UNIQUE ANIMATRONIC ANIMATION

Number: 20250276251
Published: 2025-09-04
Filed: 2024-03-04
Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors: Anderson; Brenton John et al.
CPC: G06T13/40; A63G31/00
Verdict: High Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Animatronic figure animation-generation hardware/technique.

Abstract

A method for generating an animation for an animatronic based on one or more creative requirements where the generated animation may imitate one or more input motions and is limited by the one or more creative requirements. The generated animation may then be retargeted onto the animatronic based on mechanical constraints, such that the animation is physically feasible on the animatronic. In some instances, the animation may be generated based on received animation source content performed by an actor that defines one or more input motions. The generation of the animation is done by, for example, a generative AI model, or by imitation learning. Additionally, the method may be performed in real-time. Associated systems and methods are also disclosed.

Background

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for the generation of animatronic animation. BACKGROUND

Amusement parks, theme parks, carnivals, arcades and various attractions of the sort use animatronics to produce a more interactive effect for guests in, for example, rides, shows, and games as the animatronic is intended to mimic the movement, look, and emotion of characters sharing the theme of the rides, shows and games. In such cases, animatronics use a predetermined/set animation with a set script that is repeated by the animatronic each time the attraction is experienced. For example, in an attraction ride an animatronic uses a “surprise” animation, where the animatronic jumps out of a hidden place and scares a rider with a corresponding loud programmed voice line each time the attraction ride is experienced.

In the case that a person wants to experience an attraction more than once, the static animation for the animatronic creates a repetitive and less-enjoyable ride for the person. For example, returning to the example attraction ride, a guest riding the attraction ride a second time will experience a diminishing effect from the ride as they have already experienced the scaring effect of the same “surprise” animation. Due to the repetitive nature of the programmed animation, the guest may not return to the attraction more than once or may be dissatisfied with their second and further consecutive experiences with the animatr

Claims

1. A method for generating animatronic animation, the method comprising: generating an animation for an animatronic based on one or more creative requirements, the animation imitating one or more input motions and limited by the one or more creative requirements; retargeting the animation onto the animatronic based on mechanical constraints of the animatronic, such that the animation is physically feasible on the animatronic; and outputting the animation to the animatronic. || 9. A method for animatronic animation generation, the method comprising: receiving animation source content; generating an animation for an animatronic based on the animation source content and based on at least one first constraint or requirement; retargeting the animation onto the animatronic based on at least one second constraint or requirement; and outputting the animation to the animatronic. || 16. A method for generating new animations for an animatronic, the method comprising: receiving animation source content defining input motions; generating an animation similar to the input motions and based on at least one creative requirement for the animation; retargeting the animation onto the animatronic based on at least one kinematic or dynamic constraint of the animatronic; and deploying the animation to the animatronic for performance by the animatronic. || 21. A method for training a model used to generate animations for an animatronic, the method comprising: receiving a set of constraints of an animatronic and a set of motion data; and training a model based on the set of motion data and the set of constraints to generate an animation that is physically feasible on an animatronic.