During their presentation at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival, Disney Parks gave attendees a sneak peek at an innovative new robot that could potentially revolutionize character meet and greets at their theme parks. The robot, which stands just a few feet tall and sports bunny ears, has the ability to “fall down, get back up and even do a somersault!”
The dynamic robot was introduced following a demonstration of the impressive Project Exo, which brought the larger-than-life Hulk character to life. The robot is the brainchild of Imagineers Tony Dohi and Morgan Pope, who also designed the Spider-Man “stuntronic” used at the Avengers Campus.
TechCrunch’s Brian Heater shared a video of the robot in action as it roller-skated around the stage, showcasing its impressive capabilities. The robot’s unique design and mobility suggest that it could potentially be used for meet and greets with small characters, such as Judy Hopps from the animated movie “Zootopia.”
While there is no official word yet on when or where the dynamic robot will make its official debut, Disney Parks’ commitment to innovation and technology in their attractions suggests that it may not be too far off. In fact, I think it’s likely that the first use of this technology might be an appearance as Judy Hopps at the upcoming Zootopia land at Shanghai Disneyland.
