Octobo by Thinker-Tinker

Version 3 was a big improvement, but we needed some cost engineering on the hardware design, and further improvement needed to make the design actually able to be mass produced. We started sourcing our manufacturing partner and working closely with them to redesign the board and our hardware system.

We further optimized the board (smaller, more efficient) and switched our wire-type capacitive sensors to our special foam sensors to improve stability. The wire sensors were not stable, we got a lot of false positives and the sensitivity degraded over time. On the ME side, we added a couple fixture trails so the plush factory could fix our electronics more easily to the plush.

We also performed around a hundred user tests using our Version 3 sample. Through the user testing, we learned about the ways kids trigger and interact with the plush. With this information, we fine tuned the sensor sensitivity level, digital game play, and, on the plush side, added zippers to secure the tablet pocket on the product and visual cues for the area that has sensors.

We brought the working prototype to a DFM shop to seek support to make the product manufacturable. We worked with hardware shops on PCB board design, schematics, Gerber design, and tooling.

For the fabric and redesign of the look of the plush, including different ways to fix the sensors inside the plush toy, we consulted various plush factories.

We proposed a very unique challenge:

• Our sensors are not just buttons, but soft sensors that need to be fixed in the plush seamlessly, while still keeping the cuddliness of the toy.
• All the sensors need to be soft and not provoking, including LED, RFID and other sensors that normally are fixed inside a plastic box.
• We asked to put 11 wires/ sensors inside the plush. This was a unique factor as, normally, the “singing plush toys” have less than 4 wires.

After the sensors and hardware needs were defined, we handmade the first Octobo plush with a more compact board with everything soldered together. With this version, we still kept the sensors removable to keep the flexibility for R&D.

This version is a complete working prototype with all the functions completed. We tested out the interactions with a lot of different parties and playtesters.

Version one is our maker edition; Breadboard and Arduino model.

We focused on testing different types of sensors (flex sensor, FSR, and hand-made pressure sensors, foil sensors) and form factor. As well as testing the connection model with PC/ mobile devices.

For the look, we tried a foam ball, glue gun to stick fabric together for a prototype. We purchased an Octopus plush from amazon and stuck the face on him.