Chapter 1 | What is temi? A robot structure in which hardware and software work together

The logical structure behind the familiar appearance

Temi has a friendly appearance and behavior that draws people in at first glance. Its smooth movements, natural speech, and facial expressions are intuitive and even human-like at first glance. However, behind the scenes, a highly engineered and systematically constructed “assembly of systems” is in operation.

Understanding temi does not mean grasping its movements and behavior as sensory phenomena, but rather understanding the structure and design philosophy that creates it.

Basic structure consisting of three layers

temi's structure consists of three layers: the hardware, which is the physical component; software such as the OS and applications; and communication/cloud, which handles connectivity with Wi-Fi and the cloud. These do not exist independently, but work in close cooperation with each other.

A process flow that enables a series of behaviors

For example, when a user says, "Hey temi, return to home base," the voice is collected through the microphone and analyzed by the voice recognition engine. Once the command is determined, the route is recalculated based on the current location and map information, and a movement command is issued to the motor. As a result, temi starts moving smoothly. Meanwhile, the moving status is displayed on the screen, and the dialogue with the user continues.

In this way, temi’s series of behaviors is not the result of a single process, but is realized through the interaction of multiple technical components.

Features of temi OS and the design constraints

Temi uses an Android-based system, on top of which the manufacturer has implemented its own proprietary "temi OS." While those familiar with smartphones will find the operation intuitive and easy to use, it does not allow you to freely add apps like you can with Google Play. In order to maintain a consistent behavior as a temi, design restrictions have been deliberately imposed.

This structural understanding is the starting point for recognizing temi not just as a "convenient robot," but as a "logically designed intelligent system."

Chapter 2 | temi’s body: sensors and mobility

temi can move freely through space and reach its destination without getting lost.
This series of actions is not simply the result of remote control or pre-programming, but is achieved by temi itself recognizing its environment and making decisions autonomously.

At the core of this are sensors and movement control mechanisms.

Primary sensor for spatial recognition

360-degree distance detection using LiDAR sensor

The first thing to note is the presence of the LiDAR sensor that Temi is equipped with.
LiDAR is a sensor that uses laser light to measure distance information in space and is installed on the front of temi's base.This allows temi to grasp the distance in 360 degrees around itself and instantly determine the presence of obstacles.
The information obtained from the LiDAR is stored as a map by temi's internal mapping engine and used to optimize travel routes.

Visual recognition using depth and RGB cameras

In addition to this, it also comes equipped with a depth camera and an RGB camera, allowing it to visually capture a person's face, body position and surrounding objects.
A depth camera is a sensor that measures the distance to an object across the entire field of view and is primarily used for applications such as face tracking and maintaining a safe distance.RGB cameras are more suitable for more visual information processing, such as object detection through image processing.

Safety measures using fall prevention sensors

In addition, there are multiple sensors at the bottom to prevent it from falling, and it has a mechanism that detects steps or stairs and automatically stops it.By integrating and processing information from multiple sensors, temi achieves smooth and safe navigation.

Motor configuration that enables movement

The actual movement is handled by a motor system with a differential two-wheel configuration consisting of two drive wheels and one caster.Although this configuration is simple, it is the optimal design for achieving both temi's turning performance and stable driving.
Based on information obtained from its sensors, it moves smoothly within the space, finely adjusting the angle and speed of its movement.

Realizing autonomous movement through voice and operation coordination

What's noteworthy is that these "physical" actions are closely linked to voice and touch operations.
When a user says, “Hey temi, go to ___,” temi interprets the voice command and instantly recalculates the route from the user’s current location to the destination.It then begins to move smoothly, avoiding obstacles around it, and continues to monitor the environment with sensors until it reaches its destination.

In other words, temi's autonomous movement is not just "movement," but a combination of environmental recognition by sensors, judgment by control logic, and execution by motors.
It is made up of a structural chain of "perception and movement."

Its behavior is sometimes so natural that it is easy to overlook, but behind temi’s “cuteness” lies an accumulation of extremely sophisticated physics calculations and controls.

Chapter 3 | The brains behind temi: software and system configuration

In the previous chapter, we explained the sensors and motors that make up temi's "body." If these are the output system for "movement," then behind them is software that acts as temi's "brain," responsible for "judgment" and "control." Although temi looks like a friendly service robot, inside it is equipped with a system that is intricately constructed with multiple functional layers.

