Aroma-bota.
Aroma-bota.
Aroma-bota.
Interactive Robotic Display
ACM/IEEE
International Conference
Selected
ACM/IEEE
International Conference
Selected
ACM/IEEE
International
Conference
Selected
team
team
team
Ben Jungblut,
Khaled Abdul Rahman
Ben Jungblut,
Khaled Abdul Rahman
Ben Jungblut,
Khaled Abdul Rahman
duration
duration
duration
Fall 2025
Fall 2025
Fall 2025
tools & skills
tools & skills
tools & skills
Arduino,
Adobe Creative Suite
Arduino,
Adobe Creative Suite
Arduino,
Adobe Creative Suite
project brief
project brief
project brief
Aroma-bota explores how physical retail can reclaim the emotional richness of digital discovery through embodied, multi-sensory interaction. Designed as an interactive robotic installation for fragrance retail, the project bridges the gap between emotionally charged online storytelling and static in-store displays.
Aroma-bota explores how physical retail can reclaim the emotional richness of digital discovery through embodied, multi-sensory interaction. Designed as an interactive robotic installation for fragrance retail, the project bridges the gap between emotionally charged online storytelling and static in-store displays.
Aroma-bota explores how physical retail can reclaim the emotional richness of digital discovery through embodied, multi-sensory interaction. Designed as an interactive robotic installation for fragrance retail, the project bridges the gap between emotionally charged online storytelling and static in-store displays.
the problem
the problem
the problem
Fragrance discovery is driven by emotion online, but that emotional context disappears in physical retail. In-store displays are largely static and visually uniform, making it difficult for customers to feel a scent’s personality at the moment of purchase.
Fragrance discovery is driven by emotion online, but that emotional context disappears in physical retail. In-store displays are largely static and visually uniform, making it difficult for customers to feel a scent’s personality at the moment of purchase.
Fragrance discovery is driven by emotion online, but that emotional context disappears in physical retail. In-store displays are largely static and visually uniform, making it difficult for customers to feel a scent’s personality at the moment of purchase.
Yet, 70% of final purchase decisions still happen in-store.
Yet, 70% of final purchase decisions still happen in-store.
Yet, 70% of final purchase decisions still happen in-store.
current market
current market
current market
Uniform shelves and bottle lineups erased brand personality.
Uniform shelves and bottle lineups erased brand personality.
Uniform shelves and bottle lineups erased brand personality.
Posters and lighting carried the entire message, offering no feeling or sensory depth.
Posters and lighting carried the entire message, offering no feeling or sensory depth.
Posters and lighting carried the entire message, offering no feeling or sensory depth.
How can we fix the disconnect between digital discovery and physical retail,
where emotion is lost at the moment of decision?
How can we fix the disconnect between digital discovery and physical retail,
where emotion is lost at the moment of decision?
research question
research question
research question
How do we design an embodied multi modal interactive experience that can draw people's attention to an aroma product and augment their sensory experience of that product?
How do we design an embodied multi modal interactive experience that can draw people's attention to an aroma product and augment their sensory experience of that product?
How do we design an embodied multi modal interactive experience that can draw people's attention to an aroma product and augment their sensory experience of that product?
design goals
design goals
design goals
01
01
01
Design an interactive retail robotic installation that helps elevate a brand in a competitive market.
Design an interactive retail robotic installation that helps elevate a brand in a competitive market.
Design an interactive retail robotic installation that helps elevate a brand in a competitive market.
02
02
02
Response to the surrounding environment, specifically due to customer presence and interaction.
Response to the surrounding environment, specifically due to customer presence and interaction.
Response to the surrounding environment, specifically due to customer presence and interaction.
03
03
03
Use multi sensory experience to convey the emotion of the aroma product that is trying to convey.
Use multi sensory experience to convey the emotion of the aroma product that is trying to convey.
Use multi sensory experience to convey the emotion of the aroma product that is trying to convey.
concept development
concept development
concept development
We imagined a living retail surface that responds to human presence. Instead of simply displaying a product, the installation expresses the personality of the selected perfume through fluid motion and light gestures inspired by its unique notes.
We imagined a living retail surface that responds to human presence. Instead of simply displaying a product, the installation expresses the personality of the selected perfume through fluid motion and light gestures inspired by its unique notes.
We imagined a living retail surface that responds to human presence. Instead of simply displaying a product, the installation expresses the personality of the selected perfume through fluid motion and light gestures inspired by its unique notes.
storyboard
storyboard
storyboard
00 idle state
00 idle state
00 idle state
The installation displays wave like pattern suggesting presence.
The installation displays wave like pattern suggesting presence.
The installation displays wave like pattern suggesting presence.
