a soft robot that replaces All included control by touch and presence
POCO is soft robotic companion developed by designer Mehrnaz Amouei that examines alternative relationships between humans and artificial intelligence. The project focuses on models of interaction based on presence, responsiveness, and well-defined constraints, rather than systems that interpret or direct emotional states.
As AI increasingly operates in personal and emotional contexts, questions of dependency, interpretation and control arise. POCO addresses these concerns by proposing a relational framework in which the system works alongside the user without assuming authority. Rather than diagnosing or guiding behavior, the device is designed to respond, reflect and maintain boundaries that remain visible to the user.
The project is based on a year-long research process involving qualitative interviews, interdisciplinary input and iterative prototyping. The findings indicated a preference for systems that offer availability and responsiveness without projecting certainty or control. In response, the design introduces the concept of “constructive interdependence,” where constraints are incorporated as part of the interaction model. The system communicates what it can and cannot do through its behavior and states.
POCO’s form remains ambiguous, between object, creature and companion | all images courtesy of Mehrnaz Amouei
POCO turns the interaction into a joint rhythm between user and AI
Naturally, POCO has been developed as a soft, tactile object that attaches to a smartphone, acting as its computing component. Interaction is touch-based, using capacitive sensors that respond to gestures such as holding or stroking. Movement is expressed through slow, rhythmic movements that resemble breathing, enhancing the sense of presence without relying on mechanical articulation.
Engagement with the device is structured as a mutual process. The system does not initiate the interaction independently, but responds to user input, establishing a common rhythm. Activity and rest states are visibly communicated, enhancing awareness of the system’s operational limits.
Through the integration of hardware, behavior, and logical interaction, the POCO robot companion positions AI as a participant in a relational system rather than a tool of instruction. The trust of project frameworks is not a function of extended capability, but a result of transparency, constraint, and balanced interaction between user and device.
Variations of the bot adapt to users, environments and emotional preferences while maintaining a consistent identity
a soft fabric body wraps around the device, turning rigid technology into a huggable presence
on a human scale, POCO moves through spaces as a quiet presence, less of a device and more of a companion that belongs
a soft robotic companion designed as a quiet emotional presence that integrates into everyday life