Integrated design of functions using temi OS

Temi's OS is based on Android, with the manufacturer's proprietary software suite, commonly known as "temi OS," implemented on top of it. This allows functions such as voice recognition, dialogue, movement, navigation, and schedule display to work together under a consistent design philosophy.

What are the additional application restrictions and why?

Although it is possible to operate it by touch, just like a smartphone or tablet, users cannot freely add apps or change the system configuration. This is a restriction designed to ensure that temi maintains consistent behavior as a robot, and is also a prerequisite for stable operation.

Developer APIs and Extensibility

Temi also provides developers with an SDK (Software Development Kit) that allows them to develop their own applications through a dedicated API (Application Programming Interface). This flexibility in customization means that Temi is both a "product" and a "platform."

Cloud collaboration and "temi center"

Furthermore, temi's intelligence is not limited to processing within the robot itself. It is also structured to link with the cloud-based management system "temi center" through network communications. "temi center" is the core cloud management system that provides functions such as monitoring the robot's operating status, setting routes, acquiring various logs, and managing applications, and is an essential piece of infrastructure when operating multiple temes simultaneously or when managing them from a remote location.

Roles and Functions of temi center

For example, by using temi center, it is possible to change the preset patrol route, update the guidance message, etc. without being physically present. These management functions bring great benefits in terms of both operational efficiency and maintainability when using temi on a full scale within a company.

Network environment and communication issues

However, a stable network connection is essential for the series of cloud-linked functions, including temi center, to operate correctly. Particularly when deployed in companies or medical institutions, firewall settings and proxy environments on the internal network may prevent temi from communicating properly. Specifically, there have been reported cases where the ports used by temi to communicate with the outside world have been blocked.

Causes of communication failures and how to deal with them

Coexistence with security policies

When such communication failures occur, users will see symptoms such as "temi not moving" or "not responding to calls," but in reality, it is often caused by a communication error in the background. Temi's communication environment differs from that of general smart devices in that it is constantly connected to the Internet and connected to the cloud, so in networks with strict security policies, it is important to check the connection in advance and set exceptions.

Understanding these assumptions will enable you to approach problems that arise during implementation or malfunctions during operation in a more calm and structured manner.

temi standard features and system integration

The standard functions provided by temi (voice guidance, scheduler, video calling, etc.) are organically integrated with these software layers through cloud integration, allowing users to use the functions with simple operations without being aware of the complexities behind the scenes. We would like to reiterate here that behind this intuitive usability lies the precise design of numerous modules and processing systems, as well as stable integration with the cloud infrastructure.

Chapter 4 | Where users and temi meet: UI/UX design philosophy

*The design philosophy is iPresence's interpretation and not official information from the manufacturer.

Since the robot temi is a "being that interacts with people," its behavior is not simply the product of technology, but is also deeply connected to the experience design of "how it feels." In particular, at the moment when a user first interacts with temi - speaking to it, touching the screen, making eye contact - temi begins to take on the character of an "interface" rather than simply a collection of systems.

Coexistence of two interaction methods: voice and touch

Temi is equipped with both voice recognition and touch panel operation, allowing users to use either one depending on the situation, without relying on one or the other. For example, when using the navigation function, a user can say, "Hey temi, take me to the conference room," and navigation will begin in response to the voice command. However, the same action can also be performed visually by tapping on the on-screen scheduler or map interface.

In this way, temi combines a conversational UI (voice) and a selective UI (touch) to provide a flexible operating experience that responds to the user's intentions and the environment.

Designed to help users predict temi’s movements

The key to this UI/UX design is to make it easy for users to predict temi's actions. For example, the current destination and progress are displayed on the screen during guidance, allowing users to follow temi's movements without getting lost.

In addition, voice dialogue is designed to display the recognized content as text on the screen to avoid ambiguity in responses. This mechanism is an important element in maintaining a "relationship without misunderstandings" with the user.

Natural touch sensation with face recognition function

Temi is also equipped with a facial recognition function that automatically detects the face of a person standing in front of it and turns its gaze towards them. This is not a way to express emotion, but rather a function to "convey that it is aware of the other person's presence," which contributes to creating a natural customer service experience.

Similarly, sensing via cameras and microphones is integrated solely as a secondary means to improve UX, achieving smooth interaction without placing an excessive burden on the user.
*To be precise, it recognizes objects with "face-like" shapes and colors.

A design concept of reliability without anthropomorphism

This series of experience designs also shows consideration for not anthropomorphizing temi too much. While temi is friendly, it is not overly "human-like," and instead emphasizes behavior that is based on the premise of "reliability as a tool." It could be said that this design philosophy is in place to allow users to accept temi as a "trusted business partner."

