Redesigning the ii900 Sonic Acoustic Imager.

An acoustic imager is a device that can visualize sound, much like a thermal imager. It's used for detecting air, gas, or vacuum leaks in manufacturing/industrial facilities.

Duration: Summer 2024, 12 weeks

Manager: Ginger Woo

Tools: SolidWorks, Keyshot, Adobe Illustrator, Procreate

Context

What is the ii900?

An existing Fluke product, the ii900 detects air, gas, or vacuum leaks. The sensor is a microphone array, and the screen displays the leak locations.

It’s important because gas leaks are common, difficult to detect, and can lead to large monetary losses.

Product Criteria

Why is there a need
for a redesign?

Looking at trends in past VoC research, the weight and size were continous points of feedback.

Like a large camera, it was too heavy for long routes, ceiling pipes, below-knee pipes, and tight spaces. Additionally, there were requests for a flashlight and better strap placement.

"A typical maintenance route is around 5-6 hours, so speed is the most important for us." - Participant 1

"It’s hard to snap a picture of pipes on the ceiling all the time, especially during a long run." - Participant 3

“I remember trying to take picture of assembly under a belt, it was too dark. We just didn’t check it.” - Participant 4

Ideation
Exploring an articulating screen to reach tight spaces, as well as different hand-hold positions.

Concept Testing: VoCs

[1] Handles

Testing a more durable form factor, but dosen’t allow for as much range-of-motion.

[2] Screenflip

Closely mimicking existing Fluke products, Screenflip articulates the screen rather than the sensor.

[3] Forehead

Forehead’s form stems from the rotational nature of the sensor swivel, but it’s the least seemingly durable.

VoC Results
Testing involved recalling past experiences with the ii900, performing tasks, and giving rankings before-and-after. Rankings were based on ergonomics, affordance, perceved durability, and overall.

m Both Forehead and Handles were favored, with Forehead being the most ergonomic and Handles being the most seemingly durable.

To note, a hand strap on both sides, as well as a body strap was heavily preferred for every concept.

Form Development
Mechanically, Forehead is the most durable despite seeming not so. Thus, I worked on increasing the visual durability of Forehead.

How can I make Forehead seem more durable? Trustworthy?

Proportions, placement of buttons and artwork.

CMF tests, thinking about brand alignment.

Prototyping using cardboard and 3D printing.

Manufacturing Considerations

The internals of the redesign align with existing Fluke components, such as the BP290 battery.

The form is also designed to consider 2-part molding constraints, such as draft angles.

The ii1000 is a more portable, articulated redesign
that allows better leak detection.

Main Features

Swiveling Array

The sensor swivels to help the user reach difficult spaces, such as pipes below the knee. The knob to swivel is placed near the thumbs for easier access.

Modular Sensors

The sensor may be removed and replaced with other sensors such as a thermo-imager or an acoustic imager with more microphones. The removing mechanism is placed at the top of the sensor neck, and works like a pinch-and-pull.

Different sensor types on the ii1000.

...and a special thanks to the wonderful Fluke team full of encouragement and bad jokes :)