Researcher
Programmer
Industrial Designer
Clever Buddy
A robot designed to alleviate negative emotions and provide companionship
A robot designed to alleviate negative emotions and provide companionship
Our companion robot is designed to provide emotional support and companionship to individuals facing mental health challenges. Leveraging advanced artificial intelligence and robotics technology, our robot offers personalized interactions tailored to the user's emotional needs and preferences. Whether it's providing a listening ear, offering words of encouragement, or engaging in interactive activities, our companion robot aims to alleviate feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression. With its user-friendly interface and intuitive design, users can easily interact with the robot to access a range of mental health resources, including guided relaxation exercises, mood tracking tools, and access to professional support services. Our product is not only a source of comfort and companionship but also serves as a valuable tool for promoting self-care, resilience, and emotional well-being.
Researcher, Industrial Designer & Programmer:
Industrial Designers:
Individuals struggling with mental health issues, particularly those who experience challenges during and after the pandemic due to COVID-19 social restrictions, are among the primary users of this product.
This includes individuals grappling with feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression exacerbated by prolonged isolation and disruption to regular routines.
While this project was developed without a specific client, it holds potential interest for various stakeholders:
To synthesize the secondary research, we have created a map that visualizes relevant information about loneliness and negative emotions that intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. This map encompasses a variety of related topics, including associated health problems, observed signs and symptoms, existing solutions, technological advances, underlying causes of loneliness, and the various stakeholders involved in the ecosystem. By providing a visual and structured representation of these key aspects, the map has enabled us to gain a clear and comprehensive understanding of the situation. This understanding, in turn, assists us in identifying areas of focus and opportunities for effective interventions.
With a clearer understanding of the context, we formulated questions to direct our research towards a specific area of opportunity: the development of companion robots to assist individuals in understanding and managing their emotions. Additionally, we gained insights into users' perspectives on these types of solutions.
For our initial user research, we conducted a survey to gather information on participants' demographics, emotional well-being, mental health habits, technology usage, and perspectives on companion robots. The image below provides a summary of the data collected.
For our initial user research, we conducted a survey to gather information on participants' demographics, emotional well-being, mental health habits, technology usage, and perspectives on companion robots. The image below provides a summary of the data collected.
Alex is a 20-year-old university student majoring in computer science. Tech-savvy and constantly engaged with their laptop and smartphone, Alex utilizes these devices for both academic studies and leisure pursuits. Despite their familiarity with technology, Alex occasionally faces challenges in managing stress and achieving a balanced lifestyle amidst the demands of coursework. They are intrigued by innovations that could improve their overall well-being and productivity. However, they prefer solutions that are intuitive, user-friendly, and seamlessly integrate into their daily routines without introducing unnecessary complexity.
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Understanding the perspective and experiences of our target users is fundamental to designing products that effectively meet their needs and preferences. In this empathy map, we delve into the life of Alex, a 20-year-old university student studying computer science. By exploring what Alex hears, sees, says, does, thinks, and feels, we gain valuable insights into his daily challenges, aspirations, and motivations. These insights serve as a foundation for crafting solutions that seamlessly integrate into Alex's lifestyle, enhancing his well-being and productivity.
This map provides a detailed exploration of Alex's daily experiences, highlighting key actions, touchpoints, thoughts, feelings, and opportunities throughout his day as a university student. By delving into the various stages of Alex's routine, we gain valuable insights into his needs, challenges, and preferences, allowing us to identify areas where our companion robot solution can offer meaningful support and enhancement.
The user's environment for the companion robot encompasses various spaces where they typically interact on a daily basis. These spaces include their room, where they spend time studying, relaxing, and engaging in leisure activities. Additionally, users may interact with the robot in communal areas such as the living room or kitchen, where they socialize with family members or roommates. Other potential spaces for interaction include outdoor environments like parks or cafes, where users may seek moments of respite or social connection. Moreover, the robot should seamlessly integrate into spaces such as schools, libraries, or workplaces, allowing users to benefit from its support and companionship wherever they go. Overall, the user's environment is diverse and encompasses a range of spaces where the companion robot can play a valuable role in enhancing their well-being.
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The robot must employ a variety of sensory stimuli, such as colors, lights, sounds and textures, to effectively communicate the user's emotions and feelings, providing a richer and more meaningful interaction experience.
Integrating various technologies and elements into a single product is necessary to offer a holistic approach that addresses both the user's emotional needs and daily activities, becoming a versatile and valuable companion in their daily lives.
The robot should integrate seamlessly into the user's life without causing significant disruptions to their routines or lifestyle, ensuring a smooth and natural transition to interaction with the device.
It must have the ability to provide emotional support in times of stress, anxiety and loneliness, acting as a comforting and reassuring resource for the user when they need it most.
The robot design should be compact, lightweight, and durable, which will facilitate its transportation to different places according to the user's needs, ensuring its durability and reliability in various situations and environments.
