AI Interactive Terminal Development
TL;DR: OPD Design developed an AI interactive terminal combining voice interaction, touchscreen interface and embedded computing for a commercial client. The project covered industrial design, mechanical and hardware engineering, firmware development, prototyping and mold support.
Project Background
ACG culture badges sell over 800 million units yearly in China alone. However, these badges only serve as static collectibles with no interactive capability. Gen Z collectors crave immersive IP experiences beyond passive display.
Moreover, low-cost NFC technology is now widely available, yet the market lacks portable interactive devices designed specifically for badge collectors. This gap presented a clear opportunity.
Therefore, OPD Design partnered with the client to develop an AI-powered NFC interactive terminal. The goal was to enable each badge to trigger its own exclusive audio interaction — filling the market need for smart, portable accessories in the trendy toy space.
How Badge Bubble Works
Badge Bubble is a wearable device that attaches to collectible badges via a lanyard clip. When a user taps an NFC-equipped badge, the device identifies the badge’s unique chip ID and triggers a matching AI-generated sound effect — such as a character’s voice line, a signature BGM clip, or a custom audio response.
The process works in three steps:
1. NFC Detection: The built-in NFC module reads the badge’s embedded chip within 0.5 seconds.
2. AI Matching: The onboard AI algorithm matches the chip ID to the corresponding sound effect from the database.
3. Audio Output: A micro speaker plays the matched sound effect instantly.
Additionally, users can update the sound effect library through a companion mobile app via Bluetooth, allowing new IP audio content to be added at any time.
Project Data
Services: Industrial design, Mechanical design, Hardware design, Firmware development
Product type: AI interactive terminal with voice and display integration
Product stage: Mass produced
Industries: Commercial electronics, smart retail
Deliverables: Design concept, structural engineering, hardware and firmware, functional prototype, tooling and production support
Our AI Interactive Terminal Development Process
We approached this AI interactive terminal product development through four core phases.
Step 1-Product Definition & Market Research
We analyzed the smart kiosk and voice-interaction terminal market, identified target deployment scenarios in retail, hospitality and public service environments, and worked with the client to define interaction requirements, display specifications and durability standards.
Step 2-Industrial Design
We designed the terminal form factor integrating a touchscreen display, speaker grille, microphone array and ventilation within a cohesive enclosure. The industrial design balanced visual presence with functional requirements for cable management, service access and vandal resistance.
Step 3-Mechanical (Structural) Engineering
Step 4-Hardware & Firmware Development
We integrated the touchscreen controller, audio processing module and embedded compute board. Firmware development covered display driver configuration, voice I/O routing, peripheral communication and power management, with the PCB layout optimized for thermal and EMI performance.
Step 5-Functional Prototyping
We built functional prototypes and conducted voice recognition accuracy testing, touchscreen responsiveness validation and system stability testing under continuous operation. Thermal management was iterated through testing to ensure operation within temperature limits.
Step 6-Mold Development
We managed mold tooling for the terminal enclosure, display bezel and mounting dock. T0/T1 trials confirmed dimensional accuracy, surface finish quality and fit across multiple materials — including metal-look finishes for the commercial aesthetic.
We engineered the internal chassis to accommodate the display module, mainboard, speaker and wiring harness. Structural design prioritized thermal ventilation, serviceability and secure mounting for unattended deployment environments.
We coordinated sourcing for the display panels, embedded boards, audio modules and structural components, managed pilot assembly runs and supported volume production with quality inspection across our manufacturing network.
Developing a smart kiosk, interactive display or commercial electronics product? Send us your product idea — our team can take it from first concept to a production-ready design.
Project Results
The AI interactive terminal product development project delivered a fully functional, mass-producible device that bridges the gap between static collectibles and interactive IP experiences.
Key outcomes include:
– **Recognition performance**: NFC detection within 0.5 seconds with ≥ 98% accuracy
– **Form factor**: Compact lanyard-worn device (diameter ≤ 5cm) with IP54 protection
– **User experience**: “One badge, one exclusive interaction” — each collectible badge triggers its own unique character voice or sound effect
– **Expandability**: Users can update the sound library via the companion mobile app, keeping the experience fresh with new IP content
Based on different IP toys, the device converts character voices and personality traits into immersive audio interactions. This transforms passive badge collecting into an engaging, multi-sensory experience for Gen Z ACG fans.
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