Disney’s research team surprised the public by introducing a new robotic character. The revelation occurred during the 2023 International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), hosted in Detroit (USA).
For those in a hurry:
The little robot is as tall as a child and can express different expressions, thanks to its head with two fluttering antennas and short, sturdy legs. However, what really sets this robot apart is the way it moves, conveying a unique sense of vitality, according to the website. IEEE Spectrum.
Cute Disney robot
The robot was developed by a team led by Moritz Bächer of Disney Research in Zurich, Switzerland, and was largely produced by 3D printing. Its design is very reminiscent of BD-1, a robot designed for the 2019 game “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.”
Using modular hardware and actuators, the design and prototyping process was completed in less than a year.
The robot has a head with four degrees of freedom and legs with five degrees of freedom, ensuring dynamic and balanced movements.
Morgan Pope, a scientist at Disney Research, points out that at Disney it is not enough for the robots to walk safely. They need to parade, dance, sneak and trot to convey the necessary emotion.
To achieve this, the team integrates animators and robotics experts, leveraging their expertise to create exceptional performances.
Disney Research’s process uses simulations to combine animator-designed movements with robotic mechanics, allowing for the creation of robust and expressive movements.
Reinforcement learning dramatically accelerates robot training, reducing development time from years to months.
Context and next steps
This advancement is not just limited to this particular little robot, but serves as a hardware platform.
Disney can apply this technology to a variety of robots, from those with additional legs to characters with completely different morphologies.
The next step for Disney will be to expand this technique to develop robotic characters with more dynamic and faster movements.
This new little robot, still without an official name, is just a taste of what’s to come. With the improved ability to create these characters, we can expect to see many more of these adorable Disney robots in the near future.
The post Disney shows a cute little robot that looks like it came out of Star Wars appeared first on Olhar Digital.
Source: Olhar Digital
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
