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| Disney's latest robot brings Groot to life |
The Disney R&D lab called The Wonderful Team has developed a number of different robots. The lab's latest invention is the Groot robot, which appears to have come from a Disney movie.
Groot is part of the company's long-term commitment to developing autonomous robotic roles in its parks, known as Project Kiwi.
The company's engineers have spent years developing their autonomous two-footed robotic platform to operate the Groot robot.
After more than three years in business, there is a tiny robot that can move and work on its own and has many different character shapes, including Groot.
The robot is described as walking smoothly, strongly swinging its arms, and moving its feet realistically. It can keep up with Disney production in any industrial or college lab.
Engineers have studied bipedal robots, but their innovations are often unreliable or too weak to operate in the real world.
Honda's flagship robot, Asimo, retired in 2018 and never left the lab, while Boston Dynamics' Atlas can jump and spin but needs a lot of help
With the help of Project Kiwi, the Imagineering team set out to develop an automated robot that could one day interact with visitors to Disney parks and make them feel as though they are facing their favorite characters.
The Groot has just one cable for direct steering plus 45 minutes of battery life and built-in speakers for interacting with people in close proximity.
When the team started working on the project, no human being was able to complete the task, so they started building their own robot.
Most of the components in the Kiwi Project are custom and have smart design features. For example, the robot has a hollow skeleton that can circulate air to cool its motor.
While the robot looks like a hacker in many ways, you shouldn't expect to see it in Disneyland anytime soon, and the awesome engineering team said Kiwi still has a lot to do before it leaves the lab.
The next intervention area consists of a number of new engines that will help the robot to better handle sudden reactions, such as: b. An opportunity to meet a child on an embrace.
The team is also working on a new set of sensors that will help robots better understand the world and recognize human faces.