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Google, a leading technology company, collaborated with Speck Design on Project Tango, an ambitious initiative to develop a tablet capable of real-time 3D mapping of physical environments. This project challenged conventional design and technology to create an intuitive, groundbreaking device for a new era of spatial interaction.
In designing the Google Tango tablet, our industrial design team concentrated on form and functionality, ensuring seamless integration of sophisticated sensor arrays for 3D mapping. The design had to accommodate the unique camera array while maintaining user comfort and device usability. Inspired by ergonomic principles used in game controller design, we developed a soft grip scoop on the tablet's rear. This design allowed users to comfortably hold the device without obstructing the camera, facilitating unimpeded 3D scanning. Additionally, we incorporated front-facing speaker grills and a wedge-like profile, combining aesthetics with functionality. Our design not only optimized the tablet's 3D scanning and mapping capabilities but also enhanced the overall user experience through thoughtful hand placement and device orientation.
The electrical engineering challenge in the Google Tango project was to integrate a complex sensor array into a user-friendly tablet format. Our team worked meticulously on the placement and orientation of the cameras and sensors to enable accurate environmental mapping. The landscape orientation of the tablet, driven by the camera's horizontal layout, was a critical factor in our electrical design. We ensured that the tablet's electronics supported the required camera angles and sensor placements, enabling precise 3D mapping. Our electrical engineering efforts were pivotal in realizing the vision of a tablet that could seamlessly capture and interpret the physical world in digital form.
In the realm of mechanical engineering, our task was to build a tablet that was robust enough to house the advanced technology of Google Tango while remaining user-friendly. The mechanical design had to support the unique layout of the camera array and sensor suite without compromising the tablet's structural integrity. We achieved this by engineering a raised handle feature that not only provided a secure grip but also housed the sensors in a visually compact and unified design. This ergonomic handle ensured that users could comfortably and intuitively interact with the tablet, enhancing the overall usability and experience of the device.
