Austin Niemi 



FLUKE BUGS Fluke Bugs are wireless, bluetooth / wifi compatible tools that magnetically attatch to nearby surfaces— allowing for long-term, remote data measurement. 

STUDIO SPONSORED BY Fluke Corporation


 TEAM
Jessy Irvine 
& Kalin Sivolella

DURATION
10-weeks
Fall 2024


WHAT IS FLUKE?
Fluke creates professional test and measurement tools such as multimeters, thermal cameras, and network testers—used across electrical, industrial, HVAC, and energy industries. 

PROJECT OBJECTIVE
 Design a new tool for Fluke that serves one of their core professional industries.















By 2033, the United States will need 475,000 solar workers, nearly double what we now have.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be only a 22% growth in solar photovoltaic installers between now and 2032.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/eliamdur/2024/08/05/huge-shortfall-in-solar-workers-is-our-own-fault/














Any inneficiencies in a PV technicians daily workflow are felt exponentially as a result of the labor shortage. 

So, what problems do solar workers encounter?









WILL WHITE Solar Farm Subject Matter Expert “Fluke has a unique position in solar as one of the only 
  companies that has tools for practically every test”

Pain points: + Gaps and inefficiencies 
in communication between solar workers + Restricted access to remote capabilities, data, and support + Decentralized CMMS software causes fragmented workflows






STEVEN ERRICKSON Regional Manager @ Pearce Renewables “Fluke Connect is great, as long as you don’t need to be far away”

Pain points: + Heavy workload burden strains the few technicians + Fluke Connect struggles with long term measurement + Not enought tools that show interactive, live data









 
What is Fluke Connect (FC) ?
‘Fluke Connect is a software tool designed to digitally collect, store and view measurements from Fluke wireless test tools and condition monitoring sensors.’





[APP STORE REVIEWS]





“Good hardware, lousy software”

“I want to record for an extended amount of time. The app will not let me do this. The whole purpose is that I do not have to babysit and monitor this process”

“We just want to view real time data remotely, for safety or accessibility”










[KEY PROBLEMS]

Disconnected  
Confusing CMMS softwares  Workload Burden
Long, often tedious hours
Cluttered UI
Unnecessary FC features










[THE PROBLEM]


With a shortage of PV technicians, every minute matters. Some troubleshooting requires monitoring output over hours or days, and technicians can’t afford to babysit equipment or leave their phones behind to capture long-term data in Fluke Connect.



















How might we design a tool that seamlessly integrates with existing solar tools to streamline workflows, reduce data delays, and provide real-time, cross-functional access to long-term measurement data through an enhanced Fluke Connect app?












[DESIGN CRITERIA]




01 Rugged
02 Portable
03 Sleek














[PROCESS—SKETCHES]

























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[PROCESS—FORM EXPLORATION]











[PROCESS—FORM REFINEMENT]














[SYSTEM DIAGRAM]











  

FLUKE BUGS  

What is it?
A wireless, Bluetooth / WIFI compatible tool, that magnetically attaches to nearby surfaces, recording and uploading data.

Why?
 Some problems can’t be immediately diagnosed, especially within the solar industry. With Fluke Bugs, PV techs won’t have to surrender their phones for an extended amount of time when running long term measurements. They’ll have more time to attend to other issues on in the field, while also being able to see the data being taken in live time from their phones. 




























PORTABLE  The compact case is designed for a seamless fit in any pocket while keeping a low profile. It securely stores and charges four Bugs—two for the junior PV tech and two for the senior tech. Albeit small, each Bug can be easily handled with gloves on.














CONNECTED 
Fluke Bugs bridge the gap between your preexisting tools and your phone, making remote measurements effortless. With both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, they offer a powerful range and keep logging data— even when you’re off-site. 













VERSATILE  Fluke Bugs easily attach to surfaces throughout a solar farm— whether it’s an inverter box, mounting structure, tool, or even a solar panel. The magnetic design keeps them securely in place, ensuring they stay within range of Fluke Connect compatible tools.













[FLUKE CONNECT APP REDESIGN]





VIEW ANIMATION FOR FULL PROTOTYPE 





[FINAL MOCKUP]


















Special thanks to my team—Jessy Irvine and Kalin Sivolella—our professor, Meichun Liu, and the wonderful folks at Fluke.





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@2025