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Designing for Change in Complex Systems: Design Considerations for Uptime in a Transportation System with Driverless Vehicles
KTH, School of Industrial Engineering and Management (ITM), Engineering Design.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-5162-3775
2023 (English)Licentiate thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

The transportation system is undergoing a transformation to enable socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable transport solutions, and driverless trucks are considered one innovation that can contribute to a more sustainable and efficient transportation system. Nevertheless, introducing driverless trucks will cause disruptions in the system, and one considerable change is that the driver is no longer present. The effects of removing the driver from the transportation system are little explored, but it is reasonable to argue that it will affect the system design, such as how system actors interact, their relationships, and how they need to be organized.

The fault-handling system is one crucial subsystem that enables uptime in the transportation system and is the system that provides activities that maintain vehicle health. Such activities can be maintenance, repair, and vehicle monitoring services. However, the fault-handling system provides service centers with experienced technicians, diagnosis and troubleshooting tools, maintenance planning support, and fleet management. Thus, maintenance and repair can be put in the context of a service.

Service design methods have been applied in this thesis to generate insights regarding the fault-handling system today and to develop a concept of how a future system for driverless trucks could be designed. The study has involved interviews with system actors, generating patterns, and understanding the system today, and Scania experts have been engaged in creating scenarios. Later, those were used during a workshop to explore the present system and co-create a desired future. Moreover, a prototype was developed to perform interventions. 

This thesis has two purposes: to explore how design methods can contribute to changing complex socio-technical systems, such as the transportation system, and to explore what design considerations are needed to support uptime when manually driven trucks become driverless. The questions explored are: how can design methods be used to contribute to changes in socio-technical systems, such as the transportation system? How may a system for fault-handling and decision-making be designed to support uptime in a transportation system with driverless vehicles? What is the driver's role concerning uptime in the transportation system?

The driver's role in the fault-handling system can give insight into how the system is structured today, such as existing mental models, relationships, institutional arrangements, and other aspects to consider when redesigning it for driverless trucks. The study showed that the driver has a significant role in the fault-handling system considering five themes: 1) fault detection, 2) decision-making, 3) information exchange, 4) information retrieval, and 5) tacit knowledge and experience. The themes were further developed into considerations for redesigning the fault-handling system for driverless trucks.

This thesis contributes to Scania's development as a provider of sustainable transport solutions and, specifically, how the fault-handling system can be designed for the future transport system. It also gives insights into how design can be used as a tool at Scania when studying disruptive innovation. The results have derived new insights and questioned existing assumptions regarding the fault-handling system, which can be the beginning of questioning existing mental models in the organization because of the change.

 

Keywords: Driverless vehicles, vehicle health management, service design, system transformation, complex socio-technical system.

Abstract [sv]

Transportsystemet genomgår en förändring för att möjliggöra socialt, miljömässigt och ekonomiskt hållbara transportlösningar, och förarlösa lastbilar anses vara en innovation som kan bidra till ett mer hållbart och effektivt transportsystem. Införandet av förarlösa lastbilar kommer att påverka transportsystemet, och en betydande förändring är att föraren inte längre är närvarande. Effekterna av att ta bort föraren från transportsystemet är föga utforskade, men det är rimligt att hävda att förändringarna kommer att påverka systemdesignen. Såsom hur systemaktörer interagerar, deras relationer och hur de behöver organiseras.  

Servicemarknadssystemet är ett avgörande delsystem som möjliggör drifttillgänglighet i transportsystemet och är det system som tillhandahåller aktiviteter som upprätthåller fordonshälsa. Sådana aktiviteter kan vara underhåll, reparation och fordonsövervakning. Men servicemarknadssystemet förser även servicecenter med erfarna tekniker, diagnos- och felsökningsverktyg, underhållsplaneringsstöd och flotthantering. Underhåll och reparation kan alltså sättas i ett sammanhang av en tjänst. 

I denna avhandling har tjänstedesignmetoder använts för att generera insikter om dagens servicemarknadssystem och för att utveckla ett koncept för hur ett framtida system för förarlösa lastbilar skulle kunna utformas. Insamling av data har skett genom intervjuer med systemaktörer, identifiering av mönster och teman för att skapa förståelse om systemet med förare. Scaniaexperter har varit engagerade i att skapa olika felscenarier som användes en workshop för att utforska det nuvarande systemet och samskapa en önskad framtid. Dessutom utvecklades en prototyp för att utföra interventioner. 

