Designing an intuitive Path-planning system
for an Autonomous
street cleaning robot.
Designing an intuitive Path-planning system
for an Autonomous
street cleaning robot.
Designing an intuitive
Path-planning system
for an Autonomous
street cleaning robot.
Designing an intuitive Path-planning system
for an Autonomous
street cleaning robot.
Background
Trombia was relying on a fragmented and outdated workflow to operate their robots. Their existing system required the use of multiple disconnected modules to define and send paths to their machines, often relying on janky metadata that lacked consistency and structure. This created a high-friction experience, prone to errors and inefficiencies, especially as they tried to scale. With the introduction of a new 3D module I designed
at Formant, Trombia saw an opportunity to streamline their operations by consolidating everything into a single, more intuitive system.
Below is a summary of my work for Trombia.
Background
Trombia was relying on a fragmented and outdated workflow to operate their robots. Their existing system required the use of multiple disconnected modules to define and send paths to their machines, often relying on janky metadata that lacked consistency and structure. This created a high-friction experience, prone to errors and inefficiencies, especially as they tried to scale. With the introduction of a new 3D module I designed at Formant, Trombia's saw an opportunity to streamline their operations by consolidating everything into a single, more intuitive system.
Below is a summary of my work for Trombia.
Background
Trombia was relying on a fragmented and outdated workflow to operate their robots. Their existing system required the use of multiple disconnected modules to define and send paths to their machines, often relying on janky metadata that lacked consistency and structure. This created a high-friction experience, prone to errors and inefficiencies, especially as they tried to scale. With the introduction of a new 3D module I designed at Formant, Trombia's saw an opportunity to streamline their operations by consolidating everything into a single, more intuitive system.
Below is a summary of my work
for Trombia.
Background
Trombia was relying on a fragmented and outdated workflow to operate their robots. Their existing system required the use of multiple disconnected modules to define and send paths to their machines, often relying on janky metadata that lacked consistency and structure. This created a high-friction experience, prone to errors and inefficiencies, especially as they tried to scale. With the introduction of a new 3D module I designed
at Formant, Trombia saw an opportunity to streamline their operations by consolidating everything into a single, more intuitive system.
Below is a summary of my work for Trombia.
Company
Formant
Client
Trombia
Categories
Feature request
Feature adoption
UI and UX Design
My role
Lead Designer
Led end-to-end
design process in close
collaboration with
product management,
engineering, & the client.
My role
Lead Designer
Led end-to-end design
process in close
collaboration with
product management,
engineering, and
the client.
Company
Formant
Client
Trombia
Categories
Feature request
Feature adoption
UI and UX Design
My role
Lead Designer
Led end-to-end design process
in close collaboration with
product management,
engineering, and the client.
Problem
Trombia was operating with a fragmented and outdated workflow that relied on multiple disconnected modules to define and send robot paths. This setup depended on inconsistent, overly technical metadata, creating confusion for users and making the system prone to frequent errors. As Trombia looked to scale their operations, these inefficiencies became even more problematic, resulting in a high-friction experience that slowed down mission planning and execution.
Problem
Trombia was operating with a fragmented and outdated workflow that relied on multiple disconnected modules to define and send robot paths. This setup depended on inconsistent, overly technical metadata, creating confusion for users and making the system prone to frequent errors. As Trombia looked to scale their operations, these inefficiencies became even more problematic, resulting in a high-friction experience that slowed down mission planning and execution.
Problem
Trombia was operating with a fragmented and outdated workflow that relied on multiple disconnected modules to define and send robot paths. This setup depended on inconsistent, overly technical metadata, creating confusion for users and making the system prone to frequent errors. As Trombia looked to scale their operations, these inefficiencies became even more problematic, resulting in a high-friction experience that slowed down mission planning and execution.
⇝
⇝
⇝
A fragmented workflow requiring several disconnected tools to create and deploy robot missions.
A fragmented workflow requiring several disconnected tools to create and deploy
robot missions.
A fragmented workflow requiring several disconnected tools to create and deploy robot missions.
⤄
⤄
⤄
Inconsistent and confusing metadata, making it difficult for users to know what they were configuring.
Inconsistent and confusing metadata,
making it difficult for users to know what
they were configuring.
Inconsistent and confusing metada, making it difficult for users to know what they were configuring.
Inconsistent and confusing metadata, making it difficult
for users to know what they were configuring.
☹
☹
☹
No clear feedback or confirmation,
leaving users uncertain whether missions were successfully received.
No clear feedback or confirmation, leaving
users uncertain whether missions were successfully received.
No clear feedback
or confirmation, leaving users uncertain whether missions were successfully received.
No clear feedback or confirmation, leaving users uncertain whether missions were successfully received.
⬂
⬂
⬂
Low scalability and high error rates, especially as the company expanded robot deployments.
Low scalability and high error rates, especially as the company expanded robot deployments.
Low scalability and high error rates, especially as the company expanded robot deployments.
The process
01
Understanding the user journey
Researched the user and their context then I broke down Trombia desired workflow of sending robots on mission
to help identify where in their existing approach broke down.
02
Redesigned the Waypoint experience.
Studied Trombia's waypoint system and did outside research to help redesign a more intuitive interface that allowed users to easily visualize, edit and execute missions
03
Integrated real-time visualization.
Designed features that allowed users to see the actual path a robot would take, monitor its live position during a mission, and make adjustments as needed.
04
Adapted for platform wide usage.
While the design was driven by Trombia’s needs, I made sure the solution was modular and scalable, so other customers could benefit from the same path planning experience within our platform.
05
Collaborated closed with PM, Eng & Trombia.
