Integrated responsive System

Master Project

IRS

Future public transportation

In the dynamic landscape of urban environments, the burgeoning density and the inherent unpredictability of commuting flows have sparked numerous uncertainties regarding the most effective solutions for addressing urban mobility in the years to come. Enter IRS (Integrated Responsive System), a visionary approach to urban transportation.

IRS envisions an innovative urban transportation system built on modular autonomous units, each possessing the capability to emulate a multitude of services. This concept aims to offer a flexible and adaptable alternative, perfectly attuned to the evolving needs of urban dwellers.

By harnessing the power of modular autonomy, IRS aspires to revolutionize urban mobility, providing a seamless and responsive transportation experience. The integration of diverse services within these autonomous units ensures a comprehensive solution that can dynamically adapt to the ever-changing demands of urban life.

Project Packground

Participating in a collaborative workshop hosted by Wissensee Kunshochschule Berlin, the University of Potsdam, and sponsored by BMW, I, as a Master's student, explored the integration of artificial intelligence in the future of mobility.

Within the workshop's limited timeframe, I developed a preliminary conceptual approach to the future of mobility. This initial exploration fueled my determination to delve deeper during my final project. I focused on refining the overall concept of the Integrated Responsive System (IRS), with a particular emphasis on the intricate details related to vehicles, user interactions, and potential integration into urban environments.

This focused effort not only enhanced the conceptual framework but also contributed to a nuanced understanding of the project's key components. My role in the IRS project reflects a commitment to advancing innovative transportation solutions at the intersection of art, technology, and mobility, shaping a vision that holds the potential to redefine urban landscapes.

Stage 1: Trends.

The Future City: Navigating Challenges in Urban Evolution

Envisioning a potential doubling of populations in select cities, the future unfolds with a host of challenges centered around space optimization. Concurrently, the evolving vision for livable environments seeks to reclaim urban territories for interaction, nature, and recreation, prompting a substantial reduction in public space traditionally dedicated to transportation.

In alignment with these principles, many mobility forecasts anticipate a future where personal vehicle ownership becomes obsolete, placing public transportation at the forefront. However, the inherent inflexibility of conventional public services faces heightened scrutiny, given the unpredictable nature of our evolving commuting habits and associated activities.

In contrast, the complementary role anticipated from new platform services, while flexible in service offerings, inadvertently contributes to the saturation of streets with vacant vehicle fleets. This phenomenon negatively impacts the urban context by consuming valuable space.

Consequently, a significant uncertainty looms over the optimization of future prevalence vehicle fleets. Balancing the provision of massive on-demand transportation with the necessary flexibility for diverse activities remains a pivotal challenge in shaping the future of urban mobility. Striking this delicate balance is essential for ensuring efficient, adaptable, and space-conscious transportation solutions that cater to the evolving dynamics of our urban landscapes.

“People’s mobility habits are evolving dramatically: the number of journeys they take is increasing, the frequencies and amplitudes of these trips are changing, and even the purpose of mobility is evolving beyond the traditional function of work/school commuting.”

Little, Arthur D. (2018). Future of mobility 3.0. “Reinventing mobility in the era of disruption and creativity” (P. 23)

Contextualizing the IRS Project: Unveiling the Essence of Urban Commuting

Beyond the conventional review of available documentation, the initial phase of the Integrated Responsive System (IRS) demanded a deep understanding of the context of use. This went beyond mere observation, aiming to explore a real-life scenario and establish guidelines for a prospective landscape.

To capture the essence of commuting within Berlin, various explorations traversed the city. This approach not only served as an alternative to comprehend real-case scenarios but also laid the groundwork for defining guidelines in preparation for the future. However, the culmination of these efforts came with the selection of a specific scenario—the route between the stations of Bernau and Berlin Mitte.

This deliberate choice allowed for a meticulous mapping of user journeys, transcending the limitations of mere documentation. The specificity of the selected route enabled a nuanced observation, unveiling details critical to understanding the present dynamics of commuting. Through this immersive process, I was able to recognize subtleties and intricacies that would have been impossible to grasp through documentation alone. This invaluable context became the bedrock upon which the conceptual proposal was built, ensuring a thoughtful and user-centric approach in the development of the Integrated Responsive System.

What if a single unit could seamlessly emulate multiple services—Private, Shared, and Public? Instead of expanding fleets to meet varying demands, imagine the ability to transfer capacity dynamically between services.

Stage 2: Ideating.

Building Blocks

As we navigate the challenges of space optimization, the concept of multifunctional indoor spaces, exemplified by micro-apartment furniture, emerges as a guiding principle. Drawing inspiration from this, we can redefine the role of vehicles, particularly leveraging the blank canvas that autonomous technologies offer for vehicle interior design.

In envisioning IRS units as autonomous vehicles, the proposal embraces the idea of a multifunctional internal space capable of emulating a diverse range of commuting services. This encompasses considerations for cargo, comfort, privacy, and a myriad of complementary utilities.

The potential for units to interact within a fleet expands the scope of service configurations even further. However, this exploration initially focused on three distinct alternatives:

Private: This premium variation allows users to commute across the city using a self-defined route. The experience is characterized by a high level of personalization, including control over lighting, window tint, and even entertainment and productivity complements.

Shared: Slightly more economical, this variation mirrors carpooling systems. Users can commute along on-demand routes, sharing the space with a small group. While lacking personalization options, it ensures that each occupant has a designated seat.

Public: Representing the most cost-effective alternative, this option involves commuting along a massive on-demand route with fixed stops. Personalization options are limited, as the focus is on maximizing capacity within the defined interior space.

This strategic exploration not only responds to the evolving needs of urban commuters but also lays the foundation for a versatile and adaptable transportation system. The synthesis of innovative interior design and autonomous technologies within the IRS project represents a paradigm shift in redefining the user experience in urban mobility.

Design Challenges

The concept of creating a multifunctional space that can perform various tasks while maintaining a harmonious environment necessitates a thorough exploration of spatial constraints and vehicle packaging. Additionally, it demands careful consideration regarding usability and a cohesive design language, encompassing elements such as materials, colors, and textures.

The private and shared modes alter the internal structure by concealing handrails and establishing an environment that promotes comfortable seating positions.

Since the exterior design of the units lacks a directional form language, those in public mode can position themselves in various setups to ensure access from both sides of the system.

Stage 3: Interaction.

IRS Platform.

Given the varied levels of interaction users establish with the system, this project required an exploration of a platform. This exploration aimed to understand the different stages of a journey and the available alternatives to mediate between user needs, individual units, and the entire system.

For a detailed account of the UX/UI development, please refer to the following link

Final Takeaways

What I learned

For my final project, IRS serves as a demonstration of my ability to interconnect concepts explored throughout the entire program, envisioning a coherent alternative that systematically responds to the challenges perceived during the documentation review.

This journey allowed me to explore various levels of complexity concerning how technology transforms our approach to design projects. It is crucial to recognize that, beyond the impressive advances in technology, the concepts of user experience, and particularly in this case, the idea of livable cities, provide precise guidelines to orient proposals in human-centered terms.

Simultaneously, considering the increasing role of digitalization, I gained firsthand insights into how interfaces not only serve as alternatives to enhance interaction but also profoundly influence the design process of tangible realities with which they are intended to interact.