Detta arbete har två syften: att utforska hur designmetoder kan bidra till att förändra komplexa sociotekniska system, såsom transportsystemet, och att utforska vilka designöverväganden som behövs för att stödja drifttillgänglighet när manuellt körda lastbilar blir förarlösa. Frågorna som utforskas är: hur kan designmetoder användas för att bidra till förändringar i sociotekniska system, såsom transportsystemet? Hur kan ett system för felhantering och beslutsfattande utformas för att stödja drifttillgänglighet i ett transportsystem med förarlösa fordon? Vilken är förarens roll när det gäller drifttid i transportsystemet? Att studera förarens roll i servicemarknadssystemet kan dessutom ge förståelse för hur systemet är uppbyggt idag, såsom befintliga mentala modeller, relationer och institutionella arrangemang, och andra aspekter att ta hänsyn till vid design för förarlösa lastbilar. Studien visade att föraren har en betydande roll i servicemarknadssystemet, vilket presenteras genom fem teman: 1) feldetektering, 2) beslutsfattande, 3) informationsutbyte, 4) informationssökning och 5) tyst kunskap och erfarenhet. Temana utvecklades vidare till rekommendationer för design av servicemarknadssystemet för förarlösa lastbilar.

Denna avhandling bidrar till Scanias utveckling som leverantör av hållbara transportlösningar och specifikt hur servicemarknadssystemet kan utformas för framtidens transportsystem. Avhandlingen ger också insikter i hur design kan användas som ett verktyg på Scania när man studerar disruptiv innovation. Resultaten har gett nya insikter och ifrågasatt befintliga antaganden om servicemarknadssystemet, vilket kan vara början på att ifrågasätta befintliga mentala modeller i organisationen som en effekt av förändringen. 

 

Nyckelord: Förarlösa fordon, fordonshälsa, servicedesign, systemförändring, komplexa sociotekniska system. 

 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Stockholm: Kungliga Tekniska högskolan, 2023. , p. 103
Series
TRITA-ITM-AVL ; 2023:27
National Category
Transport Systems and Logistics Design
Research subject
Machine Design
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-337208ISBN: 978-91-8040-720-5 (print)OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-337208DiVA, id: diva2:1800676
Presentation
2023-10-26, Gladan/ https://kth-se.zoom.us/s/63888583756, Brinellvägen 83, Stockholm, 14:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Funder
Vinnova, 2021-05033Available from: 2023-09-28 Created: 2023-09-27 Last updated: 2025-02-24Bibliographically approved
List of papers
1. Design of an intelligent post-diagnosis decision support system for highly automated trucks
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Design of an intelligent post-diagnosis decision support system for highly automated trucks
(English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

For human-driven trucks transiting to highly automated ones, we need to make the post-diagnosis decision-making more automated and intelligent, which is critical for vehicle reliability and transport efficiency. For this purpose, we learn from industry practitioners to depict the current post-diagnosis decision-making process in the truck industry and identify the gaps between the current practice and a desired future in a highly automated context. We also design an intelligent post-diagnosis decision support system using advanced technologies to bridge critical gaps. Based on a real-world freight delivery scenario and a risk-based decision-making approach, a concrete instance of the decision support system design is presented as a case study, including the design of graphical user interfaces. This work is mainly for adapting the post-diagnosis decision-making of trucks to a highly automated context and substantially increasing the performance and quality of the decision-making process.

Keywords
Highly automated trucks, Post-diagnosis decision-making, Decision support system, Industry practice, Gap analysis, System design
National Category
Transport Systems and Logistics
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-326533 (URN)
Funder
Vinnova, F8974
Note

QC 20230504

Available from: 2023-05-04 Created: 2023-05-04 Last updated: 2023-09-27Bibliographically approved
2. A conceptual system design framework of a fault handling system for driverless trucks
Open this publication in new window or tab >>A conceptual system design framework of a fault handling system for driverless trucks
(English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Driverless trucks are seen as a potential innovation that could contribute to a more sustainable freight transport system, for example, by enabling more efficient use of the fleets. However, fleet efficiency depends on high availability, or uptime, of the vehicles, and uptime might be hampered if the human driver is removed. Today, the human driver has an important role in fault-handling activities, such as maintenance and repair services, which are essential for maintaining high uptime. This paper explores how fault-handling systems for driverless trucks may be designed to achieve a high level of uptime, and a conceptual design framework is proposed. Additionally, the paper explores the role of an intelligent decision support system for these ends. We have used service design methods such as semi-structured interviews, workshops, and service scenarios, and we have taken inspiration from the Integrated Vehicle Health Management framework. In the study, we assumed that driverless trucks may be supported through a remote control center and that different actors, such as fleet management operators and repair workshop personnel, can interact with the trucks remotely. The study has resulted in an action network map for the fault-handling system design, a service scenario to illustrate the fault-handling process for driverless trucks, and five themes of consideration for the proposed system design framework. The results may be used when exploring the transformation of the transport system. 

