When Cincinnati Test Systems developed the Sentinel IX5, they didn't just need a software supplier for the GUI, they needed a partner to redefine the user experience of their most advanced leak test instrument. While the IX5 offers more test methods and higher performance than ever before, the primary challenge was human-centric: How can engineers and testers operate such a feature-rich device quickly and confidently? CTS engaged TARA Systems to lead the entire UX transformation, from initial research to the final production-ready GUI.
Deep Domain Understanding & UX Strategy
The project started not with coding, but with listening. Our UX experts worked closely with CTS to deeply understand the daily reality of test specialists. By analyzing how users configure pressure, flow, and vacuum leak tests, TARA’s GUI experts were able to:
Simplify complex workflows
by translating multi-step test sequences into logical, intuitive screen flows.
Design a robust information architecture
that provides clear access to key parameters without overwhelming the operator.
Create advanced data visualizations
like multi-graph views and live gauges that make real-time test data easy to understand at a glance for fast shop-floor decisions.
A standout element of TARA Systems' service is the ability to deliver high-end design within technical boundaries. The GUI Services Team leveraged the power of Embedded Wizard to implement a smooth, responsive UI that others might think impossible on a microcontroller. This technical excellence ensured that CTS could maintain a cost-effective hardware platform while offering a premium, smartphone-like touch experience.
Over a three-year iterative process, TARA Systems worked as an extension of the CTS development team, supporting the project end to end. The collaboration ranged from UX consulting and early prototyping to validate concepts and ensure market fit, through the implementation of a high-performance graphical user interface optimized for the hardware platform, to close integration support that ensured seamless interaction with the instrument’s core logic. The result is a flagship product that has achieved high customer satisfaction, making powerful leak testing faster to configure, easier to understand, and more efficient to operate through TARA Systems’ guidance.
Sentinel IX5 - UX Designed for Precision and Control
The Sentinel IX5 demonstrates how a modern, user-centered interface turns complex leak testing into an intuitive and efficient experience. Developed in close collaboration with CTS, the new UX enables fast access to critical information, streamlined test setup, and confident shop-floor operation. The video highlights the Embedded Wizard–based interface, intuitive navigation, and advanced visualizations, showing how powerful leak testing functions, such as pressure and vacuum decay, mass flow, and volume verification, can be configured and controlled with ease.
