Stingray Stealthshot. Thesis Project. 2015.

Overview

A toy blaster that is mounted to the back of the hand. It has thumb triggers on both the right and left side as well as thumb guards.
Problem Statement: Design a product that is easy to use, cool, and useful for different game play styles commonly seen in the game Humans vs. Zombies (HVZ).
Stealth Features:
  • Unexpected silhouette is harder to identify from a distance.
  • Black and blue color scheme helps blend in at night.
Self Priming:
  • Internal mechanism primes the air pump allowing for one handed use.
Unhindered Palm:
  • Players can use another blaster as a primary, open doors, and pick up objects with the same hand the Stingray Stealthshot is mounted on.
Ambidextrous:
  • Can be used on either hand.

User Observation Examples

A single shot blaster strapped to the underarm of a user. The trigger has a pull string attached to it.
Custom hand blaster, stealth tactics.
A group of four users with hand drawn matching t-shirts. One of the blasters they have is a toy bow.
Low performing bow needs skill to use, “cool”, matching clan t-shirts.
A user with a large duct tape pouch filled with socks attached to their chest. The custom harness also has a phone pocket, a water bottle pocket, a box, and a roll of duct tape attached.
Custom sock harness.
A blaster with knotted socks wedged into its top carry handle. Next to it is a drawstring bag.
Socks wedged into blaster and sock bags.
A user with an extremely large blaster that has been painted black.
Painted blaster to “look cooler”.
A crowd of people with matching headbands listen to someone in the group speaking.
Large group tactics.

2D Initial Sketch Examples

A series of pen and marker sketches including a hand mounted blaster, a dart-fed bow, a glow-in-the-dark geocache bottle, a double clip attached in an H shape, a rail mounted phone holder and matching video recording/chat app, sock and large dart holders, and a blaster that shoots darts in all directions at once.

3D Selected Sketch Refinement

A line of quick foam models.
Form progression.
Foam model next to a plastic trigger mechanism from an already existing toy.
3D sketch next to internal mechanism.
Foam model on top of a hand.
Ergonomics testing.

CAD and Color Studies Examples

Early CAD rendering with different colors and patterns drawn on top.
Initial color studies examples.
CAD renderings with different graphic designs drawn onto them.
Detail exploration examples.
CAD renderings with same design drawn on them, but in different colors.
Color studies examples.
CAD rendering with colors and design included in the model itself.
Refined CAD model.

Feature Highlights

Refined model attached to users’ hand by two straps. Their thumb rests on one of the side thumb triggers.
Can be quick drawn with a thumb swivel.
Side view of refined model. The colors are black with teal and dark orange accents.
Bright color contrast matches target aesthetics.
Top view of model.
Five darts can be used as a primary or secondary blaster.
Front view of model. Triger guards are attached near the top of the blaster and arch over the side triggers.
Trigger guards protects against accidental firing.