Cor!

A home assistant robot designed to blend into everyday living spaces as naturally as a piece of furniture.

Graduation Project · 2023
Industrial Design · Home Robotics
Appearance Prototype

Overview

Cor! combines a mobile robot, a system shelf, and interchangeable task modules into one domestic ecosystem.

Rather than carrying every function at once, the robot retrieves the module required for each task and returns it when the task is complete, allowing its main body to remain simple and visually calm.

Question

Can a capable home robot live alongside people without making the home feel more mechanical?

Observation

Many task-oriented home robots are designed around efficiency first. Exposed sensors, joints, and equipment can make them feel like machines brought into the home rather than objects that naturally belong there.

The challenge was not to hide the robot’s capability, but to make its presence less intrusive in everyday living spaces.

Reframing

Cor! was reframed as a furniture-like companion rather than a machine that constantly communicates its technical complexity.

Its side-table-like silhouette, soft surfaces, and concealed mechanical elements allow the robot to remain visually quiet when it is not performing a task.

Different moments of use were also given their own place within the home: the system shelf stores its task modules, while a separate charging station provides a dedicated place for the robot to rest and recharge.

Scale & Form Exploration

Physical studies at 50, 75, and 100 centimeters were used to explore how the robot’s height and proportions could respond to different domestic activities.

Box-shaped form studies, scaled models, and AR placement tests helped evaluate its volume, visual presence, and relationship with furniture in residential environments.

These studies led to a vertically adjustable architecture that could remain compact at rest while reaching higher surfaces when required.

Module System

An interchangeable module system expands the robot’s role without placing every function permanently on its body.

The system shelf organizes modules for different everyday activities, including laundry, plant care, scent diffusion, digital devices, carrying objects, and pet feeding.

Cor! can select and carry the appropriate module when needed, allowing one visually simple robot to support a broader range of domestic tasks.

Resolution

The final concept brings the adjustable body, mobile base, and interchangeable modules into one coherent domestic system.

A vertically extending structure allows Cor! to work across different heights, while mecanum wheels support movement within the home. Storage, status lighting, and essential controls are integrated into the exterior to preserve the robot’s calm, furniture-like character.

Rather than expressing every capability through its appearance, Cor! keeps complexity within the system and allows the main object to remain simple.