Robot Control Interface for High Constraints Environment
Improving how installers operate robotics systems in constrained environments by simplifying controls and increasing real-time visibility.
My role
Product Designer / Product Lead (end-to-end ownership)
Type
Interface redesign
Domain
Robotics / underfloor insulation
65% → 92%
operator satisfaction
50+
robots deployed in the UK and France
Context
Usability under real operational constraints
The interface is used by installers to operate robotics systems in constrained, low-visibility environments during underfloor insulation installations.
In this setting, usability directly impacts:
Risk of operational errors
Speed and precision of execution
Operator confidence
Challenge
Friction in critical workflows
The existing interface created friction in critical workflows:
Cluttered navigation increased cognitive load
Small camera feed limited visibility in already constrained environments
Interaction model required switching between multiple input devices, slowing down task execution
These issues reduced efficiency and increased the likelihood of errors during installation.
Approach
Designing around real operation
I worked closely with engineers and installers to understand how the interface supported real-world operation. Through interviews and on-site shadowing, we identified a key mismatch between:
How the system was structured
How operators needed to interact with it in practice
The redesign focused on:
Reducing interaction cost for high-frequency actions
Improving visibility and space awareness
Aligning the interface with a more fluid, single-input interaction model
Solution
A focused, scalable interface
I designed a more focused and scalable interface that:
Maximises the primary camera feed to improve real-time visibility
Surfaces essential controls directly within the main workflow
Enables navigation via a single input device (gamepad-inspired interaction), reducing friction
Simplifies information architecture to support faster decision-making
Introduces clearer system feedback (e.g. startup status) to improve operator confidence
The solution was developed iteratively, balancing user needs with the technical constraints of the robotics system (ROS).
The key design move
Maximising the camera feed and moving to a single gamepad-inspired input, cutting interaction cost exactly where visibility and speed matter most.
From the field
What installers said
The Mk7 robots are a massive improvement compared to the previous version. The controls are much more user friendly.
— Lee, Installer, Q-Bot
The fact that the spray pattern can be rotated makes it a lot easier to fill areas near walls.
— David, Installer, Mersey Eco Grants
It's quicker and easier to control and the help manual is a great addition.
— John, Installer, Concept Heating