Worked with Midori to validate data flows, edge cases, and system constraints,
ensuring that what we designed could be
built accurately and perform reliably in
real-world scenarios.
01
Understanding the user journey
Researched the user and their context then I broke down Trombia desired workflow of sending robots on mission
to help identify where in their existing approach broke down.
02
Redesigned the Waypoint experience.
Studied Trombia's waypoint system &
did outside research to help redesign
a more intuitive interface that allowed
users to easily visualize, edit and
execute missions
03
Integrated real-time visualization.
Designed features that allowed users to see the actual path a robot would take, monitor its live position during a mission, and make adjustments as needed.
04
Adapted for platform wide usage.
While the design was driven by Trombia’s needs, I made sure the solution was modular and scalable, so other customers could benefit from the same path planning experience within our platform.
05
Collaborated closed with PM, Eng & Trombia.
Worked with Midori to validate data flows, edge cases, and system constraints,
ensuring that what we designed could be
built accurately and perform reliably in
real-world scenarios.
01
Understanding the user journey
Researched the user and their context then I broke down Trombia desired workflow of sending robots on mission
to help identify where in their existing approach broke down.
02
Redesigned the Waypoint experience.
Studied Trombia's waypoint system &
did outside research to help redesign
a more intuitive interface that allowed
users to easily visualize, edit and
execute missions
03
Integrated real-time visualization.
Designed features that allowed users to see the actual path a robot would take, monitor its live position during a mission, and make adjustments as needed.
04
Adapted for platform wide usage.
While the design was driven by Trombia’s needs, I made sure the solution was modular and scalable, so other customers could benefit from the same path planning experience within our platform.
05
Collaborated closed with PM, Eng & Trombia.
Worked with Midori to validate data flows, edge cases, and system constraints,
ensuring that what we designed could be
built accurately and perform reliably in
real-world scenarios.
The outcomes
The new path planning experience replaced Trombia’s fragmented system with a single, intuitive workflow that empowered users to confidently plan, visualize, and execute robot missions. The solution streamlined configuration, provided clear real-time feedback, and made managing missions significantly more reliable and scalable. Following launch, Trombia adopted the tool across their operations, and other companies within the platform also embraced the feature, demonstrating its broader impact and value.
The outcomes
The new path planning experience replaced Trombia’s fragmented system with a single, intuitive workflow that empowered users to confidently plan, visualize, and execute robot missions. The solution streamlined configuration, provided clear real-time feedback, and made managing missions significantly more reliable and scalable. Following launch, Trombia adopted the tool across their operations, and other companies within the platform also embraced the feature, demonstrating its broader impact and value.
The outcomes
The new path planning experience replaced Trombia’s fragmented system with a single, intuitive workflow that empowered users to confidently plan, visualize, and execute robot missions. The solution streamlined configuration, provided clear real-time feedback, and made managing missions significantly more reliable and scalable. Following launch, Trombia adopted the tool across their operations, and other companies within the platform also embraced the feature, demonstrating its broader impact and value.
A streamlined, immersive interface for configuring missions and placing waypoints visually on our 3D module.
A streamlined, immersive interface for configuring missions and placing waypoints visually on our 3D module.
A streamlined, immersive interface for configuring missions and placing waypoints visually on our 3D module.
Clear confirmation and error feedback, reducing user frustration and uncertainty during critical tasks.
Clear confirmation and error feedback, reducing user frustration and uncertainty during critical tasks.
Broader adoption across multiple companies, proving the design’s scalability and utility beyond the initial client.
Broader adoption across multiple companies, proving the design’s scalability and utility beyond the initial client.
Introduction of a gizmo tool for easier waypoint editing, enhancing usability and reducing reliance on side panels.
Introduction of a gizmo tool for easier waypoint editing, enhancing usability and reducing reliance on side panels.
The challenges
The project faced several challenges in transforming Trombia’s outdated workflow into a clear, reliable experience.
The challenges
The project faced several challenges in transforming Trombia’s outdated workflow into a clear, reliable experience.
The challenges
The project faced several challenges in transforming Trombia’s outdated workflow into a clear, reliable experience.
01
Understanding Trombia’s complex metadata system. They used different data types with technical engineering terms, making it hard for users to know what they were actually configuring.
A streamlined, immersive interface for configuring missions and placing waypoints visually on our 3D module.
02
One major challenge was handling cases where the robot might fail to receive a mission. I had to design clear feedback that reduced user anxiety and guided next steps.
03
I had to convince the team to use Path Planner instead of Mission Planning to better match the user’s mental model and avoid confusion with existing product terms.
Impact
The project not only solved Trombia’s immediate workflow challenges but also created lasting business and product outcomes. The new path planning tool became a cornerstone of the platform, delivering value to multiple stakeholders and strengthening client relationships.
Feature adoption by other customers across the platform, demonstrating the solution’s versatility and broad appeal.
Trombia signing a long-term agreement to continue using and evolving the mission planning capabilities within their operations.
Increased operational efficiency and reduced mission setup time, enabling Trombia’s teams to deploy autonomous cleaning robots faster and with fewer errors.
Client
Trombia is a robotics company that builds autonomous street cleaning machines. Their technology combines mechanical sweeping with advanced dust removal systems to keep streets clean without filters. They came to us asking to use a 3D module I designed at Formant to plan robot paths and control their machines through the same platform.
Trombia is a robotics company that builds autonomous street cleaning machines. Their technology combines mechanical sweeping with advanced dust removal systems to keep streets clean without filters. They came to us asking to use a 3D module I designed at Formant to plan robot paths and control their machines through the same platform.
