DiDi Sponsored Project
UI/UX Design
HMI Design
AI/ML
TIMELINE
May-Aug 2024
14 Weeks
TEAM
Effie Zhu
Hongming Li
Sam Lu
Batuhan Sutbeyaz
Bianca Zhuang
ROLE
User Research
Technical Research
UI/UX Design
Prototyping
Storytelling
Project Managing
TOOL
Figma
Blender
Solidworks
Keyshot
Runway
Teachable Machine
challenge
Our Vision
DiDi Robotaxi is more than just a ride — it’s a shift in lifestyle.
Why San Francisco?
When choosing the ideal city for our robotaxi launch, we looked for a place with a real need for better transportation and a population with enough income to make robotaxi a viable daily transit option.
Inefficient Transit System
Public transportation has limited operating area and time.
There are limited options for “last-mile transportation.”
There are always traffic jam on the highway.
Current Transit is Costly
Current ride-hailing service is expensive for everyday use.
San Francisco has the #2 annual parking cost, $2801, in the U.S.
The average gas price, $4.97, is the #6 in the U.S.
High Demand
for Commute
120,000 workers commute into the Bay Area each day.
33% of the workers had a commute of 15-29 minutes.
42% of the workers had a commute of 30-44 minutes.
Top US Median House Income
San Francisco
San Jose
Seattle
Washington
San Diego
Austin
Denver
Boston
136,692
133,835
115,409
101,027
100,010
89,415
88,213
86,331
How is Current Ride Experience?
We researched the current ride-hailing service and identified its pain points to understand what our experience needed to deliver.
Mostly
Solo Rides
In most cases, passengers ride alone, and trips with more than two people are rare.
Personalized Control
User wants to have more personalized control during the ride, such as music and AC temperature.
Drivers Act as
Tour Guide
For tourists coming to a place, the drivers usually introduce places that only local people know, such as restaurants.
How AI & Machine Learning Can Help?
We wanted to tap into the opportunities AI and machine learning bring when sensors, LiDARs, and cameras play the role as a human driver in the vehicle. To explore non screen-based interactions between users and the robotaxi, we experimented with gestures and poses as inputs. As a proof of concept, we trained a model using Teachable Machine.
How might we reimagine mobility to provide an intuitive experience with tailored user preferences?
Flexible Seating
Mobo is a compact two-seater robotaxi. The main seat is placed between the wheels for maximum comfort, while the foldable second seat creates extra space when riding solo.
Reserve Ride for Your Schedule
Mobo App integrates with the user's calendar. When a user adds an event, our AI assistant automatically suggests reserving a ride for that event.
Guide To Your Car
For every ride, Mobo generates a unique PIN made up of colors and words, displayed on both the app and the front of the vehicle. This makes it easy for users to quickly identify their robotaxi.
Immediate Response
Users can interact with the robotaxi through conversation. Voice interaction feels more natural and intuitive than tapping buttons on a screen of a moving vehicle, making it easier and more accessible for our users.
Adapt to Your Needs
By using the front and side windows as HMI screens, the in-vehicle environment—such as visibility and brightness—automatically adapts to the user’s behavior and preferences. The user interface also adjusts to both internal and external conditions to enhance the experience.
Dark mode
Work Mode
Enhance Your Ride with Immersion
When the surrounding window screens dim, the robotaxi can provide an immersive experience throughout the ride. Users can watch movies, TV shows, or sports games on the screen.
