Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Research are testing “droids in training” at Disneyland‘s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
The new Disney robots were tested on 12 October at the Star Wars-themed land in Anaheim, California.
“Disney Imagineers hosted a 1-day playtest with these droids in training, and we can’t wait to see where this exploration might go,” Disney said alongside a video on X.
The footage showcases Disney’s new technology, which allows the free-roaming droids to interact with visitors, emote, dance, and walk on uneven terrain.
“The robots actually learn to imitate artistic motion – that’s the secret sauce to make them work so quickly. They can actually emote and learn to dance,” Moritz Bächer, associate lab director at Disney Research, said in the clip.
“They can get really angry and the eyes turn red. They walk over uneven terrain. They can still balance. They’re really robust.”
“We’re really excited to see the guest reaction to these and where it might go in the future,” executive R&D Imagineer Joel Perry said in the Disney parks video.
Disney Research and Walt Disney Imagineering are also working on robots that can imitate human facial movements, as well as soft-body robots, robots that can make dynamic manoeuvres, and bots that can chat with emotion.
Disney robotics technology
Earlier this month, Disney filed a patent application for a robotic arm to transfer ride vehicles in theme parks from a support structure on one path to another.
Additionally, the company is planning to take “untethered” robots into the sky via “hybrid air and water power”, according to another patent. At Disneyland, a robotic Spider-Man is already swinging above the new Avengers Campus.
Imagineering has been testing its new Baby Groot robot at Disney California Adventure. The Vyloo – three small alien creatures from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – made their debut at the park in 2018.
Images courtesy of Disney
