61 Years of Expertise... Disney, the Character Powerhouse, Expands into Robotics [Tech Talk]

Disney’s Research on Next-Generation Robot Motion Control Using AI
Cultivating Imagineers Since the 1960s...
Over 60 Years of Investment in Robotics

As competition intensifies among global conglomerates such as Tesla and Unitree to take the lead in the robotics industry, Disney has also thrown its hat into the ring. Disney boasts a long history of robotics development. As early as the 1960s, Disney was already creating robots for film production, and today, the company is dedicated to developing artificial intelligence (AI) robots that entertain audiences in theme parks instead of humans.

Disney Explores Next-Generation Robot Motion Control with AI

Disney Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. Pixabay

Recently, Disney introduced a new robot motion control technology called 'AMOR' on its official YouTube channel. AMOR stands for 'Adaptive Character Control via Multi-Objective Reinforcement Learning,' a technology that uses AI to make robot movements more natural. Disney's subsidiary, Disney Research, is responsible for research and development (R&D). With research centers in the United States, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, Disney Research collaborates with universities around the world to develop various robotics technologies. In particular, Disney Research has distinguished itself in the field of robot motion control.

Motion control is one of the greatest challenges in robotics, including humanoids. Robot joints are powered by electric motors, and if the force generated by these motors exceeds a certain threshold, it causes strong vibrations inside the motor. If these are not controlled, the robot's center of gravity collapses.

Disney robot that performs complex dance moves stably through real-time force control by artificial intelligence (AI). Disney Research YouTube

The solution is to install another small motor that rotates in the opposite direction to the main joint motor. The force from this small motor absorbs the vibrations and stabilizes the entire robot-a phenomenon known as damping. The motor responsible for this function is called a damper. However, robots equipped with dampers become heavier and less agile. Determining the optimal amount of damping for each individual robot movement is also a complex task.

Since 2018, Disney Research has been dedicated to solving this problem. The result, AMOR, is a technology in which AI adjusts the force of numerous components in real time as the robot performs specific actions. This allows robots to execute complex movements stably and significantly reduces the burden on human engineers for manual adjustments.

Training Imagineers Since the 1960s... Over 60 Years of Investment in Robotics

While Disney is widely known to consumers for its Mickey Mouse character, films, and theme parks, it is in fact a pioneer in robotics. Disney began investing in robotics development in 1994. During the filming of the movie 'Mary Poppins,' the company created a bird-shaped robot that perched on the protagonist's finger and chirped.

The first animatronics developed by Disney in 1964. Online community screenshot

Of course, this robot was merely a mechanical device mimicking the shape of a bird. It could only bow its head forward or repeatedly shake its tail. However, Disney recognized the potential of robots for film production and soon established a dedicated robotics team. The team was named 'Imagineering,' a combination of 'imagine' and 'engineering,' and its members are called 'Imagineers.'

Since then, Disney Imagineers have focused solely on developing robots. The robots they create are known as animatronics-decorative robots that repeatedly perform pre-programmed movements to entertain audiences. Today, these animatronics are commonly found in Disney theme parks and as part of roller coaster attractions.

Animatronics developed by Disney Imagineering. Disney Imagineering

Disney's passion for robotics did not stop there. In 2008, the company established Disney Research and has continued to provide full support. In March of this year, at CES 2025 in the United States, Disney made a surprise debut of 'Newton,' a robot co-developed with Google DeepMind. Newton appeared on stage during the keynote address by Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, and stole the show.

Disney Newton and Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, Appeared at CES 2025. Nvidia

Disney aspires to create mascot robots that can freely roam theme parks and interact with guests. The company aims to overcome the limitations of animatronics, which have traditionally stood in one place and repeated the same movements.

Kyle Laughlin, Senior Vice President of Disney Imagineering, stated, "Collaborations with companies like Nvidia and DeepMind are central to our vision. The robots we have introduced so far are just the beginning, and with next-generation robots, we will connect with our guests in uniquely Disney ways."