senti
sentielectrolux

Ideating a co-cleaning solution for the elderly

concept

Senti is a service and product designed for Electrolux that enables seniors to maintain a clean home effortlessly through an intelligent robot assistant that adapts to their needs and limitations, designed with Samsung Bot ergonomics in mind.

info

Umeå Institute of Design

Electrolux

David Berl, Isabelle Olson

Nicolò Vincenzi

2023

3 weeks

Context & Research

Cleaning is a lot of effort, especially for seniors
Senti assists, without removing humans from the equation

Co-cleaning keeps older adults involved. They still decide what gets cleaned and take on the parts they can manage, instead of handing the whole routine to a robot. The WHO physical activity fact sheet makes a similar point for older adults.

user preference
0%

of seniors prefer cleaning assistance over full automation

time spent
0.0h

average time spent cleaning per week for seniors

physical impact
0%

report physical discomfort after cleaning sessions

Robot
Human
Robot

Concept Development

Direction Exploration

Senti is an intelligent cleaning assistant that adapts to seniors' needs. We explored multiple directions before converging on a fixed docking station solution.

Concept 01 - The Bucket

A fixed docking station for all cleaning tools

Concept 01 - The Bucket

Concept 02 - The Butler

A hidden solution controlled through a display panel

The Butler

Concept 03 - The Workshop

Combining two cleaning robots together

The Workshop

Concept 04 - The Smart Bits

An easy to access solution

The Smart Bits

Physical Interaction

Seamless Integration in every home

Blending in like any other piece of furniture

Senti docking station in home context
Senti docking station bag detail
Senti docking station lid detail

Ergonomics that fit naturally, both humans and robots

The design was shaped by human physiology, ensuring the handle design feels accessible to users suffering from limited dexterity and joint stiffness.

Ergonomic studies for the physical handle
Process and ergonomics exploration
Physical handle interface

Ideating a complete automated cleaning solution

Our goal was to design an intelligent cleaning assistant that works alongside seniors, understanding their limitations and adapting to their daily routines.

Complete automated cleaning solution ecosystem

Senti respects your belongings

The companion app gives seniors full control of their cleaning robot.
They can filter which objects Senti should avoid and customize the safety radius around fragile or precious items.

Air Cleaning
Object Library

Process & Prototyping

Ergonomics that fits humans and robots

Rapid prototyping and testing

User interface mockup testing
Team prototyping and testing ergonomics
Final prototype interaction
Physical prototype testing