Command
Command is a remote console designed for Ditch Witch* to autonomously control their line of existing walk-along trenchers. This increases the safety of construction workers in the field by ensuring an unobstructed view of the work site, and giving them the opportunity to move freely while driving the trencher.
*Ditch Witch, a subsidiary of The Toro Company, expressed permission to share this project as part of this portfolio. This product is not for sale or distribution by Ditch Witch or The Toro Company at this time.
Year
2023
Timeline
Research | 3 Weeks
Design Development | 12 Weeks
Existing Solution Study
Command Design Goals
Improve user comfort during long-term use.
Simplify and eliminate unnecessary controls.
Include industry-standard safety measures to ensure user safety. This includes updated user presence triggers, emergency stop accessibility, and preventative barrier to intercept unintentional button triggering.
Ideation and Development
I began ideating in 2D, sketching potential top and side views before moving into 3D ideation. With many of these ideas, I wanted to seamlessly connect the safety barrier to the body of the controller, or give it an additional function, like a handle for travelling to and from the job site.
Once I’d developed a few forms that seemed viable, I moved toward rendering by hand using Procreate, eventually beginning creating sketch models. These models were super quick iterations that helped to nail down a form direction, which has been highlighted below. The final product was a culmination of ideas from a few different iterations.
Moving to digital monitoring using SolidEdge, I formed a handle that would be out of the way, while providing the necessary safety barrier. 3D printing the handle profile helped pick the most comfortable & effective grip.
Using an interchangeable faceplate, I tested various button and switch configurations in order to ensure user comfort even during extended use.
The handle has a 3” clearance above the tallest joystick, giving plenty of room for the user’s hand movement without obstructing the view of any controls. Additionally, the handle serves as the safety barrier, protecting buttons from accidental trigger during transport or if dropped.
Command’s final assembly includes durable construction grade plastic, fitting in with the existing Ditch Witch products. For a more comfortable grip, a rubber overmold was included at the key touchpoints, also helping to indicate proper hand placement during use.
The Final Assembly
Moving away from the smaller metal switches in the original product, the textured, flatter switches are easier to control even with thick work gloves. The rubber overmold also improves grip, resulting in less remote drops, and more stable control.
Button configuration was based ergonomically by each button’s frequency of use. The ground movement controls lay under the thumb’s natural resting place, with the other most used switches within the thumb’s range of movement.
Instead of the small user presence button in the previous design, the new user presence paddles are wide and long, placed ergonomically under the paddle where multiple fingers trigger the button while holding the remote, but it can’t be triggered when placed on a flat surface. These paddles increase safety by making sure the user is engaged and focused while operating the equiptment.
The remote’s strap is on the opposite side of the handles, keeping the strap away from the body, and wide enough apart to prevent neck discomfort due to strap chafing.
