PM Plan · Task Lists & Milestones · March 2026

Project Manager Analysis

AI Story Companion Ecosystem — 5-phase development framework. Key hardware in this revision: 4 physical buttons + mechanical privacy slide on the Cube, and projection mapping cameras on every projection module (1 on Dome, 1 on 1-Proj, 4 on 4-Sides). The 1-Proj camera has a dual role: wall mapping + real-time person/eye safety detection.

1. Project KPIs

KPI	Target	Phase
Module connector interface spec frozen	Connector standard locked	Phase 1 — Month 3
Cube prototype with all 4 buttons + privacy slide + USB-C — all BACK face	Functional device	Phase 1 — Month 5
AI Audio Cube E2E story pipeline	Voice → story → audio	Phase 1 — Month 6
Dome projection mapping (ceiling) working	Auto-calibrated ceiling projection	Phase 2 — Month 9
1-Proj wall mapping + person safety detection	Auto-dim on presence <200ms	Phase 2 — Month 9
4-Sides 4-camera mapping + edge blending	4-wall sync projection	Phase 2 — Month 11
Full system integration (all 5 SKUs)	All combinations stable	Phase 3 — Month 14
EN 62471 photobiological safety cert (projectors)	Passed	Phase 4 — Month 17
CE certification all 5 SKUs	Pre-cert passed	Phase 4 — Month 19
First commercial units shipped	5,000 Cubes + 2,000 modules each	Phase 4 — Month 21
Module attach rate	> 55% of Cube owners buy ≥1 module	Phase 5

2. Team Structure

Total Headcount: 16 — Cross-functional team covering hardware, firmware, computer vision, AI/ML, cloud backend, mobile, UX, QA, DevOps, and program management.

Role	HC	Responsibilities
Product Manager (Lead)	1	Roadmap, stakeholder mgmt, sprint planning, connector spec ownership
Backend Engineers	3	Cloud services, AI pipeline, APIs, story orchestrator
Embedded / Firmware Engineers	2	Cube OS, button GPIO handler, audio pipeline, module manager, OTA
Computer Vision Engineers	2	Projection mapping (all 3 modules), fisheye calibration, person detection
AI / ML Engineer	1	LLM integration, safety classifier, TFLite person detector
Mobile Developer	1	React Native parent app (iOS + Android)
Hardware Engineers	3	Cube PCB + controls, connector system, all 3 module HW designs + camera mounts
UX / UI Designer	1	Parent app, onboarding, module setup UX
QA Engineer	1	Device + module integration testing, projection mapping QA, safety tests
DevOps / Infra	1	CI/CD, Kubernetes, monitoring, OTA infrastructure

3. Phase 1 — AI Audio Cube + Docking Station

Phase 1: AI Audio Cube + Docking Station Months 1–6

Build functional Cube prototype. Implement all 4 buttons, privacy slide, USB-C charging — all on the BACK face. Critical gate: freeze the module connector specification by Month 3 — all subsequent module designs depend on this.

