iRobot
During my Masters studies at Bentley University, I led a small team of graduate students on a usability assessment project for iRobot Corp. The focus of the study was the PackBot, a tactical mobile robot that can perform a variety of dangerous reconnaissance and detection tasks while keeping warfighters and first responders out of harm's way. Our team's specific goals were to identify usability issues and potential design modifications for the two remote control units that guide the PackBot –- a Linux-based laptop and a handheld PocketPC.
We also had the honor of working with members of the U.S. Armed Forces as they used both control devices to steer a PackBot prototype around (and over) a variety of objects. The study was a major success as it led to improvements in the control interface and the user's situational awareness.
