Flight UI

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Role
User Research
UX Design
Interaction Design

Cross-functional
Collaborators
Product
Firmware Engineer

Controller, UI Lead
Overview

For the Controller's onscreen UI my goal was to give the user crucial information at a glance and make Solo's powerful features actionable with a single button press. In this project I was the UI developer creating both UX flows and final UI assets.  

 
 
 

User Profile & Research Process

Our target audience is made up of GoPro users and professional videographers. Since GoPro users range from casual filmmakers to pros, the product has to be very approachable, while still delivering all the power of Solo's Smart Shots and camera controls.   

 
 
 
 
 

The Challenge

With existing drones it is difficult to understand feedback about the copter even when it is flying close by. Controller and GPS signal strength are commonly expressed with blinking lights and sequences of beeps. However, even in good conditions these messages are hard to see and even harder to understand. Solo had to do away with these old systems. 

User Goals

Puzzled users of other systems investigate copters that are powered on and ready for launch, a potentially dangerous situation. Our user wanted to simply know if all was clear for takeoff. If any user messages are needed, they should be given in clear language with easy calls to action when needed. 

 
 
 
 
 

Screen UI

The main display prominently shows battery life, which testing showed to be the single most top-of-mind item for users. Distance to home and altitude are also messaged clearly. 

We made a conscious choice to have a continuous display for Solo's A and B options. More expert users can reconfigure these, but by having an always present display for these actions we allow even the newest users to try deeper functions. 

 
 
 
 

Message User Flow
Intuitive Communication

While in flight Solo has various automated behaviors. My goal for this UX is to make relevant messages highly noticeable for the user while allowing them to complete their present action. However, safety features, like low battery automated landings, are able to alter Solo's behavior without requiring the user to react. To avoid "mode confusion", a common problem in autonomous systems, we focused on making current state highly salient to users at all times, and messaging these states while the user still has plenty of time to decide what they want to do. 

 
 
Design-Goals-Image.jpg
 

Design Goals
Critical Information at a Glance

The primary goal for the Solo Controller UI was to provide clear feedback. This is in the form of messages about Solo's current state, and onscreen guides for the user's first run.  

 
 
 
 
 

Visual Design
Making Controls Highly Discoverable

Through user testing I developed the camera angle UI into a simple screen showing the present angle. After trying Solo's smooth manual tilts, users can press an angle preset and achieve a smooth sweep even while performing other actions. 

 

 
 
 
 
 

Smart Shots
Quick Access to Solo's Powerful Features

Cable Cam enables Solo to slide down an invisible cable, creating smooth shots. In Orbit, the copter circle its subject. To make these professional tools discoverable I incorporated button callouts in the UI. This allowed even new users to get the most from their Solo. 

 

 
 
 

Workflow Video
Designing for Cinematographers

Solo's Controller and app were designed to be an integrated pair, giving cinematographers and directors truly intuitive control. To make this happen, testing and design always involved developing the two parts as one wholistic system. 

 

 
 

Case Studies