Theme Park Report
Disney and Universal have filed three patent applications describing technologies that could support future theme park entertainment, according to Theme Park Insider.
One Disney application, titled “Autonomous human-robot interaction via diffusion-based operator imitation,” focuses on training robots to perform more complex behaviors. The report says Disney has used game-like controllers to help operators direct robot movement, while machine-learning models allow the robots to stand and move in basic ways without constant direct instruction.
The application describes models intended to give the robots additional functionality, including emotional expressions. The robots could react to guests and other people without waiting for an operator to issue a command. Theme Park Insider connects this work to robot demonstrations such as the BDX droids shown in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and at D23.
Universal’s application “Drone attraction system and method” concerns drones equipped with separate motors for flight and for moving parts of a character. According to the report, the technology appears applicable to the flying dragons above the Isle of Berk at Universal Epic Universe. The application details a design intended to create the appearance of a flying character without the bulky look of a conventional drone fitted with external dressing.
The third application, “Systems and methods for projection mapping onto flowable textiles in an entertainment environment,” addresses projection mapping on clothing worn by an actor or animatronic. Conventional projection mapping onto human figures generally requires the subject to remain still, but Universal’s system is designed to accommodate movement in the clothing itself.
The report gives a flowing dress or a flying cape as examples of textiles that could carry moving projections during a scene. That approach could allow projected imagery to remain part of a more dynamic performance rather than being limited to a stationary figure.
The applications describe technical methods rather than confirmed announcements of new attractions or shows. Theme Park Insider’s report identifies the Disney and Universal filings as developments in show-element technology, while the specific applications for the systems remain tied to the descriptions in the patent documents.
