Hello everyone!
After months of research, sketch, design and refine we are extremely excited to see the first prototypes of Jengu being manufactured!
The next stage in the development of the units is to gather feedback from people who have not been involved in the process so far.
To do this, we recently partnered with the British Army to trial the units during an Army Reserve training weekend in Dartmoor, England. We sent the units unassembled, and the Reservists used the assembly instructions to successfully construct the units.
Two units sat outside over the weekend, exposing them to rain, wind, dirt, and leaves. The units were put to the test at the conclusion of the exercise when group members removed layers of camouflage paint and weapon grease from their hands. The units were subsequently deployed overseas as part of a larger training exercise.
Through this exercise we identified several design improvements to enhance performance in a real-world environment. These included the stability of the unit on uneven ground, and preventing foreign bodies from obstructing drainage. The Reservists feedback indicates the design was intuitive and easy to operate, and that the mirror was useful for shaving and applying camouflage cream. Several of their comments were incorporated into the subsequent design iteration.
“The support from the Army and the level of enthusiasm and engagement from the troops was absolutely brilliant. I’m confident these insights will provide real benefits for the people we are trying to help.”
Tom Norton, Arup – Human Factors
Several units for adults and kids are also currently on display for testing on the Arup offices and additional trials in the field are being planned for the coming months.
