Physical Presence Pet
PPP (Physical Presence Pet) is a project team creating a tactile XR virtual pet. We are making a soft plush with embedded touch sensors that becomes an animated pet in the Apple Vision Pro headset.
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About the project
We are team PPP (Physical Presence Pet), a group of 6 students at Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center creating a tactile XR virtual pet. We are making a soft plush with embedded touch sensors that becomes an animated pet in the Apple Vision Pro headset. Users play with their pet both by gesturing to and touching the plush. They can continue playing with and touching their pet while using other apps on the Apple Vision Pro. Whether it’s watching a movie, checking their email, or any other activity in extended reality, our goal is to provide a digital companion users can feel.
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I was responsible for:
Character design and soft tactile design, Physical interaction experience design, graphic design and branding
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Featured post and media:
Luceal - Character Design
Character concept
Ver 1 test model
Final model
Although its species is unique, it carries a familiar quality that resonates with our guests.
We iterated through several creature concepts before arriving at this seal-like companion, playful like a seal, yet capturing the charm of both cats and dogs.
We intentionally avoided using a cat or dog; by choosing something less immediately recognizable, guests could connect with it free from preconceived expectations.
Tactile Research and Hardware Embedment
Fabrication research
Template pattern
We researched different fabric options and, after conducting surveys, selected the final material—which we will be sharing with the audience. Following several iterations, we finalized our physical pet in version 3, featuring a clearer and more defined body shape. The next step is adding fur and refining its unique characteristics.
In addition, we are developing a template pattern to support future production.
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Custom made variable resistors, sandwiching graphite composites between copper sheets
By creating custom variable resistors—made by sandwiching graphite composites between copper sheets—we solved many of our earlier challenges. The flexibility of these materials not only makes them durable against rough handling but also allows them to be sewn directly into place. Because they can be cut into any 2D shape, we were able to design interaction points that perfectly fit Luceal’s form and user needs. For instance, the ears and tail, some of the most popular interaction areas, couldn’t be matched by traditional pressure sensors, but our custom approach made it possible.
Final physical pet prototype
Branding
Logo
Product branding guide
Poster
Half-sheet
Product rendering
Luceal adoption certificate
Package design