Research in Progress

Macy the Robot

UX Research / Human-Robot Interaction · 2026

Exploring how children and parents might emotionally engage with a soft social robot through touch, movement, play, and non-verbal interaction.

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Current stage: literature review, survey planning, and early prototype research.
Project Type

Research-led UX case study

Current Stage

Research and planning

Methods

Literature review, survey planning, prototype planning

Role

UX Research, Product Design

01 / Context

Project Overview

Macy the Robot is an early-stage Human-Robot Interaction project exploring how emotionally responsive robots could support children through touch, movement, play, and companionship.

The project is currently focused on understanding existing research, identifying possible interaction features, and planning future user research with both children and parents.

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02 / Problem Space

The Challenge

Many emotional AI and robot interaction systems rely heavily on facial expressions, speech, and screen-based interaction. Macy explores a more embodied form of emotional communication through touch, movement, softness, and playful physical interaction.

Because the project involves children, the research must also consider safety, trust, privacy, parental confidence, and whether the robot supports real-world wellbeing rather than replacing human relationships.

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03 / Research

Literature Review Themes

The literature review surfaced early design opportunities. These are not final features, but research-informed directions to test through surveys, prototyping, and usability sessions.

Emotional Support & Play

Emotionally responsive robots may increase engagement through comfort, encouragement, humour, storytelling, games, and playful interaction.

Memory-Based Personalisation

Long-term interaction studies suggest children may form stronger attachments when robots remember preferences, routines, and previous interactions.

Trust, Privacy & Parent Control

Visible privacy controls could help parents and children understand when sensing, memory, cameras, or microphones are active.

Soft, Expressive, Personal Form

A soft exterior, expressive LED eyes, responsive gestures, portable body, and customisable appearance could make Macy feel safer and more engaging.

04 / Direction

Feature Opportunities

These feature areas are being treated as starting points for research, not final design decisions.

Emotion recognition and support responses
Memory-based personalisation
Collaborative play and games
Privacy control dashboard
Offline social activity prompts
Soft hug-friendly exterior
Expressive LED eyes
Compact portable body
Responsive gestures
Customisable appearance
05 / Process

Work Completed So Far

Stage One

Literature Review

Reviewed research around social robots, emotional support, tactile interaction, child engagement, trust, privacy, and play.

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Stage Two

Feature Mapping

Translated research findings into possible design directions, including emotional responses, soft form, privacy controls, and expressive behaviours.

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Stage Three

Survey Planning

Planned separate research approaches for children and parents to capture trust, comfort, expectations, and emotional response.

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Stage Four

Prototype Testing Plan

Outlined future usability testing to explore how participants respond to Macy’s form, movement, interaction behaviours, and emotional cues.

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06 / Placeholders

To Be Added Later

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Survey screenshots

Survey Materials

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Prototype visuals

Prototype

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Testing notes or findings

Usability Testing

Next Steps

The next phase will focus on finalising research materials, developing an initial prototype, and preparing for usability testing with children and parents.