Task	Owner	Duration	Priority	Dependencies
Define hardware BOM for Cube + Dock (incl. 4 buttons + privacy slide + USB-C — all BACK face)	HW Eng	2 weeks	P1	None
CRITICAL: Freeze module connector spec (power + HDMI + I2C + GPIO sync)	HW Eng + PM	3 weeks	P1	BOM approved
Design Cube PCB — include GPIO pins for 4 buttons, camera module mount	HW Eng	4 weeks	P1	Connector spec frozen
Design mechanical privacy slide + USB-C port (both BACK face, physical lens block)	HW Eng	2 weeks	P1	Enclosure design started
Implement GPIO button handler (debounced, interrupt-driven, 4 buttons)	FW Eng	1 week	P1	PCB available
Implement camera capture service (triggered by camera button press)	FW Eng	1 week	P1	Camera GPIO handler
Set up Yocto Linux base OS	FW Eng	3 weeks	P1	Dev HW ready
Implement audio pipeline (4-mic beamforming + speaker)	FW Eng	2 weeks	P1	OS base
Integrate Porcupine wake-word detection	FW Eng	1 week	P1	Audio pipeline
Build Module Manager service (I2C plug-and-play detection)	FW Eng	3 weeks	P1	Connector spec + PCB
Set up cloud infra (Kubernetes / AWS EKS)	DevOps	2 weeks	P1	None
Build Story Orchestrator (LangChain + Claude API)	Backend + ML	5 weeks	P1	Cloud infra
Build child memory service (pgvector)	Backend	3 weeks	P1	DB schema
Build content safety classifier (v1)	ML Eng	3 weeks	P1	LLM integration
Integrate TTS (ElevenLabs + local Piper cache)	Backend	1 week	P1	Story Orchestrator
Parent app MVP (React Native) — incl. module status screen	Mobile Dev	6 weeks	P1	API spec agreed
BLE pairing Cube ↔ app	FW + Mobile	2 weeks	P1	App MVP + FW
E2E test: voice → story → audio output + button events	QA	2 weeks	P1	All integrated
Validate privacy slide: confirm camera blind when closed	QA + HW	1 week	P1	Slide assembled

Phase 1 Milestone: Cube tells stories. Buttons work. Privacy slide validated. Connector spec frozen — unblocks all module work.

4. Phase 2 — Projection Modules + Camera Systems

Phase 2: All 3 Projection Modules Months 7–11

Design and prototype all 3 modules. Implement projection mapping via cameras. Implement person safety on 1-Proj.

4.1 Dome Projector

Task	Owner	Duration	Priority	Dependencies
Select fisheye lens + pico projector + downward camera	HW Eng	2 weeks	P1	Connector spec frozen
Design PCB + mechanical housing with downward camera mount	HW Eng	4 weeks	P1	Components selected
Implement fisheye ceiling mapping pipeline (OpenCV + calibration)	CV Eng	5 weeks	P1	Dome proto + camera
Validate ≥95% ceiling coverage at 2.5m room height	CV + QA	1 week	P1	Mapping pipeline done
Handle ceiling obstacles (light fixtures, fans) in mask	CV Eng	2 weeks	P2	Ceiling mapping

4.2 1 Projector Module — Wall Mapping + Person Safety

Task	Owner	Duration	Priority	Dependencies
Select projector + forward-facing camera	HW Eng	1 week	P1	Connector spec frozen
Design PCB + mechanical housing with front camera mount	HW Eng	3 weeks	P1	Components selected
Implement wall geometry mapping + keystone correction	CV Eng	3 weeks	P1	1-Proj proto + camera
Implement real-time person detection pipeline (TFLite MobileNet)	CV + ML	4 weeks	P1	Camera pipeline ready
Validate auto-dim on person presence <200ms response time	CV + QA	1 week	P1	Person detection done
EN 62471 photobiological safety pre-assessment	HW + Legal	2 weeks	P1	1-Proj proto assembled

4.3 4 Sides Module — 4-Camera Geometry Mapping

Task	Owner	Duration	Priority	Dependencies
Select 4× projectors + 4× cameras (per face)	HW Eng	2 weeks	P1	Connector spec frozen
Design PCB + mechanical (4 camera mounts + 4 apertures)	HW Eng	6 weeks	P1	Components selected
Implement 4× geometry mapping pipelines + edge blending	CV Eng	6 weeks	P1	4-Sides proto + cameras
Validate edge blending quality across all 4 faces	CV + QA	2 weeks	P1	4-Sides mapping done

4.4 Software — Projection Compositor & Integration

Task	Owner	Duration	Priority	Dependencies
Build Projection Compositor stub (Python + OpenGL ES)	CV Eng	2 weeks	P1	Module Manager
Implement calibration trigger (auto on boot + manual via app)	FW + CV	2 weeks	P1	All module protos
Test all stacking combinations (Dome + 4-Sides + 1-Proj combos)	QA	3 weeks	P1	All protos stable
User testing with children — all projection configurations	PM + UX	2 weeks	P1	All stacks stable

Phase 2 Milestone: All 3 modules project correctly with auto-calibration. 1-Proj dims on person detection. Fisheye covers full ceiling.

