Ideating a co-cleaning solution for the elderly
concept
Senti is a service and product designed for Electrolux that helps seniors maintain a clean home effortlessly through an intelligent robot assistant that adapts to their needs and limitations.
info
Umeå Institute of Design
Electrolux
David Bertl, Isabelle Olsson
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.
of seniors prefer cleaning assistance over full automation
average time spent cleaning per week for seniors
report physical discomfort after cleaning sessions
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 02 - The Butler
A hidden solution controlled through a display panel
Concept 03 - The Workshop
Combining two cleaning robots together
Concept 04 - The Smart Bits
An easy to access solution
Physical Interaction
Seamless integration in every home
Blending in like any other piece of furniture
Ergonomics that fit both humans and robots
The design was shaped by human physiology, ensuring the handle feels accessible to users with limited dexterity or joint stiffness.
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.
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.
Process & Prototyping
Ergonomics refined through prototyping
Rapid prototyping and testing
