The good news is in those tests the Marines were able to get by them just fine by putting garbage cans or cardboard boxes over themselves so you just have to solid snake it.
No. Looks similar but that's a different robot from a different company (Thermonator, from Throwflame). Boston Dynamics has a strict EULA that forbids use of it's robots in any way that can potentially harm people.
Well, various theme parks have had other types of robots for a long time. Islands of Adventure had Triceratops Encounter (later shut down cuz the robot kept breaking, but holy shit it was sooooo cool and lifelike when I saw it), Galaxy's Edge has BDX Droids, etc.
The problem with using Boston Dynamic robots is that they obviously only really work for one body type. But yeah, if they have a character in that shape, why not? Probably cheaper to modify that than build one from scratch in-house.
This is NOTHING compared to the Hilde the house elf animatronic. That thing blew my fucking mind. Ears and toes moved, it's so fluid it was unreal. Sadly I went before video was allowed but my god I was mind boggled. Epic is unreal, Disney should be scared. Esp cuz Universal has another parcel of land the same size ready for another park to be built on it.
Coolest one I've seen is still the Triceratops Encounter at Islands of Adventure (you could see it moving and seemingly reacting to people, "breathing", blinking, muscles twitching under the skin, etc), though it was shut down after just a few years. Checking online, it seems they replaced it with a less realistic looking one that can walk around rather than just stand in a small paddock.
Why? They'll do the same with every four-legged animated property they have and put them out in the park like entertaining, camouflaged security drones. Wait until they make one the size of a horse for Cinderella's carriage or get one to play the Beast.
Disney imagineering at US parks has been lackluster for a decade or more. They are losing business to Universal, and this latest expansion is just more evidence of that (not that either park is going to get me into Florida)
Given how they already have security cameras, plain clothes security, and other tools in place I very much doubt the point of these robots is to add more security.
You're already in one of the most heavily surveilled places on the plant when you're in a major theme park.
they've already got star wars droids that can interact with guests (a limited set, I believe, but they've been in use a while); dreamworks is behind in this race
I'm aware, but those are highly custom. I think the ability to basically slap a costume on an existing commercial robot is a big threat to the "Disney Magic"
I really gotta disagree with you there. I recognize how this nightfury moves from Boston Dynamics videos from a decade ago. The Disney droids actually have animators involved in teaching them how to move, and it really comes across in their little two-legged guys. The nightfury is a cute implementation of the technology, but they're not innovating. It's cheap to scale up, but there's a limit to how many of these can fit in one theme park.
Like all things in a commercial system it's about return on investment.
I'm not the target market for any of it because I just don't see the appeal in something like Galaxy's Edge that has two rides and the rest is shopping, and I'm not inclined to give Universal money since they have Harry Potter and it's all in Florida anyway.
Yeah, how many characters does it work for? Donkey from Shrek, a small Jurassic Park dino? End of the day it's just adding a couple more walk around characters which is neat window dressing but doesn't draw the crowds. And Disney does similar, I saw Lightning McQueen drive out and greet kids, that was little more than an animatronic shell on a big RC car so no more custom than this. Now if they can get a herd of these operating, that would be impressive, or the start of CyberJurassic Park.
Yeah I feel like Disney really takes their park effects seriously, and they would have made it move less like a Boston Dynamics dog and had the tail and wings operable too(moving, not actual flight). Not that this isn't great, Disney just next level shit with animatronics. I mean did you see how much they made the Hillary figure look like Trump?
Affordability isn't the problem when you're Disney - safety and reliability is. You can't have one accidentally stomp a child and just keep going, or have one break down in the middle of the park and break the illusion.
The original context was "Disney will be shitting themselves" about not having this tech. This is blatantly false, for the reasons stated above. None of the concerns raised by others would prevent Disney from adopting the same tech. Universal Studios does take a different approach to immersion, which might factor in, but really there's nothing stopping Disney rolling out the same tech next week.
normalizebeingalone
UNCANNY VALLEY THAT MF RIGHT OUT YEET
AyatollahBahloni
I for one welcome our adorable robot overlords!
idontlikethislife
Lugh314159
For all the expensive robotics…. It really looks like a human in a suit.
Onlyhereforthelaughs
Okay, at first I thought that was a human in a costume, but once I focused on the walk, I know for certain it's a Boston Dynamics Spot.
stonecoldstevebuschemi
This is cute! Until it's not. Robots will be coming for our blood before you know it.
mcdoolz
Okay I'm that guy. Needs digital eyes.
NarratesTheDarkerStory
ENOUGH with the AI! /s
if this is how AI was rolled out, I'd give over to them in a heartbeat.
WoopDeFrickenDoo
when the robots all turn getting killed by that is going to be almost funny
RustyRedbeard
Best way to hide the flamethrower...
dirtyFrenchman
“The 600 series had rubber skin. We spotted them easy, but these are new. They look human — sweat, bad breath, everything. Very hard to spot.”
https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTY1YjkxZmJlazVlZnRqcXg4aTZ2ZTFienFvZWE2YWlsajZkcGhjMGV4N3FremdhdiZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/h4Hz4w9Jgrc1EY9VkL/giphy.mp4
AnnaVonOesterreich
At least when the robot uprising comes, it'll be "adorable".
