Rx1 Controlador IOT by Travis Baldwin is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award de Ferro in Disseny de Tecnologies de la Informació Competition Category.

FerroTecnologies de la Informació· 2021

Rx1 Controlador IOT

by Travis Baldwin

Client: Crea Inc Design Ltd.

A' Design Award de Ferro Winner in Tecnologies de la Informació Category

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The Design

About Rx1 Controlador IOT

Rx1 és un controlador de seguretat que connecta lectors d'accés i panys, i decideix si es permet l'accés. La unitat es munta sobre un carril DIN dins d'un armari elèctric, de manera que la seva forma és contenida i s'adapta a aquest context. Uns gràfics impresos mostren quin cable es connecta a cada pin del connector, i uns LED indiquen quin connector presenta una avaria. Un atri intern i unes obertures laterals de ventilació refreden el processador quan la carcassa es munta a la paret. Les plaques de LED se situen molt a prop de la superfície, cosa que elimina la necessitat de guies de llum. La carcassa està fabricada amb plàstic resistent a les flames.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Ferro

Rx1 Controlador IOT és un guanyador del guardó A' Design Award de Ferro, un reconeixement prestigiós concedit a bons dissenys que compleixen els requisits professionals i industrials esperats de creacions ben dissenyades. Els guanyadors de Ferro demostren una gran habilitat, una alta especialització, una comprensió experta i la capacitat creativa dels seus creadors. Es preveu que Rx1 Controlador IOT sigui una creació molt apreciada, admirada i estimada que és pràctica i innovadora. Aquest disseny guanyador del guardó A' Design Award de Ferro integra les millors pràctiques del sector i té característiques tècniques competents lligades al coneixement i al talent. Rx1 Controlador IOT és respectat per la seva minuciositat i està pensat per oferir millores en la qualitat de vida que ajuden a fer del món un lloc millor.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Aesthetics set Rx1 apart from other products in its category, but are appropriate for the context.
Embodies brand building design features that can be reused for other products (info/brand face, vents, & rounded form).
Atrium cooling strategy is optimized for cooling the processor in wall mounted orientation.
Innovative led mount strategy eliminates light pipes. Graphics allowing clusters of remote led.
Ease of use via graphics indicating what circuit has issues and easy din mount install.
Dimensions & Packaging: Overall size is 8.0 x 4.5 x 1.75in (203.5 x 114.8 x 44.5 mm). It is made from Flame resistant plastic and is optimized for UL safety. Rx1 controls two doors and two access devices, plus connectivity on Ethernet RJ45. System status is indicated by led for each plug and a status indicator relaying information. There is a hidden reset button and a tamper sensor indicating unauthorized access. Various DIN rail mounts can used and have been specified/ configured for ease of accessibility. Wiring is easy to using phoenix plugs. Powered by Rasberrry Pi cm4, it replaces the Hirsch Mx1.
Tags: Security, Controller, DIN, IOT, Badge Access, Door Locks, Access Control
Production Technology: The product is made up of custom built electronics and plastics, as well as off the shelf parts. The electronics schematic was started when ID started, consisting of a Raspberry Pi compute pcb and an I-O pcb. As we developed device architecture concepts and each was evaluated for easy of use, aesthetics, and performance. When a form was chosen, the design was developed from the outside-in, ie. We started with best form in respect to setup, mounting, servicing, and information architecture. The pcb layout architecture was driven by this, and is an example of design led engineering.
Design Challenge: The hardest part was to create appropriate design for the context. DIN rail spaces in electronics closets are not visible and hide unsightly devices. Design styling that is dramatic or overdesigned would waste the mfg costs as it would not be seen and may turn customers away from company products. Perceived value of the product would be directly influenced by the design styling. It should appear a high quality performance product, based on solid engineering and not flash. Design challenges were cooling, access to DIN mounts, and fitting text on the top surface.
Research: Primary and secondary research were employed for the Rx1 design. Two research objective were to create a good user experience build an appropriate design language for the category. Usability research came from the client, installers, and forums. Valuable info such as the reliance on flat head screwdriver installation and importance of diagnostic led. For styling, date came from competitive audits, style reference, and company brand. Learnings were that the vent area could be a brand feature, and the distinctive red color is important to represent.
Inspiration: Inspiration was tasteful design that stands out from competition, but is not overdesigned nor compromises ease of use - Rx1 is a highly functional product and lives in device closets among other utilitarian products.
Brief was to not "design a box" but have appropriate style for context. Also to build brand design language including prominently displayed brand graphics such as red circle motif.
Inspiring products were consumer routers and external hard drives, particularly with vents.
Project Duration: The project was started in November 2020, in both Bristol, UK and Santa Ana, California. The project was finished in March 2021, is in manufacturing now, and will be released in Spring 2021.
Operation Flow: Rx1 is a security controller linking access readers and locks, and making decisions on allowing access. The device is mounted in an electronics closet, only opened if there is an issue. During install, Rx1 is attached to a Din rail, among other devices. Inputs and outputs are wired using phoenix plugs (multiple wires fixed with screws, then plugged in). Printed text indicates what wire goes to which plug pin. During diagnostic, LEDs indicate which plug has a fault. To remove, the DIN mount is disengaged from the wall with either a flat head screwdriver or via depressing a spring release.
Team Members: Industrial Designer: Travis Baldwin
Program Manager: Mark Allen
Electrical Director: Bryan Gordon
Engineering Director: Christopher Karr
Image Credits: Image #1 : Industrial Designer Travis Baldwin, Overhead, 2021
Image #2 : Industrial Designer Travis Baldwin, See Through, 2021
Image #3 : Industrial Designer Travis Baldwin, In Context, 2021
Image #4 : Industrial Designer Travis Baldwin, Details, 2021
Image #5 : Industrial Designer Travis Baldwin, Exploded, 2021