Droids in Training: Imagineers Conduct Playtest at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Utilizing new technologies developed by Disney Research and Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development, Imagineering’s latest free-roaming robotic characters are capable of great balance and highly expressive motions. They can support myriad character activations, like a Star Wars-inspired droid. Recently, as part of a one-day playtest in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park, Imagineers teamed-up with animators to design droids in training with impossibly cute personalities. We can’t wait to see where this exploration, developed by the galaxy’s brightest minds, might go!
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[@johnchauvin874]

Disney figured out that the best way to simulate droids is to literally build droids.

[@cyborglion4179]

it wouldn't have been for a long time, technology has only recently reached that point

[@vahehatch2800]

in few years we'll have the droids patrolling the public space. Disneyland is just a testground so it is still a simulation.

[@DazDroAnimations]

Yet they can’t make good lightsabers

[@cyborglion4179]

completely different fields of engineering and science. Plus droids were already much more possible than lightsabers anyway. Lightsabers require a lot of bullshit that is basically not possible, droids are just robots, robotics progress was already going at a good pace back when starwars was made. @@DazDroAnimations

[@slippydouglas]

Simulate? I think you mean assimilate. That's what the research lab director guy kept saying.

[@cadendicky1855]

They remind me of little penguins waddling around. I hope we get more amazing tech like this, because it's amazing.

[@borissinaga]

I feel they're more like chicks

[@cadendicky1855]

@@borissinaga yeah, penguin chicks.

[@richardconway6425]

Yes, that adorable tendency they have to follow each other in a little line - as if the first one knows where he's going !! 😂❤

[@jayden3988]

I love how all of the motions it makes are seamless with each other, it really sells the character and emotion.

[@KenanTurkiye]

They don't look like they are fed well, they need 0-35 synthetic oil.

[@janmartenlocher]

The look and behave like little ducklings!!! Cute!

[@angelomacedo5140]

They're basically Huey, Dewey, and Louie

[@agentid36]

An apocalypse occurs, and somehow, these are the only things to survive. 500,000 years later, Star Wars happens again.

[@Gl0ckb1te]

Wall-e, irl

[@dalemsilas8425]

Scavenger aliens would view the movies as historical events.😂

[@Linguistic1]

And then 4 million years later, the founding of the New Old Republic.

[@Tschudenizer]

Well, good idea, if only they had opposable thumbs or even fingers to invent and build something 😢

[@weekdaycycling]

AT-ST and AT-DT Walkers in Star Wars would say at the droid museum, "Here are our ancestors."

[@Trazynn]

These little guys would be immensely valuable in the children's ward of any hospital.

[@crispford]

Now thats a start of our civilization to cyberpunk

[@DH-oy4zf]

They found a way to make these tiny droids seems human like but also non threatening. I really like they way the heads wobble when they walk.

[@richardconway6425]

Yes, very anthropomorphic, or 'animal-morphic'. Mind you, since they are tiny, as you say, I think they were always going to be non-threatening. If they were 6 feet tall, then that would be a different matter .... 😨🤖

[@Demonrose64]

The little head shakes is the most precious thing

[@jacksonhaenchen840]

I love the tech. It sounds like they're using a neural network to take in an animator's example movement combined with adaptive walking algorithm to yield a personality robot that can also walk. I would expect to see some very striking large robots in the future too. This same system would work with that and the engineer mentions it in the video.

[@TheRealAirdoo]

The white paper was published a few months ago. "Transformer-based Neural Augmentation of Robot Simulation Representations." Supplemental video is available on the Disney Research Hub KZbin Channel.

[@TheRealAirdoo]

As well as, Differentiable Optimal Control for Retargeting Motions onto Legged Robots.

[@tylerwilliams33]

"autobots roll out"

[@malidevGames]

Now we know it's with NVIDIA Ai training model

[@sonicguyver7445]

They are so cute! Really capture the charm of BD-1. Maybe in a few years they can get this technology to a point where we can build our own BD units at the Droid Depot. I would book a flight and get a day pass to Disney World just for that.

