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Disney Research Robot Can Juggle, Play Catch

Posted by Soulskill on from the complete-with-creepy-face dept.

Zothecula writes "With the aim of providing some physical interaction between entertainment robots and guests at its theme parks, while still maintaining a safe distance between the two, Disney Research has created an animatronic robot that can play catch and juggle balls with a human partner. Caught balls are thrown back 2.5 meters (8 ft) to the thrower, while the developers have given the robot several different animations that play out when it drops a ball. These include a shaking of the head, looking behind, looking down, or a shrug of the shoulders."

6 of 40 comments (clear)

  1. They'll be giving them machine guns next.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    They'll be giving them machine guns next and selling them to the Army.

    Imagine the terror as a heavily armed platoon of robotic Mickey Mice advances!

    1. Re:They'll be giving them machine guns next.. by Bill+Wong · · Score: 4, Funny

      imagine two opposing robot armies tossing grenades back and forth...

    2. Re:They'll be giving them machine guns next.. by Ol+Biscuitbarrel · · Score: 4, Funny

      Head is kind of a Lyle Lovett rictus. It looks much less T1 in closeup, though, but still uncanny. Say the following in a laconic drawl: "Nice night for a walk."

  2. A step back by arielCo · · Score: 4, Funny

    Maybe they are cutting costs, but this is an inferior alternative to their current, proven approach: Disney Lab Unveils Its Latest Line Of Genetically Engineered Child Stars

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    This post contains no rudeness or derision of any kind. All arguments are friendly. Terms and exclusions may apply.
  3. It's all fun and games until... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    A bird flies past the thrower and the robot decides it is a ball and starts tossing dead birds at the guests.

  4. Dropped ball? by PPH · · Score: 2, Funny

    If it was true AI, it would have learned to look at the referee and claim to have been fouled.

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    Have gnu, will travel.