Improving Usability for Novices in the Design of Mechatronic Devices: A Study Using Arduino Modules

Abstract

Due to the complexity of mechatronic system designs, research was conducted with the objectives of identifying issues encountered by novice users while using and learning to use these systems and providing recommendations on how to improve mechatronic system design. As part of the research, a networked mechatronic system that utilized Arduino Mega microcontrollers and custom printed circuit boards was created. A study was then designed using this mechatronic system with the intention of eliciting feedback relevant to the study objectives. To investigate the research objectives, three research questions were identified. These questions investigated what concepts inherent to mechatronic design were identified by novices, what effect real-time feedback had on mental workload, and whether effort was the highest contributor to mental workload. The study provided participants with a scenario where they were to set up the mechatronic system in an ‘autopilot’ configuration on a model representative of an aircraft. To address the second research question, two instruction sets, or manuals, were created: a control set providing delayed feedback and an experimental set providing instantaneous feedback. The experiment was conducted with 16 student participants identified as novice users, split evenly into a control group and an experimental group based on participant number. Eleven of the participants were from an engineering background and five were from a non-engineering background. Mental workload was measured during the experiment using the raw NASA task load index. Participant information was taken during a pre-experiment questionnaire and responses were recorded during a post-experiment interview and debriefing session. The study found that mental workload was affected by the system designer’s ability to communicate information through their design, and that most issues identified by novices were deficiencies in clarity, simplicity, transparency, consistency, and/or context. Similarly, recommendations on how to improve designs for novice users related to the same five concepts. Additionally, it was identified that designers should use clear and concise universal language in all communication and include accurate pictorial references to enhance user understanding and visualization.