Royal College of Art: Intelligent Mobility postgraduate show 2022 Part 3

The third and final in a series of livestreams broadcast across March, this latest Royal College of Art student showcase revolved around the theme of humanising technology. With most of the students opting to focus on fully autonomous concepts, the effective communication of information from system to user was central to the session, along with factors such as brand experience and trust in the technology. But some students opted for a completely different approach, exploring alternatives to the somewhat normalised vision of autonomous vehicles.

Cyriel Diels, deputy director of the Intelligent Mobility Design Centre at RCA, was joined by Simon Loasby, vice president and head of Hyundai Style Group, to provide comments on each student’s work. Loasby opened the session by referring to the central theme. “One of our primary challenges is creating humanised technology that fits the right customer group,” he said. “At Hyundai, we don’t do all our vehicles the same, we deliberately target different focus groups and try to make the vehicle fit their needs. Autonomy takes us towards living space, and we are looking at how to create this space within mobility. It’s a difficult task, but an exciting one to be involved in.”

Diels added, “We need to understand how to create sustainable, inclusive, and also enjoyable mobility experiences. There must be an integrated approach. Today’s theme is humanising technology, and we will look at how design will be at the forefront in creating enjoyable user experiences for people when using mobility solutions.”

Black Box by Mingwei Liu

The first project on show was titled Black Box by Mingwei Liu. A pod-like structure with a large greenhouse at its centre, Black Box has no visible wheels. Instead, panels wrap around the corners of the pod, and it glides across the ground when in motion. On the inside, a large screen wraps around the entire upper section of the IP, displaying detailed information on the car’s movement.

Liu says that the idea behind Black Box is to raise passenger awareness of the autonomous driving situation. “I was inspired by a terrible experience of semi-autonomous driving technology, which was really nerve-wracking,” he explained. “If we want to give up control, we need to have trust in autonomous cars, so that’s what I’m trying to deliver with my project. I thought I could have a more intuitive approach to illustrate the environment that the vehicle is in, enhancing the communication between the user and vehicle so that the passengers know what the car is doing and why.”

Living Fabric by Domenico Perna

Taking a completely different approach to his final project, Domenico Perna created Living Fabric. He delved deep into research, examining and identifying the various advantages and disadvantages of different materials, and how they could be used to enhance the human/vehicle relationship.

“I focused on creating a new kind of technology interface, aiming to create a more engaging relationship with the users of autonomous vehicles,” he said. “Higher levels of technology are making conventional technology obsolete, and the introduction of AI means we need to create new interfaces. Living Fabric has elastic textiles that make the surface alive, responding to the touch of the user. The technology offers an opportunity to deliver a multisensory connection between users and vehicles, making them more accessible and communicative.”

Deep Reality by Yizhou Zhao

Another different approach was taken by Yizhou Zhao. With the Deep Reality concept, Zhao re-imagines the user experience for autonomous vehicles. A large transparent tube stems across the width of the vehicle in front of the two passengers. Inside the tube are moving pieces of soft material that react to the driving situation.

“It’s all about how we can enhance people’s perception in the vehicle with a 3D interface,” said Zhao. “The fluid interface provides an immersive and dynamic effect. It also changes according to the user’s emotional state, helping them relax while experiencing autonomous driving. The idea was inspired by the fact that we have so many screens in cars now. I was thinking of the interface of the future, and how it would be restricted if it was only done through screens, and how these screens would be overloaded with information. This 3D interface could help solve that issue.”

Diels offered his thoughts on the first three projects. “I think there was some really fantastic work in there,” he said. “Trust and user experience is undeniably a key element of future mobility, and we must figure out what information we present, where, when and how. There are so many complex scenarios, and we need to identify how best to convey all the information to users so that they can trust the system is doing its job. It’s a real challenge, but I think there is huge potential for new technologies.”

Loasby agreed with Diels, but also offered a potential avenue of examination for designers. “I think we need to talk to doctors and psychiatrists to find out how we communicate with people,” he said. “Different brands will use different ways to do it. For me personally, I don’t think that we always need technology in the foreground, especially when we are talking about designing a moving living space. We just simply need to be comfortable and trust that everything is under control. So it’s about how we communicate that with the customers and ensure that they can relax. Also, I think that if we can make people smile then we have won. Bringing the emotional positive response can be done in so many ways. Our job is to cheer people up, help people in their wellness and mindfulness.”

Bentley Spark by Naomi Saka

The fourth project on show was the Bentley Spark by Naomi Saka. With a focus on luxury and comfort, Saka’s concept took the shape of a streamlined, cocoon-like structure. Large wing-shaped doors wrap around the vehicle and open skywards to reveal an inviting cabin, full of plush materials. But at the heart of the concept is its AI system.

“My project explores the next level of interaction between user and brand, creating a two-way relationship and truly bespoke experiences,” said Saka. “The Spark is awakened through the human touch, and it becomes your key to the Bentley universe. It curates your journeys to your favourite restaurant or a business meeting and adapts the experience accordingly. So for example, when in a business meeting, the Spark goes into formal mode and protects passenger privacy. It’s all about this two-way relationship that shapes brand experience.”

4th Dimension by Pavan Kumar Sirigineedi

With student projects exploring the potential of fully autonomous driving, Pavan Kumar Sirigineedi decided to take a different approach. “Everyone is talking about autonomous driving, and as a car guy, I am concerned,” said Sirigineedi.

Taking inspiration from the field of biomimicry, in which elements and systems found in nature are emulated to solve complex human problems, Sirigineedi aimed to create a new form of control for vehicles that would see the evolution of the traditional steering wheel into a more intuitive and natural device. Key to the idea is a gel-like material that is situated in the armrests. The driver straps into the seat and the gel, which is infused with AI technology, reacts to driver movements.

“How we react with the vehicle is very important, so why not connect human reflexes to make a new steering system? It can make the driving experience unique and intuitive to each driver. Take the horse and rider scenario, for example. It is intuitive and natural, and I think we can do much more with ergonomics and the human reflexes to bring this feeling into the car of the future.”

Archetype by Shoichi Sato

The final project on show was by Shoichi Sato. Called Archetype, the concept is the most conventional-looking, and also addresses one of the biggest issues in the automotive industry – sustainability.

“My project is about time, and the vehicle/user relationship,” said Sato. “I was originally inspired by two experiences. I visited a museum in Tokyo and saw a Japanese artifact that has lasted for over 1,000 years. And in the UK, I see vintage cars that are over 100 years old in very nice condition and still on the roads today. So I thought of creating a car that could last for 1,000 years.”

Sato quickly realised that different components of the vehicle have different life cycles. He started to create a database and identify these life cycles, and then found ways in which they could be enhanced or replaced to ensure that the overall life cycle of the vehicle was greatly extended. “The other question to answer was how a car like this could sustain elegance?” Sato mused. “So, I had to go into material research and find out ways in which I could preserve luxury and elegance. The interior design was really important and using organic materials along with a minimalist approach helped me achieve my goal.”

Loasby praised the work of the students, stating that each project had unique and promising ideas that could be developed further. However, he concluded the session on a sobering note.

“Getting into the sustainability of the system, we should be talking about technology designed specifically for the planet,” Loasby said. “We have lived the past 30 years with consumption, consumption, consumption, and it just can’t go on. We must think about how we can change this as designers. Our job is to question the norm, and often to get into trouble, but in a good way because we push the journey forward. And to make that forward progress, we absolutely need to achieve a balance with the planet. We are reaching tipping points. We must use the right materials, design for re-use, or design for prolonged life cycles. As a society globally, we are not doing enough to protect the planet and our resources.”