ASSISTS
Electronic soccer passing trainer
Team:
Skills:
Northwestern Interdisciplinary Design Project Group working with NU Men's Varsity Soccer Team
Design for assembly, quick prototyping, standardized performance and user testing
In the news:
Assists gives high level soccer players an effective way to practice passing when they are alone.
It is a system of electronic targets that mimics the variability of open players in a soccer game and records data on accuracy and timing of the pass.
Prototyping and Iteration
We made many prototypes by adapting existing products or re-using scrap materials found in the shop in order to test quickly and often. I learned how to make effective models that were robust to the impact of a soccer ball and could teach us a lot in a short amount of time.
ITERATIONS 1-4
FINAL DESIGN
User and Performance Testing
We organized and performed standardized testing to gain feedback on how the user interacted with the design and how the design reacted to the stresses from impact. I gained experience in writing test plans and observing users to get useful insights.
Final Design
It was very robust to the impact of a hit from a soccer ball and overcame the challenge of getting a lightweight frame to stay in place on turf through the use of "cleats" along the bottom that went into the turf when hit.
Early Iteration
Final Design