Floating Companion
Summary
"Don't fly, float."
Soft floating robots (SFRs) represent a radical shift from rigid machines, offering gravity-defying, safe, and tactile embodiments for indoor cohabitation. However, their development remains fragmented across isolated prototypes, lacking a coherent design vocabulary. Without a systematic understanding of their interactional capabilities, designers struggle to leverage SFRs' unique affordances, restricting them to niche novelties rather than meaningful companions in everyday indoor environments. To address this, we propose a systematic design space for interaction with SFRs. Informed by an exploratory study with 12 experts from HCI, Design, and Robotics, we identify ten key design dimensions that span physical, interactive, and behavioral properties, along with varied application scenarios. We also implemented proof-of-concept prototypes to demonstrate the feasibility and generative potential of our design space for creating diverse interactions. Ultimately, this work establishes a foundation for the design and research of SFR interactions, opening up new possibilities for novel modes of engagement in daily life.
Best Paper Award publication in DIS: Designing Interactive Systems (DIS'26).