While Boston Dynamics continues to make advancements with their humanoid robot Atlas and their quadruped robot Spot, Disney has taken a different approach by focusing on building robots for entertainment purposes.
It may not come as a surprise that Disney is at the forefront of bringing real-life droids to us. Recently, they decided to put their new droids to the test at the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge theme park located in Disneyland, California.
These droids, unlike Boston Dynamics’ robots, are designed with the sole purpose of entertaining visitors to the park. They may not possess practical applications in the real world, but their charm and adorable appearances make them perfect for the immersive fantasy experience that Disneyland offers.
Imagine walking through the park and encountering a cross between an AT-ST from Star Wars and Wall-E – it’s an experience that captures the essence of Disney magic.
In a video produced by WDW News Today, you can witness the capabilities of these bipedal self-learning robots. As they showcase their personalities, it becomes evident that their purpose is to engage and entertain park visitors.
These robots have been meticulously designed to imitate the movements and mannerisms of Disney characters. They can strut, prance, sneak, tromp, shuffle, hustle, saunter, and even meander – all with impeccable balance and coordination.
Disney Research has played a significant role in the development of these robotic characters. They have recently unveiled a new prototype that combines procedural animation, modular hardware, and reinforcement learning.
This innovative approach enables them to design and program walking characters with unique gaits and traits in a matter of months, rather than years. This advancement in technology allows for unprecedented creativity and efficiency in Imagineering’s innovation pipeline.
The ability to simulate and imitate artistic motion before physically building the robots opens up endless possibilities for Disney’s future ventures. With each new exploration, these robots will continue to evolve, captivating visitors with their lifelike movements and endearing personalities.
The integration of robotics into the entertainment industry demonstrates the remarkable progress being made in the field of technology and the immersive experiences that can be achieved.
We eagerly anticipate the next breakthrough and the incredible experiences that Disney will bring to life.
