Hidden deep in a California valley near Walt Disney Animation Studios is a testing ground for all technologies Disneyland and experiences from around the world.It’s a top-secret area, but io9 and other media members were recently invited inside to see the animatronics up close Tiana’s Bayou Adventure— and preview the latest technology from Walt Disney Imagineering that may or may not be coming to a theme park or cruise ship near you.
While guests are not allowed to record videos or take photos, WDI-led National Inventors Hall of Fame member Lenny SmootHosted a demonstration of the immersive HoloTile and demonstrated the functionality of the “omnidirectional floor”.
Smoot and his team demonstrated how to use an AR screen and sensory tile floor to walk in any direction in a space. For now, he explained, it will remain a tool, “so as Imagineers we can design things in theme parks…We often need computer-aided design diagrams, so it’s not just looking at diagrams, [we figured], why don’t we take a look at what we’re about to build? We have their drawings. ” As he said this, he gestured to the mapping screen and went on to describe how by virtually building whatever they were developing, they could walk through it and see what it would look like when built in reality.
He continued. “There are 19 tiles here. To make a larger floor, just push the tiles together. Each object has the ability to move anything on its surface in any direction. Together they made the HoloTile floor. So it is modular. The floor needs to know where my feet are. We use lidar here; these are rays or pools of light that bounce off my legs and tell the floor where I am; you can see my walking on the screen . If I want to build a bigger floor, I just put more tiles together.” LiDAR also works with hand movement through space, which we tested ourselves by moving objects across the HoloTile floor At this point, the experience is no different than using the Force. (I happily display my Jedi sensibilities and affirm “I am one with the Force and the Force is with me.”) We can already imagine spaces in the galaxy far, far away utilizing these interactive components in Disney parks, But it definitely feels like it’s a few years away.
another amazing Star Wars Our first-hand tech moment was Smoot’s retractable laser lightsaber. It has become a core memory in my mind from the moment I was handed the test as the first in our group. Activating it and hearing the buzz of the lightsaber coming from the kyber crystal Smoot forged (in this case, technomagic) felt like a dream. It’s heavy; traditionally, you need two hands to maneuver it. Since we weren’t allowed to take photos or shoot any video, everyone watched in awe as I moved it, completely surprised by the honor. (I’m currently pregnant, so I’m excited to tell my future child that this is one of the first things they do because it’s a team effort; their Force powers also help).
It was truly a surreal moment, like a lifetime Star Wars fans – just like my father before me – and I’m not the only one who feels this way. The person who tried it after me actually cried. While Rey has only wielded the retractable laser lightsaber on the now-defunct Galactic Star Cruiser so far, we’re hoping it’ll be showcased in some way at Galaxy’s Edge. What a miracle.
Finally, just before Season of the Force debuts, we get to meet the adorable BD-X droid. The Imagineering team behind them says they were created specifically for interactive purposes at the request of Lucasfilm. They feel lifelike when you get close to them; their reactions to people are full of curiosity and whimsy. Keeping them slightly below child size makes them very pleasant and pet-like. Currently, you can only see this version of the bot in daily appearances: Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland (although you can buy a much lower-tech toy at the park’s Droid Depot store). Our io9 colleague Germain Lussier recently caught them in action during the Force season debut:
Season of the Force runs until June 2; you can only see the droids wandering around Black Spire Outpost in Galaxy’s Edge at the Disneyland Resort (sorry, Walt Disney World).
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