Ticket Design
Design of a Vehicle tracking System for TATA MOTORS
Tata Motors has launched an advanced vehicle tracking system in their Novus Heavy duty trucks in association with Daewoo Korea. The project was kept under covers for quite some time. It has been showcased at Auto Expo 2006 at Pragati Maidan New Delhi.
This device is an advanced vehicle tracking system for Novus Heavy duty trucks. Using this system a truck owner can track his trucks anywhere in India on a map from any internet connected computer. The device uses the global positioning satellite and the mobile phone network to achieve this.
The Challenge:
Tata Motors has been the industry leader in the commercial vehicle segment in India. With the ever increasing communication and transport infrastructure and to meet the growing demand for online fleet management Tata Motors developed a working prototype of a tracking system.
The challenge for Ticket Design was to have the right fit between technology and the users to ensure a successful working product in the market that can compete internationally.
The Process:
To ensure the most effective design solution, Ticket Design conducted extensive study with truck drivers and fleet owners to understand their needs and requirements. From these studies, the interface, product packaging and feature parameters were explored and defined, establishing the foundation for preliminary concepts and sketches. The result was a product that is useful for the drivers as well as the fleet owners; a product that is easy to use for users with limited literacy and life saving in case of emergencies.
The Benefits:
Trackit, as it is called by TATA Motors, has icon based controls for a intuitive user interface and simplified "yes- no" functionality. Trackit fits in the international DIN form factor, can be dash-board mounted as well as ceiling mounted by way of a simple modular bracket. With this unique detail it caters to the retro-fitment market too. The product has been designed using engineering plastics and uses latest technologies of injection moulding mass production to achieve economy of scale. The product is being rolled out on each Novus truck and is being received with great enthusiasm.
This device is an advanced vehicle tracking system launched by Tata Motors in their Novus Heavy duty trucks. Using this system a truck owner can track his trucks anywhere in India on a map from any internet connected computer. It uses the global positioning satellite and the mobile phone network to achieve this.
The design is remarkably different from any other GPS based products available in the world market today and is completely focused on the needs of the Indian drivers and fleet owners. This product is an example of how design needs to cater to the needs of the market it serves.
The product is designed for an Indian user who speaks different languages does not read and write and leads a tough life of being on the road driving day and night. The design solution serves this user faithfully.
User centered Design:
The product uses icon based controls for an intuitive user interface. This is what makes the product superior. There is no other product in the market that communicates as well with the user as well as the fleet owner.
Using the product the drivers can access lifesaving medical help in-case of accidents, inform about traffic jams, speak to the base station, listen to music, be accessible to his family all through this device.
Team Speak:
The Ticket team is quite excited about its first such venture for India, winning the coveted award and are gung ho about the future of industrial design and its role in the burgeoning Indian creative economy.
The electronics for the product has been designed by Tata Motors (Electronics Division) and System/ Web Integration by Tata Technologies.
Reference:
https://www.ticketdesign.com/awards/