Disney took the wrap off the new Zootopia land at Shanghai Disneyland at a keynote. During the keynote, an unexpected “guest” made an appearance. It was Duke Weaselton of Zootopia. And no. It was not a projection of the animated character; it was an animatronic/robotic iteration of the smart-mouthed weasel.
Walt Disney Imagineering recently showcased their innovative approach to robotics with Duke Weaselton, a new robotic character, at the opening of the first-ever Zootopia land in Shanghai Disney Resort.
This character, alongside a unique kiosk, which is also an independently actuated robot, demonstrates the potential of collaborative robots working together to enhance entertainment experiences.
Duke Weaselton, an expressive, bipedal robot, and the kiosk, a simple wheeled system, combine to deliver dynamic and compelling performances that neither could achieve alone.
Enabled by robust and flexible design, this collaboration represents a significant advancement in entertainment robotics, showcasing a blend of creativity and technical innovation that promises to redefine audience engagement.
This is not the first robot from Imagineering, though. Previously, Walt Disney Imagineering has shown off its free-roaming robotic actor and free-roaming characters, the robot stuntman, indestructible robots, and more.
The team is not just in the business of developing animatronics and robots; they are involved in the development of thrill rides, omnidirectional walking floors, working lightsabers, and more. Skip ahead for a video on Duke Weaselton’s dynamic robotic character as well as a video of the said keynote at Shanghai Disneyland.
Images: Walt Disney Imagineering.
via Spectrum IEEE.