[@myperspective5091]

They do have that walking of the penguins at a zoo feel.👍🏆👍

[@manp1039]

having the 2 antena that can rotate up and down like dog ears is a great touch. Dog ears are great for expressing emotions and feelings. they are like cute robot puppies.

[@marthinus.x]

It's great seeing talented people blur the lines between movie magic and science.

[@PixarShark]

I’m smiling like an idiot this is so CUTE what the heck.

[@bradkoerner1]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing some of the details behind these!

[@portcybertryx222]

This is what we want…let imagineers be free to pursue the ideas they want. Fund them instead of uninspired rides that just put screens on everything and call it an experience. There is a severe need for tangible experiences.

[@richardconway6425]

I totally agree - 'tangible experiences' is a great way to describe it. The best experiences are always tangible to some degree. But it's also, I think, very consistent with George Lucas' original vision for star wars. Computer technology was in its infancy in 1977, there was no such thing as a 'render farm'. So much of the original trilogy was done with real life models, and full scale replicas. Like the MF. It looked so real, because it was.

[@richardconway6425]

The difficulty is in finding a cost effective way to provide these 'tangible experiences'. These robots are state of the art, so initially, they will be very expensive. Also, I wonder how long they can go for without needing a recharge? Half an hour perhaps? Their method of locomotion is very engaging, but quite energy intensive. Have you seen how expensive the mini sized NAO robot is? About €4000 I think. The thing about 'uninspired rides with screens' is that they are a very cheap way of making 'attractions'. If profit is the overriding goal, it doesn't leave a lot left for creative and involving experiences. But I still agree with what you say.

[@HarryPothead_420]

I hope we get to buy a droid like that in the near future

[@trolly4233]

Make recharging docks so they can automatically charge themselves and just walk around forever.

[@SirDamatoIII]

What a refreshing breath of fresh air, especially amongst the ongoing panderverse reboot failures!

[@patrickcarpenter6258]

Such amazing work from all!

[@zest431]

I think its incredible!!! You guys have made legitimate operational drones from what was once only imaginable or a dream!!! Shows the true potential of our minds with sci-fi!!! If you can dream it up then you might just be able to actually make it work!!!

[@AidanNaut0]

they made robot ducks, and im here for it.

[@edwardrcox]

Aw, so great! They're earning their gEARS. :-D

[@A_Litre_of_Farva]

Good on you Disney. I bet these droids can get some kind of work done too in the near future.

[@weekdaycycling]

Weapon!

[@S.E.C-R]

I saw these on a Disney KZbinr’s channel a couple weeks ago… I instantly fell in love, I can’t wait to someday meet them in person!!

[@VortexMotiveVision]

Animators can bring so much to droids and androids.

[@m3vm3]

this is the future, this is beautiful design and engineering

[@lajoyalobos2009]

This is awesome. I think it'd be cool to even have the droids with mis-matching colored parts/missing panels and simulated wear and tear. Would be great for immersion.

[@brian-classic]

I can see how animators may soon have a new career bringing robots to life.

[@ekojar3047]

This is amazing! I never thought i would see something like this in my lifetime. Technology has really exploded. Im glad i get to live life during this time of history.

[@katana2665]

Outstanding engineering. Well done.

[@__hz__6983]

Love them, the small size makes them not intimidating at all.

[@pairojvejchapipat7565]

Awesome. Please develop these droids to be autonomous, they will be our next best friends.

[@borgurman]

At only 99.999 dollars

[@mrb2349]

@@borgurman Doesn't matter, it'll get better and cheaper in time.

[@keyboardt8276]

​@@borgurman100 dollars is really cheap for what you get

[@weekdaycycling]

Not friend! They will then be developed into an artificially intelligent (AI) machine for use in modern warfare.

[@JB-mf8ko]

Amazing! Another reason to revisit Galaxy's edge! And one day... I hope to see moving Darth GONK droid

[@CrystalLynn1988]

Soo adorable. I want to hug them so bad.

[@nanettesage1112]

They are so adorable.

[@thedadwars]

More of this in the parks, please.

