Dara Afraz portrait
Dara Afraz
Product Strategy · Agentic AI · Design Systems

Real-Time Ground Station Telemetry UI for Autonomous Race Car

Objective

Design a ground station interface for real-time monitoring and control of an autonomous race car. The interface needed to display key vehicle data, provide map views, and allow interaction to control vehicle behavior, supporting operators in making quick decisions during race conditions.

Key Requirements

  • Real-time data visualization
  • Cross-platform compatibility (Linux, macOS, Windows)
  • Modifiable by undergraduate/graduate students
  • Handle UDP data from the vehicle and display essential metrics

Design Challenge

Balancing complex telemetry data with an intuitive interface, ensuring critical information was easy to access without overwhelming the user. The design needed to be highly intuitive, modular, and cross-platform while maintaining smooth real-time updates.

Project Goals

  • Clear, easy-to-understand interface for quick decisions in high-pressure situations
  • Modular and adaptable design for future updates by students
  • Seamless operation on Linux, macOS, and Windows
  • Smooth, real-time visualization of critical data
  • Interactive controls (engine start, speed input, trajectory selection)

Research & Discovery

Initial Research

Competitive research on existing telemetry interfaces in autonomous vehicles and motorsports, identifying challenges in data overload and usability.

Key Insights

  • Operators need immediate access to critical metrics (speed, position, system health)
  • Users require smooth real-time updates with no delay
  • Customization and flexibility in data display are essential

Design Objectives

  1. Prioritize critical data (speed, RPM, race mode) for visibility and accessibility
  2. Modular, adaptive system for rapid iteration and future extensibility
  3. Simple, intuitive layouts and controls for accessibility by non-experts

Design Process

  1. Research: Input from students, race engineers, and UI/UX experts
  2. Prototyping: Wireframes and high-fidelity prototypes in Figma and PyQt for early user testing
  3. Iteration: Refinement based on user feedback, focusing on clarity and real-time interaction

Final UI Breakdown: Data Metrics & Indicators

  • Local Map: Real-time display of the team’s race car and nearby cars within a 100-meter radius
  • Full-Track Map: Shows the entire racetrack and all car positions
  • Vehicle Planner & Telemetry: Critical telemetry (speed, RPM, battery, race mode, system status, planning status), engine controls, and speed input
  • Data Plots: Real-time graphs for control heading errors, lateral errors, steering, GPS, RTK Diff Age, throttle, and brake
  • Safety Monitor: System statuses and safety alerts (Soft Stop, Emergency Stop) with color-coded indicators

User Testing & Feedback

  • Critical data prioritization and real-time updates were highly appreciated
  • Operators found the interface intuitive for adjusting key parameters
  • Modularity valued for enabling future iterations by students and engineers

Conclusion

  • Delivered an intuitive, elegant interface balancing critical data visualization with ease of use
  • Prioritized key metrics, ensured smooth updates, and provided simple interaction options
  • Modular Figma system allows future modifications while maintaining clarity and usability
  • Design is open to further improvements based on feedback and real-world constraints