Disney reveals plans for robot designed to have 'emotional connection' with people
POSTED 30 Mar 2023 . BY Tom Walker
The robot has motion capture data embedded in its movements Credit: Youtube.com/Disney Parks
Disney has revealed a new animatronic robot designed to have an “emotional connection” with people
The robot was revealed at SXSW Media Festival earlier this month
The two-legged droid is able to perform a multitude of tricks
The new robots will be making an appearance at various attractions
Disney has revealed a new animatronic robot, designed to have an “emotional connection” with people.
Revealed at SXSW Media Festival earlier this month, Disney unveiled a two-legged droid that is able to perform a multitude of tricks – such as using rollerblades and executing small somersaults.
When speaking at the festival, chair of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Josh D’Amaro, demonstrated the prototype's ability to make dynamic motions including “falling down and getting back up”.
The new template for many Disney animatronics is said to have motion capture data embedded in the robot’s movements.
This would allow it to have natural animations which ‘give life’ to the robot.
During the display, D’Amaro announced that the new robots will be making an appearance at various attractions and would be able to build an ‘emotional connection’ with people.
Without revealing further details, this could mean the robots will be able to communicate with visitors.
The company is still to announce whether the robot is controlled by a person or artificial intelligence.
As proved by the Spider-Man animatronic on the Avengers Campus in Disneyland, which was first displayed in June 2021, robots which perform ‘daring stunts’ are known to garner large crowds.
The Spider-Man animatronic is able to perform a full swing across a building, and then land on a trampoline.
Videos of the attraction gained a substantial amount of social media attention – including a TikTok video which has over 11 million views as of March 2023.
Disney has published a video which shows the robot in action at SXSW.
Florida governor strips Disney of special tax district status POSTED 03 Mar 2023. BY Tom Walker The row between Florida's Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, and The Walt
Disney Company has escalated, leading to Orlando's Walt Disney World losing its
special tax district status.
Florida governor strips Disney of special tax district status POSTED 03 Mar 2023. BY Tom Walker The row between Florida's Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, and The Walt
Disney Company has escalated, leading to Orlando's Walt Disney World losing its
special tax district status.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its
next phase. [more...]
Disney reveals plans for robot designed to have 'emotional connection' with people
POSTED 30 Mar 2023 . BY Tom Walker
The robot has motion capture data embedded in its movements Credit: Youtube.com/Disney Parks
Disney has revealed a new animatronic robot designed to have an “emotional connection” with people
The robot was revealed at SXSW Media Festival earlier this month
The two-legged droid is able to perform a multitude of tricks
The new robots will be making an appearance at various attractions
Disney has revealed a new animatronic robot, designed to have an “emotional connection” with people.
Revealed at SXSW Media Festival earlier this month, Disney unveiled a two-legged droid that is able to perform a multitude of tricks – such as using rollerblades and executing small somersaults.
When speaking at the festival, chair of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Josh D’Amaro, demonstrated the prototype's ability to make dynamic motions including “falling down and getting back up”.
The new template for many Disney animatronics is said to have motion capture data embedded in the robot’s movements.
This would allow it to have natural animations which ‘give life’ to the robot.
During the display, D’Amaro announced that the new robots will be making an appearance at various attractions and would be able to build an ‘emotional connection’ with people.
Without revealing further details, this could mean the robots will be able to communicate with visitors.
The company is still to announce whether the robot is controlled by a person or artificial intelligence.
As proved by the Spider-Man animatronic on the Avengers Campus in Disneyland, which was first displayed in June 2021, robots which perform ‘daring stunts’ are known to garner large crowds.
The Spider-Man animatronic is able to perform a full swing across a building, and then land on a trampoline.
Videos of the attraction gained a substantial amount of social media attention – including a TikTok video which has over 11 million views as of March 2023.
Disney has published a video which shows the robot in action at SXSW.
Florida governor strips Disney of special tax district status POSTED 03 Mar 2023. BY Tom Walker The row between Florida's Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, and The Walt
Disney Company has escalated, leading to Orlando's Walt Disney World losing its
special tax district status.
Florida governor strips Disney of special tax district status POSTED 03 Mar 2023. BY Tom Walker The row between Florida's Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, and The Walt
Disney Company has escalated, leading to Orlando's Walt Disney World losing its
special tax district status.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its
next phase. [more...]