[@adayinthelife5496]

Brilliant!

[@thedarkferret5220]

I, for one, welcome our new robot overlords!

[@tahitianflower]

Excellent job everyone!

[@silkyz68]

I want one, but then I feel bad that it's alone and so I probably want to get two

[@seraf8297]

at that point you might as well get the whole set and get the third!

[@Science3D]

is is so insane ! I am impressed ! wow

[@Jushwa]

What the heck these things are so darn cute 😭

[@therealtiamat]

Just stunning...

[@MidnightVRYT]

EEEEEEE!!!! My techy heart is palpating I'm so excited!!!! Really wish there was a way to learn the repair aspect and really learn how these cuties work ^^ And help keepmthem going to make dreams come true in guest experience ^^

[@andypanda4756]

I ❤ it. The gulf between kids whose parents can take them to Disney and the parents who both work but can't afford both medicine AND food is depressing though.

[@toddhensley880]

These are fantastic! Get them in the parks on a regular basis!

[@weekdaycycling]

I'm aware of news articles like these: Cute droids malfunctioned, became vicious, and killed several children in the park.

[@richardconway6425]

@@weekdaycycling 😂 yes, even if it was a complete lie. Real story: 'robot stepped on child's foot by accident, then fell over'.

[@jasong9774]

I wondered who had been producing the scripts the past few years. Good progress. Keep at, you'll get there eventually.

[@jasontachin]

RW:they look like walking WALL-E’s 😍

[@DannoHung]

These are great, but can you do some astromechs too? Just the tri-foot mode with fun animations and whistle language reactivity?

[@Mrslowman87]

This robot, for me, has the most advanced walking system I have ever seen, only on side with boston dynamics, but those seems very robotic and programed, not really artificial inteligence, looking forward to see a humanoid robot with a pair of legs like those!

[@jdb2002]

Jerks are going to kick those things over.

[@patrickcarpenter6258]

more like this and ill keep going to the parks!

[@jacoblovr]

love the unitree motors in the feet

[@tsmith731]

My heart breaks, because as a little boy growing up I loved Star Wars, to see what Disney has done to to brand. As an Adult I will never step one foot onto Galaxy's Edge.

[@DisneyFan-eg3oz]

David here I remember when the original 3 Star Wars movies came out and I was very impressed by them. And I have seen all the new movies as well, not the same as the original ones, but I was just curious what about the new ones that you dislike so much? If it won’t upset you? Thanks David 😊

[@tsmith731]

@@DisneyFan-eg3oz There was a lack of direction in the 3 core Disney movies. Luke Skywalker was, as Mark Hammel put it, Jake Skywalker. Rey was too perfect, with no flaws. The character I did like, Finn had the same arch in each movie. With all that being said. I really enjoyed Rouge One.

[@signupisannoying]

Now make them bigger and faster and more like chocobo so that I can ride them. They will sell out super quickly.

[@nebuchadnezzar916]

One large step closer to the dream of owning a droid.

[@smoothe7635]

Aww, the new Terminator models look so cute---oh wait wrong franchise. I mean, order 66 was carried out by druids that were so cute.

[@macc1683]

That's amazing

[@KS-hj6xn]

Outstanding! Good job! Round of applause! Lol 🤖

[@sash4all]

This is just amazing 😃👍

[@simonhampton1304]

Disney would make a fortune if they could encorporate a talking AI with these really cool droids,kids would love these,imagine if they could produce these for £1000 at most with talking AI and market them for kids,wow that Christmas would be the best ever for kids.

[@pairojvejchapipat7565]

Totally agreed.

[@richardconway6425]

Look up the cost of the mini NAO robot. Just for guidance.

[@tortysoft]

Fantastic. Incredible fantasy made real. I wonder how resilient they are, the Nvidia keynote only had Orange and Green on show and Green held back quite a lot - no blue at all. But, Orange was stupendous.

[@-iIIiiiiiIiiiiIIIiiIi-]

Average Consumer: "Soooo when can I buy one?" Disney: "The Disney Vault Record ™says, to ask again another time."

