Architecture and design studio Minimaforms, founded by Stephen and Theodore Spyropoulos, has created a robotic petting zoo where visitors can engage with responsive A.I. creations.

These robotic pets interact with visitors through movement, sound, touch and illumination. Using camera tracking and data scanning on their appendages, the robots are able to identify the location of participants within the space, enabling them to observe and synchronise movements. This ability also allows them to adapt their responses to those of both the human participants and other robots in the same room. Inactivity can trigger a response of boredom or disinterest, while touch can pacify the pets. Over time, each robot is able to evolve using this communication and develop a distinct personality.

Minimaforms intends to use this research to explore how it might be possible to design buildings that are able to respond to its inhabitants, as well as allow their visitors to consider the two-way communication between how their creations react with their surrounding environment.