User-Centered Helm Design : Designing a Holistic HMI Concept for the Future of the Combat Boat 90

Sammanfattning

The helm of the Combat Boat 90, originally designed in the 1990s, has seen limited development since its introduction. As operational demands evolve, there is a growing need to modernize the helm to better support the driver and meet the requirements of modern naval missions. Dockstavarvet, the manufacturer of the vessel, has identified this need and initiated the development of a new helm concept to improve both ergonomics and functionality. In this master’s thesis, we explore and design a holistic HMI concept for modernizing the helm of the Combat Boat 90. The primary aim is to enhance the operator’s experience through improved usability, layout, and interaction design. By applying a user-centered and iterative design process, including interviews, observations, and literature reviews, a deeper understanding of the current challenges and user needs was established. These insights laid the foundation for a creative phase, where multiple ideas were generated, evaluated, and refined. The outcome of this project is a unified concept combining elements from 14 concept ideas into one cohesive and future-oriented design concept. The concept is presented through detailed 3D models and renderings to illustrate how a modernized helm can support better decision-making, situational awareness, and operator comfort. This thesis was conducted in collaboration with Dockstavarvet and Knightec by two master’s students in Industrial Design Engineering at Luleå University of Technology during the spring semester of 2025.