Northeastern Electric Racing’s interface on their 2025 all-electric formula vehicle.
Catherine Kennedy
Lead Designer
Peyton McKee
Head of Data Visualization
Matthew Wang
Lead Developer
Northeastern Electric Racing designs and constructs all-electric formula-style vehicles for annual collegiate competitions. An on-board GUI displays real-time data in order for engineers and drivers to tune the 2025 competition vehicle for maximum performance.
High Contrast
At Spring and Summer competitions, direct sunlight is unavoidable. Drivers and engineers must be able to read the display regardless of the sun’s position.
Extreme Legibility
The display for NERO is very small; just 800 x 480 pixels. Information on the display must be readable without strain, particularly when the vehicle is being driven.
Intuitive Iconography & Coloring
Drivers must be able to digest information whilst driving at high speeds.
Modularity
NERO should be adaptive to the needs of the drivers and engineers.
Vehicle Testing
In order to identify and solve issues, engineers require access to every datapoint the vehicle is collecting during testing sessions.
Static & Dynamic Competition Events
The team will need to demonstrate NERO’s driver risk notification system to competition judges. Competitions are comprised of endurance, autocross, and acceleration events, each requiring distinct data be communicated to the driver to maximize performance.
Setting Requirements
Preliminary Design
Design
Review & Refinement
Developer Handoff
Continuous Improvement
Navigation Screen
Constant Indicators
The vehicle's high-voltage and low-voltage systems' statuses, driver communications indicator, and transmission state are visible across all screens.
Efficiency Mode
Color Customization
In an effort to make the NERO UX a bit more fun, drivers can select a primary color they'd like the display to be.
Glanceable Design
Bright colors and bold icons allow drivers to see key data in their periphery without taking their eyes off the track.
Steering Wheel Controls
NERO is not touchscreen; rather, drivers can navigate between screens using the buttons and paddles on the steering wheel.
Performance Mode
Real-Time Information
During autocross and acceleration runs, drivers can see their run times directly from the vehicle's transponder.
NERO remains in development through the Spring 2025 competition season.
Updates coming soon...
