Project Domain

Personal Companions

Interactive devices that sense, respond, and express personality.

Systems Students Explore

Companion devices blend creative expression with engineering. Students design devices that have personality — reacting to touch, sound, or proximity with lights, sounds, and movement.

Expressive Output

LED patterns, sound effects, and servo gestures that convey emotion

Interaction Design

How a device responds to different types of input from users

Sensor Personality

Using sensor data to create unique, context-aware behaviors

State & Mood

Programming devices that remember and change over time

Example Projects

LED creature that changes expression based on how it's held
Desktop companion that reacts to noise levels in the room
Interactive pet with multiple mood states and gesture responses
Smart companion with voice prompts and ambient awareness

Evidence Outputs

Working companion prototypes with multiple interaction modes
Character design sketches showing personality and behavior planning
Photos documenting build process and housing design
Behavior maps showing how the device responds to different inputs