5. Phase 3 — Full 5-SKU Integration

Phase 3: 5-SKU Integration, DVT Builds & Stress Testing Months 12–15

Bring all 5 SKUs together in integrated DVT builds. Run 72-hour stress tests across all module stacking configurations. Validate OTA, hot-swap, and thermal management for the Full Universe stack.

Task	Owner	Duration	Priority	Dependencies
DVT builds — all 5 SKUs (50 units each)	HW Eng × 3 + PM	5 weeks	P1	Phase 2 complete
Full connector stack validation (all 5-SKU combinations)	HW Eng + QA	3 weeks	P1	DVT builds
72-hour stress test — all stack configurations	QA Eng	3 weeks	P1	Full stack assembled
Thermal validation — Full Universe stack (~36W)	HW Eng + QA	2 weeks	P1	DVT builds
Hot-swap module test (no crash across all combinations)	FW + QA	2 weeks	P1	Module Manager finalised
OTA validation — simultaneous update of all 5 SKUs	DevOps + FW	1 week	P1	DVT builds
4-hour battery test (Cube + Dome stacked)	HW + QA	1 week	P1	DVT builds
Full system E2E test (voice → story → projection, all module sets)	QA Eng	3 weeks	P1	All software integrated
Pre-compliance EMC testing (5 SKUs)	HW Eng + Legal	2 weeks	P1	DVT builds stable
Bundle packaging design (all 4 bundles)	Designer + CM	3 weeks	P2	Brand identity final
Software performance optimisation (latency, power)	ML + Backend	3 weeks	P1	E2E test results

Phase 3 Gate: All 5 SKUs passing 72h stress test · Zero thermal failures in Full Universe stack · Hot-swap working across all module combinations · Pre-CE/FCC compliance confirmed.

6. Phase 4 — Manufacturing & Certification (5 SKUs)

Phase 4: Manufacturing, CE/FCC × 5 SKUs, Pilot Run Months 16–21

Industrialise all 5 SKUs, pass CE/FCC certifications for each, and execute pilot manufacturing run: 5,000 Cubes + 2,000 of each module (Dock, Dome, 1-Proj, 4-Sides).

Task	Owner	Duration	Priority	Dependencies
Select contract manufacturer (China/Vietnam)	PM + HW	3 weeks	P1	Phase 3 complete
DFM review — all 5 SKUs with CM	HW Eng × 3 + CM	4 weeks	P1	CM selected
Production tooling & mould creation (5 SKU enclosures)	CM	8 weeks	P1	DFM sign-off
CE certification — EMC + safety, EU (AI Audio Cube)	HW Eng + Legal	8 weeks	P1	DVT build
CE certification — Docking Station	HW Eng + Legal	6 weeks	P1	DVT build
CE certification — Dome Projector	HW Eng + Legal	8 weeks	P1	DVT build
CE certification — 1 Projector Module	HW Eng + Legal	6 weeks	P1	DVT build
CE certification — 4 Sides Module	HW Eng + Legal	8 weeks	P1	DVT build
FCC certification — all SKUs (US, prep for Phase 5)	HW Eng + Legal	8 weeks	P2	DVT builds
RoHS + REACH compliance (all 5 SKUs)	HW + Legal	4 weeks	P1	Component lists final
COPPA compliance audit (software + data)	Legal + Backend	3 weeks	P1	Data arch finalised
GDPR compliance review	Legal + Backend	2 weeks	P1	Data arch finalised
Child safety — Toy Directive EN 71 (all SKUs)	Legal + HW	4 weeks	P1	Physical protos stable
Pilot run: 5,000 AI Audio Cubes	CM + QA	6 weeks	P1	Tooling + CE complete
Pilot run: 2,000 × Docking Station	CM + QA	4 weeks	P1	Tooling + CE complete
Pilot run: 2,000 × Dome Projector	CM + QA	5 weeks	P1	Tooling + CE complete
Pilot run: 2,000 × 1 Projector Module	CM + QA	4 weeks	P1	Tooling + CE complete
Pilot run: 2,000 × 4 Sides Module	CM + QA	5 weeks	P1	Tooling + CE complete
Quality inspection & burn-in testing (all SKUs)	QA Eng	3 weeks	P1	Pilot runs complete
Retail fulfilment partner setup (individual + bundle SKUs)	PM	3 weeks	P2	Pilot runs ready
Subscription billing & management (Stripe)	Backend	2 weeks	P1	Pre-launch

