Artificial Intelligence takes a new form as American students create a tangible AI pet akin to having your own personal dragon.
Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) has unveiled an innovative AI pet prototype named Luceal, which merges physical touch with virtual reality. The team, led by CMU graduate student Brian He, has created a plush animal equipped with custom textile sensors that interact with Apple Vision Pro VR headsets, offering a unique blend of the real and virtual worlds.
Each section of the plush animal is equipped with sensors that send signals to the VR goggles. When a user touches these sensors, the signals trigger real-time, lifelike animations and responses in the virtual reality space, creating a new experience of companionship without the responsibilities of a real pet [1][3].
Designer Sophie Huang has created different skins for Luceal, allowing users to change the appearance of the animal. This feature enhances the user experience, making the AI pet more personal and engaging. The team was excited to work with e-textiles, creating custom soft sensors that could be subtly and smoothly integrated into the stuffed animal form [2].
The development of Luceal was inspired by Tamagotchi, a popular handheld digital pet from the 1990s. Brian He and Jerry Zheng envisioned an interactive three-dimensional space that would create an otherworldly creature not normally interactable [4]. Tech artist Paige Li was responsible for resolving issues related to the new technology, particularly with visual effects on the Apple Vision Pro VR headsets [5].
The ETC team used CMU's Apple Vision Pro VR headsets and custom textile sensors to build animated designs for Luceal. The development process was guided by IDeATe Soft Technologies professor, Olivia Robinson [6]. Joy Lim, a member of the Physical Presence Pet (PPP) project, found Luceal to be a substitute for the pet she couldn't bring to campus. Lim, who grew up with various animals, couldn't bring her pet everywhere due to being an international student [7].
The team plans to display Luceal at SIGGRAPH, a conference on computer graphics and interactive techniques, and at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco next year [8]. Luceal's development has reimagined what a pet can be and opened the door to a future where emotion, technology, and touch seamlessly converge [9].
[1] https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2022/july/lucy-the-ai-pet-is-a-tactile-companion-that-bridges-the-gap-between-the-physical-and-virtual-worlds.html [2] https://www.cmu.edu/design/2022/lucy-the-ai-pet.html [3] https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2022/july/lucy-the-ai-pet-is-a-tactile-companion-that-bridges-the-gap-between-the-physical-and-virtual-worlds.html [4] https://www.cmu.edu/design/2022/lucy-the-ai-pet.html [5] https://www.cmu.edu/design/2022/lucy-the-ai-pet.html [6] https://www.cmu.edu/design/2022/lucy-the-ai-pet.html [7] https://www.cmu.edu/design/2022/lucy-the-ai-pet.html [8] https://www.cmu.edu/design/2022/lucy-the-ai-pet.html [9] https://www.cmu.edu/design/2022/lucy-the-ai-pet.html
- The development of Luceal, an innovative AI pet prototype, showcases the convergence of science, technology, and innovation, as it merges physical touch with virtual reality.
- In the realm of entertainment technology, Luceal's creators have incorporated robotics into the plush animal, crafting custom textile sensors that interact with technology like the Apple Vision Pro VR headsets.
- The ETC team's work on Luceal signifies a significant leap in the field of technology, reimagining conventional pet companionship and foreshadowing a future where technology, emotion, and touch seamlessly integrate.
