Disney tests cutting-edge robot technology in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
From the flying Spider-Man to the highly stylized cartoon characters brought to life, Disney has always been at the forefront of audio-animatronic technology in its theme parks.
Last week, Disney Imagineers announced an exciting new concept for future audio-animatronics, and they surprised guests by testing it for one day at Disneyland earlier this week.
Disney unveils new technology at robotics conference
At the International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems in Detroit last week, Disney unveiled a new bipedal robot that can walk independently and without assistance. Disney revealed during the presentation that this special new animatronic can walk over difficult terrain, maintain balance, and stay upright even when pushed.
This animatronic was developed by a team at Disney Research in Zurich. Disney research scientist Morgan Pope said during the event that robots can do more than just walk; they can also “walk, jump, creep, scurry, and meander to convey the necessary emotions. It may be necessary.” You can watch the presentation from the event in the video above.
Test units are currently walking around Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland
@disneyparks How do I sign up for droid training 🥹 #Disney #DisneyParks #Star Wars Galaxy Edge #Star Wars #Disneyland #Droids #Imagineer #STEM #Technology ♬ Original Song – Disney Parks
In a surprising move, shortly after the conference ended, Disney surprised Disneyland guests with an unannounced test of the new technology at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. A small BD droid (from the Disney+ series “The Mandalorian”) roamed the land with musical accompaniment. Imagineers will show off their ability to roam the land, move their heads, and dance. Guests who were lucky enough to see these “droids in training” were able to take photos, but were not able to interact directly with the robots.
“As we often do, our R&D Imagineers are testing out one of our newest robot characters, and today we’re excited to announce that we’ll be able to do this with guests at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park. I’m excited to do it.” Disneyland said in a statement shared on Twitter by journalist Scott Gustin.
At this time, there appear to be no plans to make this a permanent experience at Disneyland. Unfortunately, Star Wars fans at Walt Disney World are out of luck, as this test is unlikely to take place. Coming soon to the east coast.
What does the future hold for this technology?
Currently, this exciting new robotic technology is still being developed for use in theme parks, so it is not expected to be used any time soon beyond initial testing. But in the future, this robotic technology could be used for non-human meet-and-greets, as characters can move around, talk, and pose on their own while someone is controlling them remotely. There is a gender. This new technology can also be used on theme park rides, allowing for a wider range of movement in show scenes and only needing to be connected to a power source to keep running.
Nothing has been announced yet, but the proof of concept at Disneyland is certainly exciting, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for this new technology.
