SousChef is a personal sous vide cooker and kitchen assistant. It improves on existing sous vide cookers by combining everything you need in one device - therefore making it easier and more convenient to use.
A survey of 180 participants was carried out to identify users as well as their habits, experience and preferences.
Observation and analysis of users and existing products including their experience of using them was used to indentify design requirements.
From the wide array of users identified and interviewed, 3 personas were created to represent uniqie overall themes.
Personas help to keep the core needs and desires of users in mind throughout the design process, ensuring an end product which delights.
3 formal concepts were developed and presented, each with a unique design direction to the problem.
The chosen concept was taken forward and developed to improve the design and user experience.
Test rigs and models were used to validate design features to ensure their suitability and manufacturability.
Augmented Reality (AR) was used to share designs with users and get their feedback. CAD models could be previewed in situ to help demonstrate the scale and design features.
The designs were modelled in Solidworks, converted to a mesh, textured and animated in Blender, and finally packaged using Apple's AR Kit within XCode.
SousChef combines everything you need to cook sous vide into a single device, making it easier and more convenient to use.
SousChef performs three functions to help you prepare, cook and store food.
SousChef has been designed for manufacture with a sheet metal sub frame which the internal components are fixed to.
A plastic extrusion encases the sub-assembly and injection moulded components complete the rest of the frame.
A working prototype was made to validate the design and demonstrate the functions of SousChef.
The prototype consists of an acrylic enclosure with a PC water tank. It features a 2200W thick film heating element, brushless water pump, DC vacuum pump, 4x load cells. Temperature readings and control logic is handled by an Arduino which communicates with a Raspberry Pi over serial. The Pi operates the touchscreen interface, displays readings and sends commands to the Arduino.
In addition to the working prototype, a 3D printed prototype was produced to convey the design's form.
The visual prototype features working push-release and auto-recoiling mechanisms to help demonstrate the user interaction elements of the design.
Sous Vide is an increasingly popoular method of cooking which ensures perfectly cooked food every time by submerging vacuum packed food in a precisely controlled water bath.