Disney’s marvel Robot reveal at SXSW

Written By: Aniqa Batool
Last Updated On: October 11, 2023

SXSW's Tech Marvels: Disney's Next-Generation Robot Revealed

Disney introduced its next generation of robots at SXSW on Friday. During a presentation named Creating Happiness: The Art & Science of Disney Parks Storytelling, led by Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro, the robot tumbled out of a box, somersaulted, and roller skated.

Morgan Pope, a Disney Imagineer, inquired that their characters are all about personality, right? Can you imagine how it feels to put on roller skates for the first time? asked by him and added that It was uncomfortable. It’s sloppy, and terrifying at times, but ultimately exciting.

Fellow Imagineer Tony Dohi said that this is their latest effort in making robots that they think can have an emotional connection with their guests. They have been using high-performance materials and exploiting mechanical scaling effects to make her dynamic and tough. But they have also employed motion-capture data because they want to create performances with feeling.

The tiki birds that debuted in Disneyland’s Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room in 1963 and Walt Disney’s audio-animatronic Abraham Lincoln, which debuted at the 1964/65 World’s Fair and presented Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln the successor of Walt Disney’s audio-animatronic can be seen at The Disneyland Story, these are just two examples of Disney’s storied history with robotics full of personality.

It’s unclear when or if the SXSW robot will be introduced to parks, but Disney has already begun “play testing” a few other “blue-sky” technology for character greets, which D’Amaro demonstrated with the Austin crowd.

D’Amaro indicated that the encounter was live and with a live performer, but didn’t reveal much more magic before bringing another guest: a gigantic Hulk brought to life by a live performer. One is a small Tinker Bell, who emerges in a lantern and answers questions in real-time, such as whether she ever feels jealous of Peter Pan and why she always wears green. D’Amaro was also reminded of a vow he made to her.

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