According to creators who previously worked in Boston dynamics, the project appeared about three years ago – the authors were trying to figure out how to “animate” popular characters in an authentic format and size for them. In addition, the goal was to come up with a robot “actor” that could really walk in the park with the children.
The prototypes were created from custom-made polymer as well as special metal parts created using industrial printers. The main skeleton cleverly serves as a conduit for air that cools all motors and drives.
To camouflage this whole process, clothes or a suit are used – the noise from the prototype is very quiet at the same time. All local analogs of “wires” are also hidden under clothing.
The robot can still work freely on its battery for about 45 minutes, but the authors expect to increase this time in the future. A lighter version of the main framework is currently in development.
For the movement of the legs, a system is used that provides kinetic counterweight, allowing you to simulate the naturalness of the movement. For this whole process, many new ideas and systems were implemented, which the authors simply did not have at the start. So, the prototype can track the nature of the surface on which it moves.
Specially created software allows the local “Groot” to change his gait style and even general “behavior” – he can run happily, jumping up, or, conversely, walk sadly and slowly with his head down.
However, when exactly such robots will be able to be introduced into the studio’s amusement parks is not yet clear.
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