National Category
Transport Systems and Logistics
Research subject
Transport Science, Transport Systems
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-337205 (URN)
Funder
Vinnova, 2021-05033
Note

QC 20231002

Available from: 2023-09-27 Created: 2023-09-27 Last updated: 2023-10-02Bibliographically approved
3. Design of diagnosis service system for self-driving vehicles - Learnings from the driver’s role today
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Design of diagnosis service system for self-driving vehicles - Learnings from the driver’s role today
2021 (English)In: 2021 Global Reliability and Prognostics and Health Management (PHM-Nanjing), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 2021Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

The driver plays an essential role in detecting and handling vehicle faults, and he/she is an important actor in the diagnosis service system. When developing self-driving vehicles, exploring the driver’s role could create knowledge regarding which reconsiderations are needed when designing a driverless diagnosis service system. A service design research study has been performed regarding the driver’s role in fault detection and troubleshooting. Based on semi-structured interviews and a workshop, a system map, information flowchart, and decision-making process have been developed. Furthermore, a scenario is used to exemplify how a control tower can support a diagnosis service system for self-driving vehicles. Examples are given of how a control tower operator can replace actions and decisions that today are handled onboard by the driver. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 2021
National Category
Transport Systems and Logistics Design
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-307577 (URN)10.1109/PHM-Nanjing52125.2021.9613093 (DOI)2-s2.0-85123396186 (Scopus ID)
Conference
2021 Global Reliability and Prognostics and Health Management (PHM-Nanjing), 15-17 Oct. 2021
Funder
Integrated Transport Research Lab (ITRL)
Note

QC 20220530

Part of proceedings: ISBN 978-166540130-2

Available from: 2022-01-31 Created: 2022-01-31 Last updated: 2025-02-24Bibliographically approved
4. Designing for change in complex socio-technical systems
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Designing for change in complex socio-technical systems
2022 (English)In: Expanding the frontiers of design: A blessing or a curse? / [ed] Gabriela Goldschmidt and Ezri Tarazi, Wiley , 2022, p. 478-491Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

The purpose of this paper is to increase our understanding of how designers perceive the past and future development in the discipline. Moreover, the paper explores the designer's role in working with system transformation and transition. The research study builds on interviews among designers working both as consultants and in-house designers and on observations in a research project at the truck manufacturer Scania. Not many years ago, designers strived to have a strategic impact in client organizations, which demanded an increased understanding among other disciplines about how the design process can contribute beyond the aesthetically appealing product. Thus, to contribute on a strategic level, designers needed to work in a multidisciplinary manner, involving other disciplines in the client firm. Moreover, as design thinking received increased attention among clients, it added to the understanding of design processes and methods, enabling clients to understand and integrate different perspectives, the end-user among others, in their work. As client firms began to adopt design thinking, designers were not only asked to facilitate interdisciplinary workshops but also coach and teach the design process and methods to employees at the client firm. Businesses, as well as public organizations, face new challenges, and the offerings have become more complex. Designers are involved in activities aiming for change in complex socio-technical systems as organizations are undergoing a servitization with changes in business models and involving more actors in the value-creating network. In the paper, we exemplify how design methods and processes may contribute to system transformation and transition. However, we also describe a shift in the designer’s role from working in an interdisciplinary manner with the aim to understand other stakeholders to become a stakeholder in transdisciplinary work applying methods from the system thinking field.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Wiley, 2022
National Category
Design Transport Systems and Logistics
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-310369 (URN)
Conference
13th Design Thinking Research Symposium Haifa, Israel , 22-24 Mar 2022
Projects
Uptime for driverless vehicles
Funder
Vinnova, 2018-02713
Note

QC 20220620

Part of proceedings: ISBN 978-965-599-948-8

Available from: 2022-03-29 Created: 2022-03-29 Last updated: 2025-02-24Bibliographically approved

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