Disney releases video of 'Reinforcement learning enables a bipedal robot with rich character'

Disney Research has developed a bipedal robot that moves expressively as if it has emotions, despite being controlled by a human.

The robot's movements are programmed using CG on a PC and then reproduced on actual hardware.

The robot's movements are controlled remotely, but in order to make a robot that plays an active role in an attraction show a unique character, it is necessary to show not only fixed movements but also temporary movements such as tilting the head and expressing emotions. To achieve such complex movements, Disney Research devised a reinforcement learning-based architecture to control the robot's movements.

During reinforcement learning, the animation input by the artist is combined with the movements input using the controller.

The robot can perform movements such as tilting its head and tilting its head.

Of course, you can move it back and forth, left and right, and even rotate it on the spot.

Not only can the robot move as controlled, but it can also express emotions by shaking and dancing in between movements.

Use speakers and lights to express your anger.

Even when going down the stairs, instead of just walking down, he made a movement as if checking his footing just before going down.

You can also move the robot in real time by pressing the controller's triggers or operating the joystick.

This makes it possible to realize robots that act as if they have emotions and intelligence.

The robot was first announced at the International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems in October 2023. At that time, the robot's development team said, 'The animator team and the robotics team are continuing to work together to develop the robot, and in the future, we will be able to express the emotions created by the robot in the animation with a real robot.'

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