To many people, Disney is synonymous with Audio-Animatronics — robots that move and make sounds in sync with talking or singing motions.
Audio-Animatronics (Animatronics, AA) is the registered trademark for a form of robotics animation created by Walt Disney Imagineering for shows and attractions at Disney theme parks, and subsequently expanded on and used by other companies. The robots move and make noise (generally a recorded speech or song), but are usually fixed to whatever supports them. They can sit and stand but usually cannot walk. An Audio-Animatron is different from an android-type robot in that it uses pre-recorded movements and sounds, rather than responding to external stimuli.
In 2009, Disney developed an interactive version called Autonomatronics, which is is driven by sophisticated cameras and sensors. Disney has created a robot named Otto, with the ability to make choices about what to say and do. Otto can also detect a number of things about a crowd, including how many people are in attendance. And Otto knows if you’re smiling too. But your smile will be obvious if you’re a lover of things high-tech.
Mr. Lincoln By Cory Doctorow from Beautiful Downtown Burbank, USA – The Robot, Great Moments with Mr Lincoln, 2, Disneyland, Anaheim, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
Do you have experiences with Disney and audio-animatronics? Post up in the comments or tweet us @adafruit (tag: #MakeRobotFriend).
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