Ways Out

Foldable Vehicle Recovery Tool

A portable rescue product for outdoor drivers, integrating a traction recovery board and a snow shovel through an origami-inspired folding structure.

Hardware Product Outdoor Driving Product Definition Award Recognized

Ways Out flat traction board and folded shovel state product render on a dark background.

Role Product Lead

Focus Opportunity discovery, product definition, concept development and implementation.

Scene Integrated recovery solution for snow, mud, sand and unpaved roads.

Outcome

02 / Background and Opportunity From vehicle rescue pain point to product opportunity

Outdoor driving creates a new recovery problem.

As SUV use, off-road culture and self-driving travel grow, vehicles face more snow, mud, sand and unpaved conditions. Recovery capability becomes a real product need, not an optional accessory.

Vehicle tire stuck in snow and mud. — Getting Stuck Risk **Off-road driving on snow, mud and sand can trap tires before traction recovery begins.**

Outdoor vehicle trunk packed with recovery equipment. — Storage Challenge **Separate boards, shovels and emergency tools compete for limited vehicle cargo space.**

Problem 01

Functional Separation

Traditional recovery requires both a recovery board and a snow shovel. The user carries two tools for one emergency workflow.

Problem 02

Storage Complexity

Multiple independent tools increase trunk occupation, equipment management and pre-trip carrying cost.

Problem 03

Fragmented Workflow

A real recovery task moves from obstacle removal to traction restoration, but existing tools split that flow apart.

Product Opportunity

Move from isolated rescue tools to one integrated product that covers the full vehicle recovery process.

03 / Product Strategy Defining the product direction before defining the form

From tool combination to scenario solution.

Ways Out is positioned as a compact emergency product for outdoor drivers. It combines obstacle clearing and traction recovery in one foldable object, improving rescue efficiency while reducing equipment load.

01Reduce carried equipment complexity

02Improve the recovery operation flow

03Optimize limited vehicle storage space

User Scenario Vehicle stuck in complex road conditions

Core Tasks Clear obstacle + restore traction

Product Solution Dual-function foldable recovery tool

Physical Form Folding structure + dual-surface design

Feature Module Problem Solved Product Value

Folding transformation Too many tools Integrated storage and conversion

Snow shovel mode Obstacle clearing Removes snow and mud before recovery

Traction board mode Wheel slip Restores grip under the tire

Anti-slip texture Weak recovery contact Improves friction and escape effect

04 / Solution Design Explaining the design outcome through product logic

One structure, two working states.

The product stores as a flat recovery board and folds into a three-dimensional shovel form. That physical transformation is the core product mechanism.

Flat Ways Out recovery board product render. — 01 **Flat Traction Board**
Stores as a compact board with raised friction elements for tire contact.

Folded Ways Out shovel product render. — 02 **Folded Shovel Form**
Converts into a three-dimensional shovel surface for clearing snow, sand or mud.

How To Use Fold the flat recovery board into a shovel form before clearing the wheel path.

Ways Out flat board before folding. — Step 1

Ways Out side panels folding upward. — Step 2

Ways Out folded into shovel form. — Step 3

Ways Out traction board perspective detail render.

Ways Out handle hole close-up detail render.

Bump texture

Increase friction through protrusions to assist the vehicle in escaping from a difficult situation.

Handle hole

The board has a hole reserved at the end for easy gripping when used as a snow shovel.

Inclined plane

When used as a bailout board, it is convenient for the wheel to press on the board.

01Vehicle Stuck

02Take Out Tool

03Clear Obstacle

04Convert Function

05Recover Vehicle

Ways Out folded and stored in a vehicle cargo area with transformation outline.

Storage Mode

Vehicle Storage Mode

Leveraging origami geometry to achieve a 2D-to-3D transformation from a traction mat to a snow shovel, the product streamlines recovery and optimizes in-vehicle storage through structural integration.