Automatic Screwdriver Model Prototype

This last week, I took on the challenge of designing and creating a low-fidelity model prototype of an automatic screwdriver with several features, such as an automatic screwdriver head selection mechanism and a screen which keeps track of how many screws have been screwed/unscrewed. The main goal was to make a tool designed like OXO, which is known for applying universal design principles to make well-designed and easy to use tools for cooking.PlanningTo start, I did a quick competitive analysis on other automatic screwdrivers to see what common design elements were used across this tool.

Some were very simple and looked very similar to a normal screwdriver, but with a button to automatically unscrew/screw. Others were more advanced, having systems to change the overall shape of the screwdriver between a normal and a drill like shape or being turned on using a gyroscopic mechanism to tell which way you are turning the screwdriver. I really clung to the idea of being able to easily change between a traditional and drill shape, because that would make it a lot easier to use in several different positions and orientations.

After deciding on my main design form, I wrote up a list of requirements that I wanted my design to be able to do. The main goal I had was for it to work and feel the exact same no matter shape it is in. To do this, I decided that the buttons, switches, and screens would work the exact same between the two different shapes.

The most novel design choice that made this possible was to have 2 different screens: one on the end of the screwdriver that would be active when the screwdriver is in its normal shape and one in the middle of the screwdriver that becomes viewable when the screwdriver is in its drill shape. This way, the screen is easily viewable in both shapes, so the experience of using its features does not change between the two shapes. Though this may not be an especially cost-effective solution, it does make the screwdriver much more usable and adjustable.

After deciding on my main requirements and design choices, I started to draw some quick sketches of how I wanted the screwdriver to look like. I also drew out what the different screens and touchable elements would look like.Initial PrototypeAfter drawing out my main ideas, I attempted to make my first prototype out of materials I had in my house, which only consisted of a few toilet paper rolls and a paper clip.

I attached two toilet paper rolls with a paper clip, which I form to feel like a trigger, which would control the variable speed control. I also drew on buttons to act as a switch between screwing and unscrewing. I tried to use stick notes to imitate the screen, but they did not easily fit onto the ends of the toilet paper rolls.

I tested this prototype in its different shapes and on different wall positions/orientations to confirm that the main actions (viewing the screen area, pressing the trigger, and switching the screwing direction) were easy to do while using it. I also made sure that these actions could be done easily whether the user was right or left handed.Second IterationOnce I confirmed the model and form was easy to handle and use in different positions, I reiterated on my prototype using stronger and more diverse building materials, like cardboard, tape, velcro, etc.

In this iteration, I decided on the size of the model and the main types of buttons. The screwdriver is fairly large, but definitely still felt easy to grip, use, and easily access all the buttons/functionality. I felt like it would be large when actually created so that the top half could hold several different screwdriver heads and so that the screen would not be too small to see/interact with.

I filled the empty middle parts of the model with pinecones to imitate the added weight and ability to tightly grip the model. I decided on a pressure-sensitive button for speed control instead of a trigger because it made the model easier to grip in different positions. I imitated this using a piece of paper that was scrunched to feel more like a spring.

I made a switch using tape, paper, and a paper clip so that the user can easily switch between screwing and unscrewing during use. I made a hinge so that the model could easily switch between the two shapes, but it was slightly weak and did not hold its shape very well. I tried using magnets to have it hold its regular shape better, though they were not strong enough.

I chose to do a final iteration of this design to fix this issue and to make it look cleaner overall.Final IterationMy final iteration cleaned up all the details from the second iteration and also created the main screens. In this iteration, I added colors to make it cleaner and signify the physical parts of the screwdriver you can interact with.

I added velcro to the middle of the screwdriver so that the middle could easily change shapes and hold its form. I also added it to the bottom the bottom so that the model could easily fit into a new rechargeable stand I made for it. The velcro also had the added effect of making it easy to place and replace the paper screens I made to imitate the digital displays of the screwdriver.

The digital displays would always be displayed on the screwdriver no matter what mode it was in. The digital display had two major functionalities: to allow the user to automatically change the screw head and to show the user the how many screws they have screwed/unscrewed. The head selection screen allowed the user to tap or swipe between different screw heads and different sizes for the screw heads.

The screw counter screen allowed the user to see how many screws they had screwed/unscrewed, and reset each count individually on a button tap. The buttons at the bottom of each screen allow the user to easily switch between the two screens.User Test and CritiquesAfter completing my final iteration, I had a friend test out my prototype.

First, I gave him the prototype and let him explore it and try and figure out what each major part of the screwdriver did. Then I gave him a fake task of trying to fix an amplifier using the model, with the added difficulty of starting out with the wrong screw head and size. He seemed to understand how to do the task and how to utilize my prototype to do so.

This user test is available here. I also showcased my work to my class for feedback and critiques. For the most part, people thought my prototype was easy to use and enjoyed the novelty of it having two digital displays.

Most people really liked that it was designed to be used in the same way for both different shapes. The only real critique I got was that one person could not easily grip the bottom. For a final product, I would make the bottom half get skinnier towards the middle while remaining larger at the ends.

This way, it would be easier to grip while keeping the space at the ends necessary for the screens. Overall, I really enjoyed this exercise and the ability to iterate multiple times on my ideas. Using cardboard and other low-fidelity materials was really fun, but after seeing the creative ways my classmates utilized these materials, I think I could one day re-iterate on this project and make it look/feel even better