The robot is intended to have a friendly and welcoming appearance, similar to that of a pet or with certain human traits, but without being so realistic as to be intimidating or disturbing to the user.
Must have the ability to express a wide range of emotions and feelings in an authentic and compelling way, allowing for deeper and more meaningful interaction with the user.
A remote interface for user access is necessary, as well as an emotion logging system to help keep track of the user's interactions and emotional well-being over time.
Acceptable design solutions for the companion robot's appearance include those that exhibit a friendly and approachable demeanor, resembling characteristics of pets or incorporating subtle human-like features without appearing too realistic. These designs should evoke feelings of warmth and comfort, inviting users to engage with the robot in various activities. Unacceptable design solutions, on the other hand, involve designs that are overly complex or intimidating, resembling creatures that evoke fear or discomfort. Additionally, designs that closely mimic human appearance to the point of being uncanny or unsettling should be avoided, as they may deter users from interacting with the robot.
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Two design proposals have been developed in accordance with the aforementioned requirements and design criteria. The first proposal emphasizes the creation of a robotic mascot resembling a dog. This design incorporates colored lights on the ears and tail, along with an expressive facial display to convey emotions effectively. The second design adopts a slightly more humanoid appearance, featuring organic shapes reminiscent of mushrooms or plants. In this design, lights are integrated into the ornamentation of its head, accompanied by a facial display composed of small LEDs to depict emotions.
When opting for the second proposal featuring organic elements for the robot, inspiration was drawn from the shape of mushrooms, resulting in a design with rounded extremities to enhance its friendly appearance, akin to that of a fluffy stuffed animal. The head ornament, functioning as the primary light source, maintains the shape of a traditional light bulb, symbolizing the process of illumination, generating ideas, understanding concepts, and devising solutions.
The robot design was developed using a 3D modeling program, facilitating the definition of both the overall structure and smaller components like limbs and accessories. With the complete shape finalized, further crucial aspects such as the casing thickness and the arrangement of internal elements including sensors and connections were determined.
To begin the product development process, a diagram was created to illustrate the operation and information exchange between the user and the robot. Following this, programming for each sensor and emotion was implemented, along with the integration of all the code and circuits. Once the internal components were functioning properly, the external prototype was crafted using thermoformed plastic. Finally, all parts were assembled to create the final prototype, and validation tests were conducted to ensure the robot's functionality and Bluetooth connection with the user's cell phone.
The code has been integrated, and the facial expressions styles have been designed. We conducted tests to assess its functionality with Bluetooth communication via cell phone, sending messages containing the names of the programmed emotions to the Arduino. This was to confirm whether it responds accurately and displays the corresponding animations on the LED matrix.
The final design of the companion robot draws inspiration from the elegant contours and natural forms of mushrooms. Crafted using thermoforming techniques and refined through meticulous 3D modeling, it embodies organic silhouettes that evoke a sense of comfort and accessibility. Central to its design is an intricately crafted head ornament resembling a light bulb, symbolizing the genesis of ideas and cognitive processes. Each emotional state is assigned a distinct color, which is dynamically expressed through the ornament, facilitating clear and intuitive communication with the user. Complementing this feature is an integrated 8x8 LED matrix embedded within the robot's face, which articulates a range of facial expressions to convey emotions effectively. Additionally, the robot is equipped with sound and proximity sensors, enabling seamless interaction with users, while the integration of a Bluetooth module facilitates communication via mobile devices. Compact and lightweight, this design ensures portability, allowing users to carry their companion robot wherever they go, fostering a sense of companionship and support in various contexts.
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Developing the functionalities for the companion robot was a significant challenge, especially since this project marked my first foray into coding and hardware integration. Delving into the Arduino programming language was both daunting and exhilarating, as I grappled with the basics of coding syntax and logic. Through trial and error, I gradually gained confidence in writing code to control the robot's behaviors and interactions. Each line of code became a lesson in problem-solving and creativity, as I learned to translate conceptual ideas into functional software.
Assembling the companion robot required a delicate balance between hardware and software integration. From soldering sensors to configuring LED matrices, each hardware component played a crucial role in bringing the robot to life. Integrating these hardware elements with software was a complex puzzle that required meticulous attention to detail. I learned firsthand the importance of compatibility and functionality, as I navigated the intricacies of connecting sensors, motors, and actuators to the Arduino microcontroller. Through countless hours of experimentation and troubleshooting, I gained a deeper understanding of how hardware and software interact to create dynamic and responsive systems.
Guiding the development of the companion robot from concept to completion was a journey marked by careful planning and coordination. As a novice in project management, I faced the challenge of balancing tasks, timelines, and resources effectively. Prioritizing the project's objectives while juggling the demands of learning coding and hardware integration was no small feat. However, through perseverance and adaptability, I honed my project management skills, learning to set clear goals, allocate resources efficiently, and communicate effectively with collaborators. Each milestone achieved was a testament to the power of determination and teamwork in driving the project towards success.
