The flagpole on a submarine : Product development with a user centered approach to reduce risk and support crew members in their work

Sammanfattning

This thesis explores how end-user needs can be integrated into product development within submarine environments, despite strong client- and system-driven constraints. The project focuses on improving safety, ergonomics, and usability for submarine crew members. The assignment was conducted in collaboration with Saab Naval, a business area that develops products, services, and solutions for military defense, with a primary focus on the naval domain. The project was divided into four phases following the Double Diamond approach: Discover, Define, Develop, and Deliver. The Discover phase involved identifying the problem area and gathering information through contextual inquiries and focus group sessions. The Define phase focused on understanding the problem through methods such as storyboarding and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA). The Develop phase began with divergent thinking, generating multiple solutions through workshops, brainstorming sessions, and prototyping, followed by convergent thinking, where one concept was selected. Finally, the Deliver phase focused on refining and finalizing the chosen concept. On the current submarines, the flagpole must be manually removed each time the submarine dives and transitions to a submerged state. Due to the heavy weight of the current solution, this process causes significant physical strain and introduces unnecessary operational risks. To address these challenges, a new lightweight concept was developed, featuring improvements to the tip, mast connections, cleat, and material selection. The final concept balances usability, safety, and operational requirements, contributing to a safer, more efficient, and more sustainable working environment onboard.