Zapathasura
Time4Peace
About damn time they gave one of those abomination Boston Dynamic dogbots a head and make it look like... ya know... not nightmare fuel.
That aside, OMG THIS IS SO FEKKING CUTE!! THIS is how robots should be used!
RummageSaleBubbler
SlippeyPetey2000
This is the only use of Boston dynamix robot I support
Averagexception
Shouldnt we be scared ? I’m scared !
Anoup
You can dress up a clanker, but it'll still be a clanker.
IgnisInvictus
That is adorable and awesome!
ricpaul
One of these fuggers? https://imgur.com/ro9wpGn.mp4
gablestout
Yup!
LivingDeadX
It's all "oohs" and "aahs" until the robot apocalypse begins.
DrNick
Boston Dynamics could make a killing selling custom themed Spots.
jjMan72
TalkingSnake
Kill it
trueunpopularopinions
Don't give the robot ideas
OmegaYeti
And then they shoot you and your dog.
KommanderKayriel
They're robots, not cops.
RestlessVagabond
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG4aW0WPECk
fskn
1 step closer to Skynet... Cute step, though.
shepahrdjhon
no Skynet was in the other park Universal Orlando and it has now been replaced by Bourne Stuntacular, this is Epic Universe.
Archmesis
I could tell, just by the movements, that it was a Boston Dynamics. They're very distinct.
TheVampireDante
It's the tappy bounce.
gablestout
The happy tappy dance!
Letstrythisonemotime
I for one look forward to these cute little bastards running us down in cold blood during the robot wars.
ThePocketWhale
Speak for yourself, I always say “thank you,” to the AI.
EvilEmperorXurg
There was a recent War of the Worlds tv remake that had something like them . Ok, not that recent. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9686194/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
gablestout
CheeseborgarSoop
At that point bro they can just have me.
BillandTedsUnremarkableTripToCostCo
They set a slamhound on Turner’s trail in New Delhi, slotted it to his pheromones and the color of his hair.
mothergrowsbest
yea i was gonna say... i want to think its cute but i cant help but be filled with terror 😂
AndersCalrissian
Toothless going to gum you to death
ryokomagus9
*nervously sweating* "I for one welcome our new *checks notes* Robot Overlords"
Clockworkdancerobot
You're not the boss of Tigerbot hesh!
astromoondoggie
CoinedWatcher
Humans will bond with anything
feltenix
Until they can do maintenance on themselves the threat is somewhat limited.
Zimyoumoron
I don't think we'll have to wait that long. https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/05/robot-dogs-armed-with-ai-targeting-rifles-undergo-us-marines-special-ops-evaluation/
criticalmassdriver
The good news is in those tests the Marines were able to get by them just fine by putting garbage cans or cardboard boxes over themselves so you just have to solid snake it.
Clockworkdancerobot
The movements look familiar. Boston dynamics?
JStengah
*Looks at title*
Clockworkdancerobot
was too busy noticing it's movements. eh. yeah.
Mohareb
Yep. I can mostly say that due to the title telling me
Clockworkdancerobot
... Yeap. my bad.
flarflarf
do not anthropomorphize the machines.
KommanderKayriel
Fuck you, robo-furry is go!
flarflarf
no, fuck YOU, the weird robot programmed to be cute is a threat to us all.
KommanderKayriel
Maybe by threatening us with a good time! Perhaps cuddles and headpats!
gablestout
They're all good dogs, Bront
flarflarf
thats not a dog, thats a machine
gablestout
Allow me to introduce you to the robot under the costume, Boston Dynamics' dog, "Spot"
flarflarf
yeah thats great, is that the same one they mount flamethrowers to?
gablestout
No. Looks similar but that's a different robot from a different company (Thermonator, from Throwflame).
Boston Dynamics has a strict EULA that forbids use of it's robots in any way that can potentially harm people.
allenvasher3000
This is the best use I have seen for these
Vebrandsson
The only surprise is that it's taken this long for a major theme park to do this.
DatDarthCaedus
Well, various theme parks have had other types of robots for a long time. Islands of Adventure had Triceratops Encounter (later shut down cuz the robot kept breaking, but holy shit it was sooooo cool and lifelike when I saw it), Galaxy's Edge has BDX Droids, etc.
The problem with using Boston Dynamic robots is that they obviously only really work for one body type. But yeah, if they have a character in that shape, why not? Probably cheaper to modify that than build one from scratch in-house.
allenvasher3000
Well they saw the Simpsons episode were they go to itchy & scratchy world, "where nothing can poss'i'bly go wrong"
shepahrdjhon
isn't that actually part of the Simpsons Ride queue?
allenvasher3000
I have no idea have never been on or near a Simpsons ride. It is what the helicopter pilot says to them as they are flying in
eion85
Disney is hopefully shitting their pants over this.
Bystandr
You mean 'masturbating furiously' at the potential enormous pile of cash they will make upgrading their existing animatronics?
jinbee
I've seen footage of Disney's robots, they are way better than this and it's in-house not bought in.
