Disney Imagineering Shows Off That Fancy Retractible Lightsaber
The latest showcase of the work Disney’s Imagineers are doing includes a new look at that retractable lightsaber.
Earlier this year Disney showed of a sweet-looking retractable lightsaber. They just gave us another peek at it (45 seconds in) in the latest showcase for the parks’ engineering department aka Imagineering.
Beyond the saber, there’s a look at some of the animatronic characters they’ve been working on for the parks – Boston Dynamics isn’t the only company investing in robotics. The parks use a new system of animatronics built by Disney called A1000. The bulk of them can be seen in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Even if you’re not interested in the parks, the tech they’re developing is really cool.
A1000 advanced robotics are the next evolution of the A100 Audio-Animatronic figures that were first introduced by Walt Disney Imagineering in the mid-1980s. This standardized system for building humanoid robotic figures incorporates new electric functionality, replacing former hydraulic functions, producing extremely realistic, lifelike movement. Future figures in humanoid form can all use this system to ensure the same degree of realism and advanced levels of movement.
There’s also the amazing Stuntronics they’ve been working on for the last few years and are featured at Avengers Campus – specifically the Spider-Man attraction.
I always get sidetracked by robots. Anyway, the self-retracting lightsaber will be available at the Galactic Starcruiser hotel experience next year. You can add it to the $5,ooo+ of costs for a weekend stay in the immersive hotel.
