Those Freakin' Stunt Robots

[Disney Irish]

The implications of these things in park attractions are obvious. They're basically AA's with a hugely increased range of motion and action. Imagine a Spider Man attraction where Robo-Spidey is scaling a wall or rapidly swinging from point to point overhead. Imagine a Robo-Indy who can dodge blasts from Mara or who can realistically flick his whip at something. A Robo-Lion could leap at your Jungle Cruise boat. Endless possibilities.

Exactly, unless some are fearful for traditional AAs losing their jobs.....

 

[SuddenStorm]

I don't know, all valid arguments. I go to a show to watch People, not machines. The attraction just isn't there for me, IMO.

Which is why World of Color is lackluster at best.

But then again, maybe this technology could be used inside an attraction, not a show. Having animatronics certainly hasn't hurt Pirates of the caribbean's popularity.

This kind of technology could be amazing in a Spider Man ride.

 

[SuddenStorm]

...Until it malfunctions.

This is a risk with all technology though. How many times have we seen animatronics misbehaving in rides?

 

[Rich T]

Malfunctions how though? And wouldn't it basically look the same midair (especially dressed up in costume) when a human does something incorrectly, like tumbles incorrectly....

In any of the many ways AAs and robot malfunction. If a hydraulic (or whatever) fails to fire on time mid-air, one could have a (wild guess) 500 pound piece of machinery veering off course.

 

[Rich T]

This is just the beginning of this tech, as it goes on you won't be able to tell the difference.

Remember when Lucky the Dinosaur had us all amazed and figuring that was just the beginning of self-contained walking AA's in the parks? I'm not saying there's no future in this--I've just gotten a bit skeptical about Imagineering's grand plans over the years.

 

[Disney Irish]

In any of the many ways AAs and robot malfunction. If a hydraulic (or whatever) fails to fire on time mid-air, one could have a (wild guess) 500 pound piece of machinery veering off course.

Yes, but just like with regular AAs there will be safety protocols where it wouldn't affect guests.

 

[Rich T]

This is a risk with all technology though. How many times have we seen animatronics misbehaving in rides?

See my reply above to Disney Irish Bruh. Risks that endanger CMs or guest lives should never be taken. AA's misbehaving on a fixed platform at a safe distance from guests are one thing. Imagine an animatronic misbehaving as it begins its free-flight trajectory...

And yeah, I'm fairly certain Disney will take all that into account. It'll be interesting to see if it's worth all the effort in the end.

 

[Rich T]

Yes, but just like with regular AAs there will be safety protocols where it wouldn't affect guests.

This is going to be very interesting, I'll say that. There are going to have to be some heavy-duty safeguards in place.

 

[Rich T]

Exactly, unless some are fearful for traditional AAs losing their jobs.....

The Emperor's Nightingale... This is a modern Silly Symphony or Harman-Ising fable just waiting to happen...

 

[Disney Irish]

Remember when Lucky the Dinosaur had us all amazed and figuring that was just the beginning of self-contained walking AA's in the parks? I'm not saying there's no future in this--I've just gotten a bit skeptical about Imagineering's grand plans over the years.

And they do have some self-contained AAs planned for SW:GE, which we talked about in the SW:GE thread. And TL has several wandering around today, mostly at WDW.

Remember the roving Muppets Lab, that was the next iteration of Lucky.

 

[Rich T]

And they do have some self-contained AAs planned for SW:GE, which we talked about in the SW:GE thread. And TL has several wandering around today, mostly at WDW.

Remember the roving Muppets Lab, that was the next iteration of Lucky.

Muppets Lab was cool, but I seriously do not count roaming supervised cylinders and glorified Roombas as AAs.

 

[Disney Irish]

This is going to be very interesting, I'll say that. There are going to have to be some heavy-duty safeguards in place.

You aren't going to have these flying in the air right next to guests, just like you don't have fireworks right next to guests.

 

[Disney Irish]

Muppets Lab was cool, but I seriously do not count roaming supervised cylinders and glorified Roombas as AAs.

Lucky, Muppets, Crush Turtle Talk, Monster's Laugh Floor, Stitch Encounter were all part of Living Characters initiative that WDI had going. I believe these flying AAs are just the next phase of that project.

 

[Rich T]

Lucky, Muppets, Crush Turtle Talk, Monster's Laugh Floor, Stitch Encounter were all part of Living Characters initiative that WDI had going. I believe these flying AAs are just the next phase of that project.

I'm seriously thinking this won't lead to anything major in the parks. Mainly because of cost. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Disney Irish]

I'm seriously thinking this won't lead to anything major in the parks. Mainly because of cost. I hope I'm wrong.

The project started in 2015 or something so I think its a major project. It not something they just started on last year. So I'm betting they have some major plans for it.

Also I've been reading into it, they have safety features built-in. So its not your traditional AA with just some hydraulics and electronics that if it fails the AA is done. It has laser guidance for positioning, gyroscopes for balance, and an accelerometer to track speed. All that plus the ability to self correct and has some backup systems I believe. So a lot would have to fail in order for it to be a danger.

 

[NateD1226]

This is a risk with all technology though. How many times have we seen animatronics misbehaving in rides?

This is my favorite malfunction.

 

[SSG]

That would be awesome... but what are the chances of Disney spending one penny on anything that's not connected to a major current hit film. A good reboot could do the trick...

Oh, I know. Like I said, long-held dream