Biomimicry-driven Design for Sustainable Construction Equipment : Developing an autonomous sensor cleaning system

Sammanfattning: The reliance on fossil fuels needs to be fizzled out from every part of modern society. Construction equipment is one industry in which the transition away from fossil fuels is underway in favor of electric vehicles. The transition to electric vehicles is affecting the entire system of construction sites, including enhanced feasibility and incentive for increased autonomy. This thesis aims at identifying system-level design implications stemming from the electric transition of construction equipment. By using biomimicry and drawing inspiration from nature, the goal is to produce a functioning product that fulfills the requirements created based on the needs of the users. Within this thesis, Design Thinking is used to identify the needs in theconstruction equipment sector which are then used as the input for an iterative process of reverse biomimetics. The resulting concepts are tested and evaluated in several design sprints, the findings from which result in the final solution. Aided by the Design Thinking methodology human-centered approach, the solution is optimized for the users. A total of 25 needs were identified within eight different categories. A total of seven design sprints were conducted with the findings accumulating in a sensor cleaning system for autonomous vehicles inspired by the pendulum-like oscillating motion of mammals shedding precipitation. Biomimicry is identified as a promising tool to aid in the creative process by introducing novel perspectives and approaches to the problem space. The evolving development and use of autonomous constructionequipment results in the need for clear and unhindered sensor systems which the solution developed in this thesis provides.