[@alan.schertz]

back in the seventies I was in a high school marching band that was invited to perform at Disney World in Florida. We were a "drum and bugle corp" style band usually performing on a football field. So going down "main street" "parade style" was pretty boring.... But where they staged us "band members", behind the scenes just off Main street, was basically a work shop for building all of the "animated devices" that existed back in those days... All sorts of custom things were being built. I thought at that time those Disney employee's had the coolest jobs in the world! You could get paid for making things?!?!? Man! I'm glad to see today that it appears that Disney still has created these awesome gigs for today's maker's!

[@vilod]

They have way more character than all the Disney Star Wars movies have combined.

[@RamblingRodeo]

RIGHT!

[@sky173]

so true... "Disney Star Wars' are the keywords here. Nothing beats 'Lucas Star Wars'.

[@danielwalker26]

@@sky173 I agree. I loved hearing Anakin complain about sand.

[@JustSayin2216]

Rogue one has left the chat

[@joeybulford5266]

Ok this is pretty fkn cool

[@tonyhind6992]

The first star wars thing I have liked since Rouge one.

[@LucidLegend1984]

Disney did something correct? Well its about time

[@Volksoner619]

Seeing as how they’re one of the biggest companies in entertainment, I’d say they’ve been doing stuff right for a long time.

[@isaackim7675]

I would so love to see a Gonk droid being used as a charging station

[@00CuteMystery00]

These are adorable 🥰 please bring them to Florida!

[@MatthewFling]

Robot chickens

[@RankingTheMouse]

Effing brilliant

[@Dan0__]

Walt would be impressed! 👍

[@mjohnsimon1337]

Now when they said you can make droids, THIS is what I was expecting!

[@truth-12345.]

This robots are both awesome and cute! Include it in Starwars!

[@papotuto74gr59]

Excellent job by Imagineers next AI on each little robots.

[@Strike_Raid]

Impressive.

[@Taydar]

They're adorable

[@dathyr1]

Kind of reminds me of the movie long ago "Short Circuit - Number 5 is Alive"

[@pigloo147]

I can not wait for these to be completely driven by AI very soon!

[@Bareego]

Ah the fungineers at work... make them sing "We're sailors on the moon !". But seriously, the guys did a good job with these lil bots, their movement looks very natural and quirky.

[@sdv73168]

As long as no one is actually remote controlling them, then it's very cool! 👍

[@RomaniaBucharestNature]

The future is here :D Congratulations to all! I love it.

[@iCdizzily]

wow what a dream come true for kids

[@1776adb]

Mankind creating man; it was inevitable in the grand scheme of things.

[@Possiblechange]

Let me know when they figure out how to create a soul…so far all they’ve learned is how to sell one

[@ragnarlothbrok7306]

So cute. I want one :D

[@v.4789]

i love itt its giving those chicken that wearing sneakers lol

[@poopa_stinka]

I can’t wait until they make a movie accurate free roaming wall-e robot for the parks

[@Muay8Thai0Jat]

It's only a matter of time before we get a life-sized working AT-AT 😂

[@nierautomata9654]

If Amazon can build this as a home companion i would buy one.

[@lazarusblackwell6988]

When these things start walking the streets its going to be the best thing ever :D

[@octogames6823]

They look like park janitors. Lil cuties though.

[@BatManWayneCorp]

This is so cool! ❤ Makes me want to go to Disney World. I might also take the kids 😂

[@ChunkychunHealy]

They’re not even at Disney world!

[@SeanStClair-cr9jl]

WAHHHHHHHH I LOVE THEM

[@ocelotgaming3490]

They're so ❤️cute❤️

[@jaypetz]

They are like the penguins in Madagascar, smile and wave, smile and wave

[@lehsu]

Next step, walking autonomously following the owner without a remote control.

[@bunberrier]

Awesome.

[@ericamanda01]

Not since Wall-E have I wanted to cuddle a little robot! Sooooo cute!!!

[@Rebecca_The_Dragon]

Oh PLEASE have B1 and B2 Battle Droids walking around!!!