Wave motion
Wave motion
Wave motion
Mimics a beach
Mimics a beach
Mimics a beach
No movement
No movement
No movement
01 user noticed
01 user noticed
01 user noticed
When a user enters the detection zone, the robot performs to attract attention
When a user enters the detection zone, the robot performs to attract attention
When a user enters the detection zone, the robot performs to attract attention
Beckoning motion
Beckoning motion
Beckoning motion
Blue ocean waves
Blue ocean waves
Blue ocean waves
No movement
No movement
No movement
02 sample offer
02 sample offer
02 sample offer
As the user moves closer, the robotic arms lean forward and push the perfume bottle
As the user moves closer, the robotic arms lean forward and push the perfume bottle
As the user moves closer, the robotic arms lean forward and push the perfume bottle
Pushes the bottle
Pushes the bottle
Pushes the bottle
Concentrated radial light around the bottle
Concentrated radial light
Concentrated radial light around the bottle
Pushed towards user
Pushed towards user
Pushed towards user
03a acceptance
03a acceptance
03a acceptance
If the user picks up the perfume bottle, the robot express “happiness,”
If the user picks up the perfume bottle, the robot express “happiness,”
If the user picks up the perfume bottle, the robot express “happiness,”
Dancing motion
Dancing motion
Dancing motion
White sparkling lights
White sparkling lights
White sparkling lights
Picked up
Picked up
Picked up
03b rejection
03b rejection
03b rejection
If the user walks away or chooses not to engage, the robotic arms droop in sadness
If the user walks away or chooses not to engage, the robotic arms droop in sadness
If the user walks away or chooses not to engage, the robotic arms droop in sadness
Drooping motion
Drooping motion
Drooping motion
Dimmed blue with lightning
Dimmed blue with lightning
Dimmed blue with lightning
Goes back to the origin point
Goes back to the origin
Goes back to the origin point
prototyping
prototyping
prototyping
exploration of servo movements.
exploration of servo movements.
exploration of servo movements.
custom made LED matrix
custom made LED matrix
custom made LED matrix
Final Assembly
Final Assembly
Final Assembly
exploded view + renders
exploded view + renders
exploded view + renders
user testing
user testing
user testing
we created a small mock retail environment and compared the interactive installation against typical static fragrance displays. Participants were asked to treat the setup as a real store. They were encouraged to browse freely, touch the bottles, sample scents, and compare products using testing strips, just as they would in an actual retail setting.
we created a small mock retail environment and compared the interactive installation against typical static fragrance displays. Participants were asked to treat the setup as a real store. They were encouraged to browse freely, touch the bottles, sample scents, and compare products using testing strips, just as they would in an actual retail setting.
we created a small mock retail environment and compared the interactive installation against typical static fragrance displays. Participants were asked to treat the setup as a real store. They were encouraged to browse freely, touch the bottles, sample scents, and compare products using testing strips, just as they would in an actual retail setting.
Following the interaction, we conducted short interviews to understand how the robot influenced attention, perception, and purchasing behavior.
Following the interaction, we conducted short interviews to understand how the robot influenced attention, perception, and purchasing behavior.
key findings
key findings
key findings
01 Robot increases exposure
01 Robot increases exposure
01 Robot increases exposure
Even when participants weren’t initially interested in the premium fragrance, the robot made them stop, engage, and smell the scent.
Even when participants weren’t initially interested in the premium fragrance, the robot made them stop, engage, and smell the scent.
Even when participants weren’t initially interested in the premium fragrance, the robot made them stop, engage, and smell the scent.
02 Interaction leads to impulse decisions
02 Interaction leads to impulse decisions
02 Interaction leads to impulse decisions
Participants were more willing to purchase lower cost items after interacting with the robot. Its personalized motions created impulsive conditions.
Participants were more willing to purchase lower cost items after interacting with the robot. Its personalized motions created impulsive conditions.
Participants were more willing to purchase lower cost items after interacting with the robot. Its personalized motions created impulsive conditions.
03 Direct interaction = emotional Impact
03 Direct interaction = emotional Impact
03 Direct interaction = emotional Impact
Participants consistently highlighted the bottle-handover motion as their strongest moment of connection with the robot.
Participants consistently highlighted the bottle-handover motion as their strongest moment of connection with the robot.
Participants consistently highlighted the bottle-handover motion as their strongest moment of connection with the robot.
reflection
reflection
reflection
This project revealed a clear relationship between embodied interaction and emotional engagement in retail. User testing showed that even small, expressive moments could shift attention, curiosity, and willingness to interact with a product.
Participants responded most strongly to direct, personal interactions with the robot, suggesting that responsiveness plays a key role in creating meaningful connections. Feedback also indicated strong potential for impulse-driven, lower-cost aroma products, where emotional engagement can more directly influence behavior.
Moving forward, future iterations could focus on expanding user-directed interactions and adaptive behaviors to strengthen personalization and emotional impact.
This project revealed a clear relationship between embodied interaction and emotional engagement in retail. User testing showed that even small, expressive moments could shift attention, curiosity, and willingness to interact with a product.
Participants responded most strongly to direct, personal interactions with the robot, suggesting that responsiveness plays a key role in creating meaningful connections. Feedback also indicated strong potential for impulse-driven, lower-cost aroma products, where emotional engagement can more directly influence behavior.
Moving forward, future iterations could focus on expanding user-directed interactions and adaptive behaviors to strengthen personalization and emotional impact.
This project revealed a clear relationship between embodied interaction and emotional engagement in retail. User testing showed that even small, expressive moments could shift attention, curiosity, and willingness to interact with a product.
Participants responded most strongly to direct, personal interactions with the robot, suggesting that responsiveness plays a key role in creating meaningful connections. Feedback also indicated strong potential for impulse-driven, lower-cost aroma products, where emotional engagement can more directly influence behavior.
Moving forward, future iterations could focus on expanding user-directed interactions and adaptive behaviors to strengthen personalization and emotional impact.
