Mayfield Robotics / Communication design
Kuri
Kuri
Helping a home robot communicate through her heart light.
Helping a home robot communicate through her heart light.
The problem
The problem
Kuri communicates through her heart light — but the way it was used was inconsistent and confusing. It worked in isolation, disconnected from her expression and voice, so families couldn’t read what she was trying to say.
Kuri communicates through her heart light — but the way it was used was inconsistent and confusing. It worked in isolation, disconnected from her expression and voice, so families couldn’t read what she was trying to say.
The question
The question
How might we help Kuri use her heart light to communicate?
How might we help Kuri use her heart light to communicate?
Approach
Approach
I explored metaphors — mouth, notifier, and health monitor — to ground a communication information architecture.
I explored metaphors — mouth, notifier, and health monitor — to ground a communication information architecture.
Then I built the system: Kuri-initiated vs. user-initiated signals, indeterminate (“working on it”) vs. determinate (“knows the answer”) states, teleop mode, and character moments that live outside the rules.
Then I built the system: Kuri-initiated vs. user-initiated signals, indeterminate (“working on it”) vs. determinate (“knows the answer”) states, teleop mode, and character moments that live outside the rules.
Valence determines the color. Communication class determines the pattern.
Valence determines the color. Communication class determines the pattern.
Positive, neutral, or negative valence determines the light’s color; the communication class determines its pattern — with transition states smoothing every shift between them.
Positive, neutral, or negative valence determines the light’s color; the communication class determines its pattern — with transition states smoothing every shift between them.
Applying it
Applying it
I mapped the framework across Kuri’s real scenarios — moment capture, charging, Bluetooth pairing, docking, listening, successes and failures — proving it scaled to everything she needed to say.
I mapped the framework across Kuri’s real scenarios — moment capture, charging, Bluetooth pairing, docking, listening, successes and failures — proving it scaled to everything she needed to say.
Designed to communicate, not to speak
Designed to communicate, not to speak
“Kuri doesn’t speak, but rather communicates in a series of lights and beeps. If something speaks to you in fully formed sentences, you assume at least a human-level of intelligence. It’s actually super hard to be as smart as a 5-year-old, and getting that level of intelligence consistently is tough.”
“Kuri doesn’t speak, but rather communicates in a series of lights and beeps. If something speaks to you in fully formed sentences, you assume at least a human-level of intelligence. It’s actually super hard to be as smart as a 5-year-old, and getting that level of intelligence consistently is tough.”
Mike Beebe, CEO of Mayfield Robotics
Mike Beebe, CEO of Mayfield Robotics
This was the design constraint behind the entire project. Kuri couldn’t rely on language, so the heart light had to carry the full weight of communication — which is exactly why the communication IA mattered.
This was the design constraint behind the entire project. Kuri couldn’t rely on language, so the heart light had to carry the full weight of communication — which is exactly why the communication IA mattered.
Press
Press
Outcome
Outcome
The architecture brought consistency to Kuri’s communication while preserving space for character moments — making her behavior legible and predictable to the families living with her.
The architecture brought consistency to Kuri’s communication while preserving space for character moments — making her behavior legible and predictable to the families living with her.