MOMO
Intelligent robot丨 Pet-Friendly Form丨 Modular Features
This pet companion robot helps ease separation anxiety and strengthens emotional bonding through multisensory interaction, from scent release to real-time monitoring and remote engagement.
Preliminary investigation
Background
Pet Ownership Trends
The percentage of U.S. households that own dogs and cats has increased steadily from 2011-2024.
Pet ownership in the U.S. has steadily increased, with 59.8% of households owning dogs and 42.3% owning cats in 2024.
59.8%
42.3%
Urban lifestyles and emotional needs have driven more people to adopt pets, raising concerns around separation anxiety and the challenges of caring for pets when owners are away.
Research
Growth in Pet-Tech & Robot Spending
Pet Companion Robots Market Analysis
Pet companion robots help owners manage the challenges of leaving pets alone and are increasingly used for elderly care and entertainment, reflecting their growing versatility and demand.
Market Size
The global pet companion robot market reached USD 705.95M in 2024 and is expected to grow to USD 1.07B by 2032, with a 5.3% CAGR from 2025–2032.
Research highlights several key issues: pets often develop separation anxiety, existing devices lack emotional sensing accuracy, and remote interaction remains limited to basic video/audio. Owners also expect low-maintenance solutions that remain stable and safe around active pets.
Pet Separation Anxiety
Accuracy in Emotion Monitoring and Response
Inadequate Remote Interaction
Device Stability and Safety
Understanding that humans and pets bond through touch, scent, vocal cues, and shared activities, this project explores how multisensory interaction design can bridge emotional gaps and improve the well-being of both pets and owners.
User Research Summary
Survey Findings
The proportion of people who own different types of pets.
Functions that people want pet robots to have.
Pet Emotion Classification
When separated from their pets, people address the issue by using a variety of methods.
Survey results show that most respondents are cat owners, and many pets experience varying levels of separation anxiety when left alone. Users value features that provide emotional comfort—such as scent-based calming, memory preservation, and interactive play—and current coping methods like video calls, soothing audio, and gradual training are viewed as helpful but incomplete. Overall, the survey highlights a clear need for more emotionally responsive and multisensory support tools for pets.
Interview Findings
Interviews with a cat owner and a dog owner reveal shared concerns:
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Pets exhibit stress (barking, scratching, hiding, vocalizing) when alone.
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Existing monitoring devices lack emotional feedback and fail to truly comfort pets.
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Users want devices that recognize pet emotions and offer automatic calming, familiar scents, soothing audio, and remote interaction features.
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A reasonable price range for such devices is $100–$250.
Persona: Lina
Lina, a 28-year-old cat owner living in a major metropolitan city, captures the needs of many respondents:
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Her cat experiences separation anxiety, meowing loudly and scratching the door when left alone.
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Existing tools—such as cameras or audio playback—feel shallow and insufficient.
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She wants a device that provides emotional comfort, interactive engagement, and memory-preserving features while she is away.
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She prefers a low-maintenance, aesthetically pleasing solution within the $100–$200 range.
Lina represents a growing demographic of pet owners who view pets as emotional companions and expect technology to reflect that relationship.
Development
User Journey Map
Case Study
Furbo Dog Camera
A remote-interaction pet camera that engages dogs with treats and two-way audio, though it lacks deeper emotional insight.
Furbo Dog Camera
An AI-powered monitoring camera that offers accurate behavior alerts but provides limited real-time interaction for companionship.
By mapping the user journey, we identified key moments when pets feel most vulnerable and owners feel most powerless, especially during separation and limited remote interaction. Insights from existing products further revealed that while current devices offer useful monitoring and basic engagement, they still lack emotional understanding and multisensory comfort—highlighting a clear opportunity for more empathetic, responsive pet-care solutions.
Design Concept
Real-Time Emotion Monitoring & Automatic Soothing
Emotional Memory & Continuity
Remote Interaction
Mind Map
A mind-map was built to connect the needs of users, market trends, and interaction requirements. Through this process, multisensory monitoring (camera, microphone, sensors, scent modules) emerged as the essential foundation of the system.
Work Flow
Our smart pet companion system integrates multiple components to provide a comprehensive, multisensory solution that addresses pet separation anxiety while engaging owners in community learning.
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Idle → Detect → Analyze → Act → Report → Adjust
User AI
Robot
APP
Pets
1. User sets intent
3. Robot senses & analyzes
4. Robot acts
5. Pet responds
2. App sends command
6. Robot reports back
Defines intent, configures behavior rules, and receives system feedback.
Turns user intent into actions and reports outcomes.
Provides real-time behavioral feedback that drives the system loop.
Core Interaction Flow:
Detect
The system continuously monitors the pet’s behavior and emotional signals through sensors, camera, and audio input.
Respond
The system provides automatic calming actions—like scent or audio—or allows owners to respond manually.
Analyze
Detected data is processed to identify the pet’s emotional state, such as calm, playful, stressed, or anxious.
Interact
The owner can remotely engage with the pet through live view, play features, or customized calming commands.
Notify
The owner receives real-time updates or alerts through the app when emotional changes or unusual behaviors occur.
Record
All key moments, behaviors, and interactions are saved into an emotional diary for long-term tracking and reflection.
Information Architecture
Wireframe
Final Outcome
High-Fidelity Design
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LOGIN PAGE
Home Page
A simplified home screen displaying your connected pets, quick controls, and direct access to live camera and key features, and interaction.
Shows pet info like name, breed, habits. Photo gallery of pet moments captured by the robot.
Browse fun workshops (e.g. make scent bottles or calming toys). Pick a time and reserve directly in the app.
Live View: Real-time camera shows pet’s mood (e.g. Happy).
Scent Release: Choose dog/cat scent, adjust strength with a slider.
Interaction Control: Move the robot, use voice chat, and turn on projection.
Watch and replay videos of your pet’s activities. Pause, scroll, and switch between recorded clips.
Product design
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Base Shape Construction
2.Main Functional Area Structure
3. Multisensory Modules Added
Rounded, symmetrical body for stability and rolling.
Front panel holds camera, mic, LED, and sensors.
Added scent dispenser and projector for calming interaction.
Material Reference
The product uses a durable ABS outer shell with a matte finish, an anodized aluminum frame around the camera module for added rigidity, and a tempered anti-reflective glass cover to protect the lens and sensors. The scent nozzle is made from medical-grade silicone to ensure safe and stable aroma diffusion.
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The design uses a rounded, stable body with a front panel for the camera, mic, LED, and sensors, plus built-in scent and projection modules. The sketch highlights the placement and function of each component.
Product Render
The 360° design highlights a sleek, durable form that fits naturally into home environments, demonstrated through a living-room simulation. Its rounded body ensures safe mobility, supported by a high-resolution camera, integrated sensors for emotional interaction, and a soft gloss finish for a modern, companion-friendly look.
