Welcome to our series on the five (5) stages of the Product Development (PD) life cycle. Navigating the complexities of engineering cutting-edge technology throughout the entire product development life cycle, from initial concept to full-scale production, sets a solid foundation for a successful product launch.
In this series, we highlight the PD engineering journey to describe how integrating our engineering services with Valve Corporation helped them realize their vision to innovate VR gaming hardware to launch the Valve Index VR system. Join us as we explore the progression of the interdependent stages that underpin end-to-end engineering success.
In the first blog, Stage 1: Requirements, we discussed setting a solid foundation for success through exploratory work and defining key performance requirements. This next blog explores building on that foundation to define and confirm product feasibility.
Proof of Concept: Robust Hardware Development & Iterative Prototyping
Creating a proof of concept (PoC) is a critical milestone in the product development life cycle, where ideas start to take physical form. At this stage, our engineers define the product architecture and develop targeted prototypes to validate product feasibility and refine requirements to meet ambitious goals.
Defining product architecture
At the heart of any successful PoC is a robust product architecture. For Valve’s VR hardware, this meant designing a scalable and flexible system that could accommodate the latest VR technologies. AC collaborated with Valve’s engineering team to define a comprehensive architecture that included sensors, optics, haptics, and user interface components. This foundational work was crucial in guiding the subsequent development phases.
Objective: Component definition confirms technical design and scalability.
Early Prototype Drawing of the VR Head-Mounted Display Technologies
Developing targeted prototypes
Prototyping is where theoretical designs are tested. AC’s Integrated Engineering Teams (IET) worked alongside Valve to develop prototypes that embodied the envisioned product features. These prototypes were iterated based on feedback from internal testing and user studies. For Valve, the focus was on creating a prototype that demonstrated technical feasibility and innovative UX design.
Objective: Iterative prototypes demonstrate functional and UX design feasibility.
VR Head-Mounted Display Prototypes
Validating product feasibility
Feasibility validation involves rigorous testing to ensure prototypes meet the defined requirements. AC conducts extensive tests on prototypes to evaluate performance, durability, and user experience (UX). For Valve, this meant ensuring their VR hardware could deliver high-resolution visuals, precise motion tracking, and comfortable ergonomics. This phase confirms that a product can be realized within the constraints of current technology and manufacturing capabilities.
Objective: Prototype testing confirms functional and UX performance.
Confirming product requirements
As prototypes take shape, revisiting and refining the product requirements is essential. AC facilitated workshops with Valve to review the findings from the prototype testing and make necessary adjustments to the requirements. This iterative process ensured that the final product would meet the highest quality and user satisfaction standards.
Objective: Prototype refinements are tested to meet functional and user satisfaction requirements.
Determining compliance requirements
Compliance with industry standards and regulations is critical for any hardware product. At this stage, we identify and address all relevant compliance requirements, including safety certifications and regulatory approvals. It’s crucial to ensure that new technologies, like VR hardware, are ready for global markets without any regulatory hurdles.
Objective: Compliance requirements are identified and integrated into product development plan.
Is your concept ready for engineering validation?
We helped Valve ensure a thorough proof of concept for its VR hardware, laying a foundation for design success.
