An ocean exploration platform for underwater experiences anytime, anywhere

Aalto Explorer

Aalto Industries Oy
Project Manager & Designer
Finland | 2017-2019

Exhibitions: Aalto University 10 years (2020), IFA Berlín 2019, World Ocean Day 2019 & Dubai Design Week 2018.

Contribution: ROV & floating module designs, ROV manufacturing, project plan structure, booth design, presentations & budget management.

The ocean covers nearly 70% of the Earth, yet, 95% remains a mystery. Aalto Explorer is an ocean exploration service-product platform. It enables anyone in love with the ocean to easily explore the deep sea from anywhere, anytime. Aalto Explorer is a project that began at Aalto Design Factory in the Product Development Project (PDP) course during the master's studies. The team "Findia" had ten master students from different schools between Aalto University in Finland and ISDI in India.

First time as a project manager

The product development required three main components: the remote-operated vehicle (FIND-X), a floating module, and the Aalto Explorer control platform. Based on the team skills and budget, I arranged the team into three subteams to define the hardware and software architectures, the UX interface, and the business model.

FIND-X 1.0 & 2.0

The prototypes' development was in one year. With a budget of 10,000 euros, the outcome was a functional prototype with simple functions that worked under real-environment conditions displayed for the first time during the summer PDP gala 2018.

FIND-X 3.0

After the project's results, in 2019, the company decided to continue with the next iteration of the prototype: FIND-X 3.0. The objective was to develop a robust prototype to attract investors by a crowdfunding campaign and launch the minimum valuable product to the market by the end of the year. The business model is a product as a service monthly subscription. Customers book an expedition time slot and choose one of the three different roles: captain, researcher, or passenger.