Applications of a camera monitoring system replacing truck mirrors : An investigative study in the automotive industry

This report covers a master thesis in Industrial Design Engineering at Luleå University of Technology (LTU). The thesis has been performed on behalf of Volvo Group Trucks Technology (GTT) and focuses on developing further application for use in a Camera Monitor System (CMS) replacing rear mirrors in trucks.The CMS could be the next evolutional step of the rear mirrors used in trucks today, increasing the truck drivers direct and indirect vision when driving while also having less aerodynamic resistance compared to regular rear view mirrors and hence in extension decreasing the trucks fuel consumption. Within CMS is an opportunity given to add tools and supporting functions for truck drivers to use in their work situations. This master thesis follows a user centered design process aimed to investigate, develop and present possible supporting functions to the CMS both relevant to the truck drivers working tasks and CMS main function.The project has been structured in six different stages; Research where a thoroughly theoretical study has been performed in subjects relevant to the master thesis project; Need analysis, gathering ethnographical data of truck driver behavior based on observations and interviews; Ideation, generating output of ideas for future concepts through workshops and creative methods; Conceptualization, Where concepts have been developed and evaluated; Implementation and Completion, where final concepts have been created, evaluated and implemented in an early stage prototype.The final result of this project is a concept containing several different applications developed to aid the truck driver in their common occurring work tasks. The concept is presented in descriptive text and visually in pictures in three different application packages, Awareness, Reverse assist and Bodybuilder, each one addressed toward different aspects of truck driving. The final concept has been evaluated using an early stage prototype of experienced truck drives. The projects result and outcome is finally discussed in the report were also several recommendations for eventual future work is given.Validerat; 20160630 (global_studentproject_submitter