Mechanical Design of a Service Dongle
(2026) MMKM05 20261Innovation
- Abstract
- This master’s thesis investigates the system-level and mechanical design of a new service dongle for ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems AB. The service dongle is a handheld Bluetooth tool used by service technicians worldwide to configure, service, and troubleshoot automatic door operators such as sliding, swing, and revolving doors. Currently, two solutions exist: the Configuration Tool Interface (CTI) developed by ASSA ABLOY and the Wireless Door Interface (WiDI). The WiDI was developed by Agta Record AG which has been a part of the ASSA ABLOY Group since 2019. The CTI is considered outdated and does not meet current user needs, while the WiDI is generally appreciated. The aim of this project was to develop a unified product that fulfills... (More)
- This master’s thesis investigates the system-level and mechanical design of a new service dongle for ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems AB. The service dongle is a handheld Bluetooth tool used by service technicians worldwide to configure, service, and troubleshoot automatic door operators such as sliding, swing, and revolving doors. Currently, two solutions exist: the Configuration Tool Interface (CTI) developed by ASSA ABLOY and the Wireless Door Interface (WiDI). The WiDI was developed by Agta Record AG which has been a part of the ASSA ABLOY Group since 2019. The CTI is considered outdated and does not meet current user needs, while the WiDI is generally appreciated. The aim of this project was to develop a unified product that fulfills technical requirements and user needs across both organizations.
The project followed an iterative product development process consisting of five phases: planning, understanding, generating, evaluating, and refining. User needs were identified through interviews with service technicians, product specialists, and test engineers, conducted in Sweden and Switzerland, complemented by field observations to better understand the real-life usage of the tool. The collected needs were translated into target requirements and used to decompose the service dongle into smaller subproblems. For each subproblem, several design solutions were developed through brainstorming, sketching, rapid prototyping and systematic evaluation.
Four complete design concepts were created and refined into physical prototypes, which were subjected to internal testing. The evaluation included drop tests, mounting tests, assembly tests and user feedback from technicians at both ASSA ABLOY and Record. The results indicate that, particularly regarding attachment to the door operator, flexibility, robustness, and ease of use are the most critical factors for a positive user experience. Solutions combining a rigid hook with a magnet were consistently preferred by users.
The thesis concludes with a final design recommendation and outlines the remaining steps required to prepare the selected concept for industrial production. The results provide a strong foundation for continued development of a unified, robust, and user-centered service dongle for ASSA ABLOY. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9233524
- author
- Larsson, Adam LU and Bergsten, Alexander LU
- supervisor
-
- Damien Motte LU
- organization
- course
- MMKM05 20261
- year
- 2026
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Service Dongle, Sliding Doors, Design in Thermoplastics, User Needs Investigation, User Feedback
- language
- English
- id
- 9233524
- date added to LUP
- 2026-06-12 12:47:09
- date last changed
- 2026-06-12 12:47:09
@misc{9233524,
abstract = {{This master’s thesis investigates the system-level and mechanical design of a new service dongle for ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems AB. The service dongle is a handheld Bluetooth tool used by service technicians worldwide to configure, service, and troubleshoot automatic door operators such as sliding, swing, and revolving doors. Currently, two solutions exist: the Configuration Tool Interface (CTI) developed by ASSA ABLOY and the Wireless Door Interface (WiDI). The WiDI was developed by Agta Record AG which has been a part of the ASSA ABLOY Group since 2019. The CTI is considered outdated and does not meet current user needs, while the WiDI is generally appreciated. The aim of this project was to develop a unified product that fulfills technical requirements and user needs across both organizations.
The project followed an iterative product development process consisting of five phases: planning, understanding, generating, evaluating, and refining. User needs were identified through interviews with service technicians, product specialists, and test engineers, conducted in Sweden and Switzerland, complemented by field observations to better understand the real-life usage of the tool. The collected needs were translated into target requirements and used to decompose the service dongle into smaller subproblems. For each subproblem, several design solutions were developed through brainstorming, sketching, rapid prototyping and systematic evaluation.
Four complete design concepts were created and refined into physical prototypes, which were subjected to internal testing. The evaluation included drop tests, mounting tests, assembly tests and user feedback from technicians at both ASSA ABLOY and Record. The results indicate that, particularly regarding attachment to the door operator, flexibility, robustness, and ease of use are the most critical factors for a positive user experience. Solutions combining a rigid hook with a magnet were consistently preferred by users.
The thesis concludes with a final design recommendation and outlines the remaining steps required to prepare the selected concept for industrial production. The results provide a strong foundation for continued development of a unified, robust, and user-centered service dongle for ASSA ABLOY.}},
author = {{Larsson, Adam and Bergsten, Alexander}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Mechanical Design of a Service Dongle}},
year = {{2026}},
}