MAXI 3D
A collaborative platform, built around the digital twin of machines, offers technicians a new way to understand complex forestry machines. With part structures becoming visualized and interactive, experience is shared during operations, and the technical threshold is quietly lowered.
DURATION
4 weeks
MY ROLE
UX Design/User Research
TEAM
Tianqi Xiong, Anjuli, Arvid
Field Research
Forestry is vital to Sweden’s economy and society, equipment failures in this productivity-driven sector lead to significant losses, making mechanics essential in minimizing downtime.
However, the complexity of logging machinery creates high entry and communication barriers for new technicians. The lack of standardized training and repair solutions further contributes to a labor shortage in this critical role.
In this project, we cooperated with KOMATSU and visited their factory, workshop and actual working environment, and collected some valuable information.
From an interview with a KOMATSU technician, we learned that new mechanics often seek help from experienced colleagues rather than using the knowledge base, which is underutilized due to its low accessibility, poor visualization, and the hands-on nature of the job.
Accessibility of platforms
finding the right information
input obstacles
tons of experience locked in their head
Definition
Therefore, we want to enhance mechanists' working experience in 3 scopes according to time and relevance.
Based on the above discussion, we constructed a working platform centred on information visualization. The centrepiece of the platform is a digital twin of the logging machine.
With simple clicks and swipes, mechanics can zoom, rotate, and highlight parts on a 3D model to access needed information. Integrated screen sharing and communication tools also allow them to visually indicate issues to senior technicians, reducing the struggle of explaining complex problems verbally.
Previously, mechanics had to type repair evaluations after each task, often delaying it due to harsh weather and fatigue. We introduced a voice-recognition AI that allows quick audio input with one click. This enables other technicians to access relevant insights when facing similar issues—promoting knowledge sharing and improving workflow efficiency.
We also conclude our design into three key values and list all the function modules which are related:
Improvements
before - after
Scalability