator several times had to almost lean out of the chair to get a glimpse of the things
going on behind the chair. By changing the shape of the chair to a pear-shaped/ drop
shape backrest, the chair had a narrower headrest than traditional operator’s chairs,
increasing the operator’s field of vision ( Figure 9.3). The operator could now fit more
information into the corner of the eye without moving his/ her head.
The final prototype was presented at a large maritime fair as a market ready concept. The different projects were assembled together, presenting consoles, levers/
input devices and a new operator’s chair. They were sold to a simulator centre where
they are utilized today during training of maritime personnel.
teSting
The first Unified Bridge contract was signed with a Norwegian ship owner, where
the concept was to be delivered to a platform supply vessel. Several test iterations
had been carried out throughout the previous stages of the process and the concept
had been displayed and demonstrated for customers and stakeholders at a national
maritime fair. However, for the first customer delivery the ship bridge environment
was assembled as a full-scale model, where all technical and ergonomic requirements
were tested; in addition, the concept was run through a factory acceptance test ( FAT),
which is a standard procedure when new products are to be installed on a vessel.
During a FAT, external testers evaluate the equipment during and after the assembly
process by verifying that it is built and operating in accordance with design specifications. When accepted, the ship bridge environment was disassembled and shipped to
the shipyard for instalment on board and where the final test was carried out by the
classification society, giving the final certificate for the vessel to be allowed to sail.
Unified Bridge
to polystyrene milled out in the correct measurements and designs. The levers were
developed from their original shapes through iterations of feedback from focus
groups with experienced operators. They explained in detail the issues they had with
the levers available today and were given the possibility to give direct input to the
industrial designers on which changes they wanted. The designers then presented 3D
drawings of the input devices, where the operators could vote and comment on the
suggestions they preferred. At the next focus group meeting, physical clay models of
the input devices were presented. The operators could then experience their feedback
and shape the devices according to their preference. To counteract the effect where
only a few could influence the design, the developers took the final 3D-printed models on tour on board vessels to ask on board crew their opinions. In addition, general
opinions were gathered from inexperienced users to gain feedback from a different
perspective.
A similar prototyping procedure was carried out for the development of the new
operator chair. Looking to other industries such as the automotive industry gave
inspiration to the design. The seats in sports cars often has a midfield of alcantara, a
synthetic, durable and breathable fabric. This gave friction when seated, in addition
to removing dampness when being seated for a long time. It is all connected to removing the little issues that might seem like a trifle but could potentially be the drop that
could make the glass spill over in a s afety-critical situation. Not alone, but together
with all the other little trifles. During observations, it was discovered that the operator several times had to almost lean out of the chair to get a glimpse of the things
going on behind the chair. By changing the shape of the chair to a pear-shaped/ drop
shape backrest, the chair had a narrower headrest than traditional operator’s chairs,
increasing the operator’s field of vision ( Figure 9.3). The operator could now fit more
information into the corner of the eye without moving his/ her head.
The final prototype was presented at a large maritime fair as a market ready concept. The different projects were assembled together, presenting consoles, levers/
input devices and a new operator’s chair. They were sold to a simulator centre where
they are utilized today during training of maritime personnel.
teSting
The first Unified Bridge contract was signed with a Norwegian ship owner, where
the concept was to be delivered to a platform supply vessel. Several test iterations
had been carried out throughout the previous stages of the process and the concept
had been displayed and demonstrated for customers and stakeholders at a national
maritime fair. However, for the first customer delivery the ship bridge environment
was assembled as a full-scale model, where all technical and ergonomic requirements
were tested; in addition, the concept was run through a factory acceptance test ( FAT),
which is a standard procedure when new products are to be installed on a vessel.
During a FAT, external testers evaluate the equipment during and after the assembly
process by verifying that it is built and operating in accordance with design specifications. When accepted, the ship bridge environment was disassembled and shipped to
the shipyard for instalment on board and where the final test was carried out by the
classification society, giving the final certificate for the vessel to be allowed to sail.