Defense
Pioneering ground autonomy for defense.
Overland AI Frontend software for off-road autonomy.
Category
- Defense
- Technology
- Mobility
Overland AI partnered with Teague to design an intuitive user interface that would leverage the full potential of their off-road autonomous technology in high-stakes military applications.
Challenge
Real-world capabilities for tactical operators.
With its potential to save lives and improve military mobility, off-road autonomy has long been of interest to the Department of Defense. But complex realities like uneven terrain and diverse obstacles have complicated its development. As a result, most combat vehicles today are driven by soldiers who, at times, must put themselves in harm’s way.But Overland AI, a startup specializing in off-road autonomous systems, has developed an AI-powered technology stack capable of changing defense operations forever. To ensure seamless use by tactical operators in the field, Overland AI turned to Teague to quickly design and build a mature frontend interface to bring its world-class technology to life.
Approach
Speed through collaboration.
A demanding timeline required real-time collaboration. We launched the project with a two-week design definition sprint, working closely with Overland AI to identify fundamental user needs and objectives . To establish design themes and guidelines that were contemporary and on-brand, we conducted a market analysis of military, professional, and commercial interfaces. A key insight from this phase was the stark contrast in usability between military-grade interfaces used by soldiers in the field and the more intuitive interfaces they encounter in their personal lives, like those on smartphones, game consoles, and cars.
With a clear vision for the user experience in place, our team moved into the development phase. We worked in sync to code the design, making smart, efficient adjustments along the way. At the same time, we collaborated closely with Overland AI’s backend developers to ensure their API supported each essential feature, avoiding any unnecessary development on either end.
Solution
Consumer-grade usability meets defense hardware.
In a matter of months, Teague delivered frontend software that remotely manages off-road vehicles outfitted with Overland AI’s platform, supporting key functions including vehicle mapping; robot telemetry and tasking; live video streams; and multi-vehicle management tools. The software’s contemporary and approachable interface leverages familiar design patterns from the commercial world, such as those found in modern navigational tools for backcountry exploration. This intuitive design will help warfighters work more effectively in the field while also reducing training time and costs.
In creating a user experience that is both military-grade and intuitive, Teague provided critical support for Overland AI’s work with the Department of Defense. This interface enables operational end users to seamlessly coordinate off-road ground vehicles running on the startup’s autonomy stack to ultimately deliver mission success.
