Project Overview
This project envisions a 2035 Level-4 private autonomous vehicle experience that redesigns the relationship between human, vehicle, and companion dog—treating the dog as a real passenger with needs, not cargo. It prototypes a multimodal HMI that supports calm, trust, and smooth transitions from pickup to park arrival.
Problem
Today’s vehicles and trip flows are optimized for human convenience, while dogs are forced to adapt—leading to stress, safety risks, and extra cognitive load for owners during parking, boarding, and arrival routines.
Design Motivation
Based on my real commutes and road trips with my dog (SF↔LA) and daily drives to the dog park, I repeatedly saw both dogs and owners struggling to fit into human-first vehicle behaviors. I wanted to design a mobility system that balances commute efficiency with canine comfort—without sacrificing safety or emotional well-being.
