The desk pet uses a SeeedStudio XIAO SAMD21 Microcontroller, which is essentially a standard Arduino but with many added benefits. It is far more compact than any Arduino, has more processing power, and more Flash Memory for all of the animations. The microcontroller is based on the ARM Cortex-M0+ Architecture. It also features a USB-C connector, which is much more universal compared to the Type-B port or Serial communication pins commonly found on Arduinos

A 1” 128x64 pixel monochrome OLED was chosen for the main display. These displays are very common, making troubleshooting easier and providing access to more code libraries. One of the main benefits to using an OLED instead of a small LCD is that the absence of a backlight results in better contrast. This display is also much thinner, allowing for more workable space inside the enclosure.

In order to determine the orientation and any movements, a MPU-6050 accelerometer and gyroscope module was embedded. This allows the program to know when the pet is picked up, spun around, or put upside down.

The pet knows whether it is in a bright or dark room by using a light-dependent resistor. In a dark room, the resistance is higher, and this can be measured on the processor. Then, if the light level is below a certain threshold, the mood changes to sleep.

Different melodies and tones are triggered in different moods using a passive buzzer. While active buzzers use a DC voltage to make a sound, passive buzzers use square wave signals to control the pitch. This allows for many different melodies to show the four moods—happy, sad, sleeping, and dizzy—all from one small speaker

The main frame is one 3D printed piece with all of the internal mounting points for the electronics. The back cover is a press-fit plate, but if extra strength was required, the main frame was also designed with 4mm screw holes for use with an alternative back cover. Printing in one piece allowed for a more seamless and smoother appearance. The USB-C programming and power port is also accessible while the back cover is in place.