RichardPicture
shitting their pants in profit.
valen00
Disney have already made robotic stunt actors and bipedal walking robots (much harder)
vader200031415
They signed on for this.
GorillaPowers
Disney is light-years beyond this with animitronics
MadamPuddifoot
This is NOTHING compared to the Hilde the house elf animatronic. That thing blew my fucking mind. Ears and toes moved, it's so fluid it was unreal. Sadly I went before video was allowed but my god I was mind boggled. Epic is unreal, Disney should be scared. Esp cuz Universal has another parcel of land the same size ready for another park to be built on it.
DatDarthCaedus
You mean Higgledy? https://www.youtube.com/shorts/L7QFhVnlfes
Coolest one I've seen is still the Triceratops Encounter at Islands of Adventure (you could see it moving and seemingly reacting to people, "breathing", blinking, muscles twitching under the skin, etc), though it was shut down after just a few years. Checking online, it seems they replaced it with a less realistic looking one that can walk around rather than just stand in a small paddock.
Quessir
They've been moving in this direction for years. Animatronics was always going to lead to this.
KingMCG
Just dress a bunch of them as princesses and let them go wild.
cantbelievethisisstillavailable
Why? They'll do the same with every four-legged animated property they have and put them out in the park like entertaining, camouflaged security drones. Wait until they make one the size of a horse for Cinderella's carriage or get one to play the Beast.
tzahtman
A week or two ago company showed off a ridable robot horse so it probably isn't far off.
eion85
Disney imagineering at US parks has been lackluster for a decade or more. They are losing business to Universal, and this latest expansion is just more evidence of that (not that either park is going to get me into Florida)
Given how they already have security cameras, plain clothes security, and other tools in place I very much doubt the point of these robots is to add more security.
You're already in one of the most heavily surveilled places on the plant when you're in a major theme park.
Snooj
I had dinner at the Beast's castle last year and the human version is already pretty darn good.
Onlyhereforthelaughs
Not really, the bones are Boston Dynamics. Anyone can get these.
gablestout
Anyone with $70k can get one of these :)
Qualtagh
they've already got star wars droids that can interact with guests (a limited set, I believe, but they've been in use a while); dreamworks is behind in this race
eion85
I'm aware, but those are highly custom. I think the ability to basically slap a costume on an existing commercial robot is a big threat to the "Disney Magic"
Qualtagh
I really gotta disagree with you there. I recognize how this nightfury moves from Boston Dynamics videos from a decade ago. The Disney droids actually have animators involved in teaching them how to move, and it really comes across in their little two-legged guys. The nightfury is a cute implementation of the technology, but they're not innovating. It's cheap to scale up, but there's a limit to how many of these can fit in one theme park.
eion85
Like all things in a commercial system it's about return on investment.
I'm not the target market for any of it because I just don't see the appeal in something like Galaxy's Edge that has two rides and the rest is shopping, and I'm not inclined to give Universal money since they have Harry Potter and it's all in Florida anyway.
Xenominim
Yeah, how many characters does it work for? Donkey from Shrek, a small Jurassic Park dino? End of the day it's just adding a couple more walk around characters which is neat window dressing but doesn't draw the crowds. And Disney does similar, I saw Lightning McQueen drive out and greet kids, that was little more than an animatronic shell on a big RC car so no more custom than this. Now if they can get a herd of these operating, that would be impressive, or the start of CyberJurassic Park.
squirrelgirl86
R2D2 rolled up to me, beeping, out of a crowd of people in the Droid Depot at Disneyland and I absolutely lost my cool.
Poopette
Tiny guy. Three legs. Tears streaming.
littleblueengine
Whelp, guess you're a Disney princess now. Sorry, but those are the rules
WoopDeFrickenDoo
it's just that Boston Dynamics dog robot we've seen for a decade in a rubber suit
Septcanmat
https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTY1YjkxZmJleHljcmRwbjFsajQ3amh5aTE1ajlvZHJ5cGhsOGRsc3RvenQweGNmdyZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/xT5LMplXr59Q490dSE/giphy.mp4
SteveTheEgg
Yeah I feel like Disney really takes their park effects seriously, and they would have made it move less like a Boston Dynamics dog and had the tail and wings operable too(moving, not actual flight). Not that this isn't great, Disney just next level shit with animatronics. I mean did you see how much they made the Hillary figure look like Trump?
eion85
That affordability is part of what makes it impressive.
I love the little chicken droids at Galaxy's Edge, but they're all custom.
KevinStrexcorp
Affordability isn't the problem when you're Disney - safety and reliability is. You can't have one accidentally stomp a child and just keep going, or have one break down in the middle of the park and break the illusion.
eion85
And Universal doesn't have those same problems?
KevinStrexcorp
The original context was "Disney will be shitting themselves" about not having this tech. This is blatantly false, for the reasons stated above. None of the concerns raised by others would prevent Disney from adopting the same tech.
Universal Studios does take a different approach to immersion, which might factor in, but really there's nothing stopping Disney rolling out the same tech next week.