Exoskeleton Technology Brings Huge New Park Entertainment
Yesterday, Disney Parks Blog offered us an exciting first glimpse of some larger-than-life technology that Walt Disney Imagineering continues to dream up for the parks. Adding to the already-magical character greetings speckled throughout Disney parks, these new exoskelton extensions certainly would add yet another does of imaginative awe to the experience.
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During the quick glimpse, two Walt Disney Imagineering reserach and development cast members showed off their latest designs to Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.
“We’re using exoskeleton technology to make big, giant characters super performative, super real, in our parks,” says Research and Development Imagineer Jonathan Becker during the Disney Parks Blog Instagram post.
Joined by fellow Research Engineer Richard-Alexandre Peloquin, the pair model technology to add both height and wingspan to characters, inclduign what looks like a white, furry giant. (Dare we dream that a real yeti may start wandering around Disney’s Animal Kingdom?)
Toward the end of the sneak peak, D’Amarao leaps to high five a giant robotic hand reached from Jonathan’s metallic exoskeleton.
In seeing the high five, post commenters immediately jumped to some pretty gignatic guesses of just who may appear in the parks soon thanks to this technology.
But Which Character Exoskeletons Might Appear?
“So what you’re saying is we are getting a Hulk meet and greet soon,” said @strange_human_experience in reply to the post. Other predictable guesses for the recently opened Avengers Campus include Thanos as well as the upcoming Celestials that will feature prominently in the upcoming Marvel feature film, “The Eternals.”
A wealth of commenters also hoped for a Yeti roaming around Expedition Everest, a Wampa stomping throughout Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, or maybe a real-life Baymax, Wreck-It Ralph or even Sully.
Just the other day Walt Disney Imagineering also revealed, in a New York Times article, new audio-animatronic technology using artificial intelligence that will also bring favorite characters to life soon in the parks.