The Avatar Robot That Gives Wings to People with Physical Restrictions
ALLIE
Academic Project, Spring 2023
Ojen: Her dream is to see the Golden Gate Bridge in person one day.
Project Challenge
People in electric wheelchairs face immense challenges in air travel because their electric wheelchairs cannot be accommodated by a commercial airplane.
How might we share a travel experience with people who have difficulty taking an airplane?
TIMELINE
USER INTERVIEWS
Ojen
“I would like to travel, but I need to stay in my electric wheelchair in order for me to function. Unfortunately, there is no space for my wheelchair on the plane.”
Andrew
“Even people with the same physical disabilities, there are different levels of abilities.”
INTERVIEW WITH EXPERT
IN ROBOTICS
Carl Hansen
VP, Head of Government Relations
“Although the auto drive is easier for people to use, when a problem arises, it would not be difficult to solve it if a human is in control.”
Experiment 1 & Testing
I came up with a theory that if a baby monitor has mobility, it can be an avatar robot. This was a very simple and quick prototype in which I used my cellphone as an alternative to a baby monitor and put it on top of a radio-controlled car. However, I faced two major obstacles that changed the form of what I designed.
1) Operating the radio-controlled car at the same pace as the companion requires training.
2) Operating a radio-controlled car for a long time is tiring. The user might not be able to use a regular controller. They might have to use their tongue instead of their hands which can be even more tiring.
Experiment 2
This avatar is much smaller and clips on a shirt or backpack so that it is carried by the traveler. This way, the user doesn’t have to pace the avatar while the traveler is walking. They can see almost the same view as the traveler sees and also enjoy a conversation with the traveler. Concept-wise, this was much more successful, but something was still missing: emotional attachment to the avatar.
Experiment 3
After several attempts of product iteration, I decided to go with an avatar that looks like the users.
The Solution
Allie is the avatar that can travel together with a pal. Its eye is a lens so that the user can see what the pal is seeing. It has a Bluetooth earpiece, so communicating while also viewing is possible.
CUSTOMIZABLE AVATAR
This avatar’s looks can be customized so that the pal can feel they are traveling together with the operator.
I believe that people can get attached to customized avatars more than generic avatars because they feel that Allie, the avatar, is an extension of themselves.
This way, the user can enjoy being in the picture that their pal takes at their destination. They are no longer excluded from the festivities!
Reflections
What worked?
Customizing the looks was a very popular function. Many people showed positive reactions to the avatar that looks like the user.
What Didn't?
Differentiating this product from Facetime was a challenge. Since what Allie can do is very similar to what Facetime can do, it was necessary to add further value.
What will I do next time?
I want to design the UI part of the controller. Right now, it is meant to be voice controlled; however, I would like to develop eye-tracking detection for a broader range of users.