Animatronics - the name comes from Mr. Disney himself!

By now you probably consider the animatronic characters of the theme park as “just” animatronics, deserving maybe a little more acknowledgment than store mannequins (yeah, that’s a wild comparison, but hang on).

Stop right there!

Because animatronics has come a long way from that, thanks to the ever-experimental animatronic manufacturers. We are gradually moving closer to an age where life-like robots are not novel, but the norm!

Come, join this fascinating journey and witness how reality is intertwining with virtual!

Notable Experiments:

As the industry has evolved over the years, several animatronic manufacturers are exploring unique and innovative ideas to design animatronic figures. Let’s discuss a few of them in the following passages:

• Animatronics Designed by Garner Holt Productions

Garner Holt Productions is a pioneer in the world of animatronics. From animatronic chandeliers to robotic presidents and various animated figures at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch - their range of experiments seems to be never-ending.

Quite recently, they have designed a full-size version of Thomas Tank Engine characters with expressive faces.

• Animatronics Designed by Disney Imagineers

Disney Imagineers have recently developed a 90 pound autonomous humanoid. They reported that the acrobatic Stuntronics robot utilizes a sophisticated system of onboard sensors. It allows the robot to make real time decisions.

The Imagineers absolutely know when to tuck the knees while performing a somersault, when to twist arms, when to slow down the spins, and how to accomplish a perfect landing. Uncanny? No, amazing and very dangerous for a human stunt-person!

Disney seeks to merge the gap between the real and the virtual with two more recent patents. The first one aims to minutely replicate human appearance through physical face cloning. The method uses facial performance capture, fabrication-based material design to optimize the synthetic skin, and physics-based simulation to develop life-like animatronic characters.

The second one uses light projection technology, which is a form of augmented reality. Disney Imagineers recognize that the precision, control, and number of actuators required to properly represent the minute details like wrinkles, dimples, and other facial features and expressions are varied and expensive. That’s why Disney has developed a new technology to project these details onto the animatronic figures in a way that these can be observable from every angle.

Prospective Future

While animatronics still mostly belongs to the domain of the entertainment industry, the latest researches are advancing the prospect of a wider application of life-like robotics.

For example, Garner Holt Productions has created various animated figures for the Infantry Immersion Trainer at California’s Camp Pendelton.

The training center simulates a third world village, populated by role-playing animatronic figures and humans. They stand in as both enemy combatants and civilians.

The animatronic manufacturers are still working on designing animatronic figures to train nurses or doctors.

Conclusion:

These advanced animatronic figures are the outcome of the researchers’ passion and dedication to develop something unique.

We started the article with the notion of a blurring between the real and virtual, but can their fine lines ever get erased?

Let us know your thoughts.

And for more such fascinating information and custom robotic solutions, contact Custom Entertainment Solutions. Call 01.801.410.4869.