What UI/UX design aims to achieve

The user interface is the point of contact between technology and humans. temi’s UI/UX was designed to make this point stress-free and to reduce misunderstandings, and every bit of ingenuity has been incorporated to make it not just “usable,” but “easy to use and understand.”

Because it is so easy to operate, taking a moment to consider the intricate design and control behind it can serve as a gateway to a deeper understanding of the temi robot.

Chapter 5 | temi’s scalability: SDK-based development and integration possibilities

While temi is often perceived as a "cute robot," there is highly designed expandability hidden inside. The SDK (Software Development Kit) provided for developers is a symbol of this.

Basic operation control using SDK

By using the SDK, it becomes possible to control many of temi's actions and behaviors directly from a program.

For example, you can control the robot's basic movements such as moving, stopping, rotating, and moving its head up and down, as well as navigate to a destination by autonomous driving and activate the user following function (follow function). In addition, you can access almost all of temi's hardware and software, such as voice guidance, playing music and sound effects, face recognition using the camera, and control of the screen display.

Customization to suit your brand and purpose

This freedom of control allows temi to be positioned as a "reconfigurable robot platform" rather than simply an off-the-shelf product. For example, you can design a brand-specific interface by customizing the screen UI, or you can combine it with cameras and sensors to implement applications specialized for entrance and exit management or customer service.

Taking advantage of this scalability, iPresence has been developing several cutting-edge applications, such as an application that links temi with a building's elevators.

Temi as a meeting robot

In one example, in collaboration with the SDK of the online conference service Zoom, an application was developed that allows users to join a Zoom conference directly using temi's camera and microphone. This allows temi to function as a "mobile video conference device" that can move freely around the room as a "remote attendee" and participate in the conference.

This is an example that shows the potential for the widespread use of robots, as the everyday app Zoom can be turned into a robot control application.

Advanced dialogue functions with AI integration

In addition, there is an example of a conversational AI implementation linked to the OpenAI API. If you ask temi a natural question, the answer generated through ChatGPT etc. will be read out in real time. This system is expected to be used for a wide range of purposes, such as facility guidance, educational support, and customer service in commercial facilities.

SDK opens up new possibilities for robotics platforms

As these examples show, temi's scalability is not just a technical possibility; it has the power to encourage the very reconstruction of work and space. How can it be reconnected to existing systems and work flows? The SDK provides that "connection point."

And it is precisely because of this flexible connectivity that temi has achieved the unique position of being "a robot-like device that is actually both an information terminal and a spatial agent."

Final Chapter | Understanding temi’s structure helps you develop an “eye for robots”

temi's vision of a "structured robot"

Through this series, we have seen that the robot Temi is not simply a "cute being," but is composed of an intricately designed and multi-layered system.

Hardware, software, communications environment, UI design, scalability through SDK, and on-site operational structure - only when all of these work together can temi function as a "usable robot."

Going beyond "how to use" to learn "structure"

However, the aim of this article is not to help you master how to use temi.Through a single product called temi, we aim to develop the ability to structurally interpret questions such as "what is a robot" and "how is technology designed."

Understanding robots helps us understand our technological society

Robots are no longer confined to the world of science fiction, but are beginning to permeate every aspect of society, including education, medicine, welfare, and business. In this context, having the ability to "read the structure" is not just about using robots, but about having the power to "utilize" them.

For example, understanding Temi's sensors and map-building mechanisms will give rise to practical understanding of the structures of other autonomous robots and delivery drones. If we can learn how to reduce the psychological distance in human-machine interfaces through Temi's UI design, this will provide a perspective that can be applied to service design and product development in general.

The ability to interpret phenomena enables application and creativity

In that sense, temi can be called a "textbook for learning about robots." It is not a complete, gigantic AI. That's why its structure is easy to see.If you understand the mechanism, you will be able to interpret the phenomenon. If you can understand the phenomenon, you will be able to improve it or apply it.

I hope that those who have read this series to the end have gained the ability to logically understand temi not just as a "cute robot," but as a precise structure.

Then, the next time you encounter a robot or AI with those same eyes, you may be able to imagine the "design assumptions" and "structural reasons" behind its behavior, rather than being fooled by appearances.

temi is an “entrance” and an “expandable learning material”

Understanding structure means cultivating the ability to see the invisible. This also gives us the ability to reexamine how we humans should interact in an increasingly complex technological society.

The little robot called temi has just the right scale and design transparency to be a great entry point.