Phase 4 Gate: CE certified all 5 SKUs · 5K Cubes + 2K of each module manufactured and QA-passed · Bundle packaging production-ready · Subscription billing live.

7. Phase 5 — Platform Launch & Expansion

Phase 5: EU Launch → Content Expansion → US Market Months 22–30

EU public launch with 4 bundles, grow subscriber base to >40% attach, achieve module attach rate >55%, then expand to US market with FCC-certified SKUs.

Task	Owner	Duration	Priority	Dependencies
Public launch campaign — EU market (all 4 bundles)	PM + Marketing	4 weeks	P1	Phase 4 complete
Module upsell campaign (target >55% attach rate)	PM + Marketing	Ongoing	P1	Launch
Educational course content production (10 courses)	Content + ML	8 weeks	P1	Launch
Licensed character IP partnership (1 partner)	PM + Legal	12 weeks	P2	Post-launch
Story pack DLC marketplace	Backend + Mobile	5 weeks	P2	Launch stable
US market FCC + CPSC certification (all 5 SKUs)	Legal + HW	8 weeks	P2	EU launch stable
AI illustration engine upgrade (on-device option)	ML Eng	6 weeks	P3	Cloud stable
Advanced sleep analytics dashboard	Backend + Mobile	4 weeks	P2	Post-launch
Third-party developer SDK (v1)	Backend	8 weeks	P3	Platform stable
US launch (FCC certified, all 5 SKUs)	PM + Sales	4 weeks	P2	FCC certs + US distrib.

8. Risk Register

Risk	Prob	Impact	Mitigation
Projection mapping fails in unusual rooms (dark walls, complex geometry)	Med	Med	Fallback mode: uncorrected projection; room guidance in app setup
Person detection latency >200ms (eye safety)	Med	High	Profile TFLite model; hardware accelerate on NPU; fail-safe = dim always
Fisheye lens doesn't cover full ceiling at 2.5m	Med	High	Test multiple lens FOVs at Phase 2 start; select ≥180° if needed
Privacy slide mechanical failure (jamming, breaking)	Low	High	IP54 ingress tested; 5,000-cycle durability; child-proof tab design
7 cameras increase BOM significantly	Med	Med	Use OV5647 (~€3–5 each); shared driver stack; volume pricing
Connector spec change after freeze	Low	Critical	Change control board; no changes without full team review
EN 62471 photobiological safety failure	Med	High	Pre-assess at prototype stage; select projectors with IEC Class 0/1 rating
CE/FCC × 5 SKUs — cost and timeline	High	High	Pre-compliance testing Phase 3; prioritise Cube + Dome first

9. Project Timeline — Gantt Chart

30-month development plan across all 5 phases. Month numbers on the x-axis. Each bar represents a task's start → end month. Dependencies flow left-to-right within phases.

Critical path: Connector spec freeze (M3) → Module HW design (M7) → DVT builds (M12) → CE certification (M17) → Pilot manufacturing (M19) → EU Launch (M22). Any delay to the connector spec propagates to all downstream milestones.