NeuralBot
Automated Robotic Cerebral Ultrasound
Industrial Design
Overview
Neural Analytics (now NovaSignal) is a startup tech company who is aiming to reshaping brain health management through diagnostic, monitoring, screening and therapeutics technologies.
NeuralBot (now NovaGuide) is an automated cerebral ultrasound combined with artificial intelligence and robotics to revolutionize how brain health data is harnessed and utilized.
Role
Industrial Design
Prototyping
User Testing
Productionizing
Tools
SoildWorks
KeyShot
Adobe Suite
3D Printer
Collaboration
Mechinical Engineers
Electrical Engineers
Executives
Marketing Team
The Team
At Neural Analytics, Design Department is a small team within the company with majority of engineers. I was honored to work with talented designers that are all passionate about exploring and finding the best solutions with many critical restrictions laying ahead of us. I am also fortunate to cooperate with mechanical engineers to improve my design to meet the mechanical requirement. With the help of electrical engineers, I was able to mock up my design to a functional prototype in order to prove the concept.
Neural Analytics is a tech driven company. There are a substantial technological knowledge foundation was built before I started working here. For the first two weeks, thanks to my design director and my colleges, they patiently explained everything as much as possible for me to catch up. From the purpose of the company and its product lines to mechanical/operating principles.
After gaining a fundamental understanding of the device, I began to get involved in the development of the concepts, prototyping and testing.
Team Work
Considering the intricacy of the project, I have learned that only through team work will make one potential idea be developed from scratch to feasible product. Not only for a product, but also applies to as small as one mechanism.
For Example, a head restraint design, which is a very crucial functional mechanism for the system. The whole team spent months together to brainstorm, sketch, mock up from scratch material, discuss with mechanical engineers, model in CAD, print parts with 3D printer and prototype with Aluminum parts, test on different shape of heads, evaluate with data and again and again. The processes took months because not only the function of the device prevents all conventional way to restraint a head, but also the system needs to be as simple and reliable as possible. It would not be able to achieve the purpose without the cooperation of the whole team to inspire each other.
Project Complexity
This is my first time working on medical devices. Every design process will need to be slow down and to be evaluated due to it's functional reliability and the consideration of the project scope. Even a small position change could lead to some major design changes and a new serial of evaluations. These experience gave me the patient and circumspection which I could apply to other projects.
Prototype for VOC
In order to test the usability of the device before the internal functional components are ready, we need a "working" prototype to simulate the operations for users. Because of my engineer background, I was assigned to design and implement a prototype for usability test - Voice of Customer. With the help of the team and other engineers, I was able to deliver a set of prototype that the research team is able to test multiple setups in order to determine the best solution.
Next Generation of the Device
I was fortunate to be trusted to collaborate with another designer and mechanical engineer team to work on a future concept that bring the current product to the next level.
The concept will eliminate many constraints that our current product is limited with. After consulting with both ME team and research team, the new concept has the potential to improve the performance and accuracy. At the same time, from user experience perspective, the new concept will significantly reduce the learning curve for any new users and it will be opened to many new market.
In Retrospect
I am grateful to be brought to the team. And thank you to everyone that I have worked with. The patient and support you gave really helped me with learning and growing quickly.