Robot Characters? Disney Research reveals robot suited for ‘life-life interactions with people’

Disney Research, a network of laboratories supporting the Walt Disney Company, released a a video last week showing off its “hybrid hydrostatic transmission and human-safe haptic telepresence robot.” That’s a fancy way of saying a human-operated robot that uses air and water lines for movement.

Disney has not released any plans to introduce the robots at its parks, but a release from Disney Research says the robots are suited for “life-life interactions with people.”

Here’s how it works:

Cameras mounted on the robot provide live video to an operator wearing a set of 3-D goggles. In real-time, the operator’s movements are mimicked by the robot. The hydraulic and pneumatic lines give the robot such a delicate touch, it can pick up an egg without breaking it.

“They have an incredible life-like nature, offering a combination of small mass, high speed and precise motion not seen before,” Vice President of Disney Research Jessica Hodgins said. “For now, the robot is remotely controlled by a human operator, but we would expect the same level of mechanical performance once the motions are automated.”

In the video released by Disney Research, the robot plays the xylophone, handles an egg, threads a needle, catches a balloon and interacts with a little girl.