The Disney Research Hub has different priorities than other robot developers; her robots need to move efficiently and effectively – but also with plenty of style and personality. This super cute biped, based on the BD-1 droid, is a perfect example.
BD-1, for the uninitiated, first appeared in Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Ordergreat video game released in 2019. This bird-like biped, like many robots in Star Wars, she was a curious, spunky and spunky little character, communicating mainly with R2D2-like beeps and beeps. Riding on the main character’s shoulder most of the time, BD was a constant companion, helpful and cheerful.
He was also wonderfully expressive, able to communicate a lot through body language, and this became a key part of the challenge for Disney roboticists when they began trying to bring the little droid to life.
Disney Research
As we discussed in October 2023, the Disney Research team designed a new type of motion control system for the little guy that combines expressive animations with practical robotic considerations like balance and control commands in an effort to get the job done in style.
It’s not just for fun; Disney correctly reckons that its decades at the forefront of animated motion make it more or less the authority on how all manner of machines should move to convey a range of different character traits, from the curious excitement embodied in BD. -1, to Darth Vader’s commanding physical threat, to Snow White’s flowing grace.
By designing a robotic motion system in which function and form share equal priority, Disney hopes to create robots that can move extremely naturally around humans and that can build trust and connection through body language alone.
In a new video released a few days ago, the Disney Research team shows the current state and capabilities of the BD-1-like robot, also demonstrating a remote control system that can control the robot’s movement, as well as the puppet’s expressive abilities to fly.
Design and control of a bipedal robotic figure
It’s quite phenomenal how seamlessly the robot blends artistic intent with the practicality of bipedal locomotion and how beautifully the little figure is embodied in these real robots. Certainly a refreshing break from the relentless pragmatism of most of the high-end universal robots we’ve seen over the past few years – Disney could be on its way to creating some incredibly impressive machines in the near future that will tug at human heartstrings like nothing else on the market.
What’s remarkable in the new video is the robot’s ability to maintain its “personality” while traversing a series of uneven and messy surfaces — which is just as well, since it doesn’t look like it can get back up if it falls. We also get to see things come together in some of the demos towards the end, including interacting with people, and it’s hard not to feel a bit of affection for the thing.
Disney Research
Disney has not yet made it clear what its plans are for these robots; they’re definitely some of the coolest animatronics we’ve seen yet, and we definitely got to see them perform in live action Star Wars show or movie at a certain point in time. Likewise, they would be hugely popular with Disneyland visitors if they could handle the rigors of wandering around and interacting with crowds for a decent amount of time.
But more importantly, Disney found a way to bring their animation expertise to the real world and bring beauty to motion without compromising function and practicality. And we can’t wait to see where this concept goes in the coming years.
Source: Disney Research