Disney Imagineering has released a new video showing a free-walking animatronic Groot! The Groot robot, which is formally known as Project Kiwi, is free-roaming and is only connected by a thin cable. He’s able to make realistic motions, stand on one leg and walk around on his own.
The video from Disney Imagineering details the process to bring Project Kiwi to life over the past few years.
Project Kiwi is extremely impressive and raises some interesting questions about the future of Disney animatronics. Will we see this style of animatronic within upcoming attractions? Or maybe a new style of character meet and greets?
There’s a lot of possibilities with an animatronic that doesn’t have to be mounted or fixed in one location. For now, we should consider Project Kiwi a proof of concept as it remains to be seen how Disney will use this new technology.
