Here's why this is a big deal: Traditional animatronics use heavy motors and/or potentially leaky hydraulics. That makes it difficult to craft an animatronic that's not only lifelike in its movements, but light enough not to consume large amounts of energy, not to create substantial wear and tear and to be able to be used safely in close proximity to human guests.
This article explains the technology behind the prototype that Disney demonstrated in the video above. The specs?
They say the new version... has a torque density that is equal to or better than a highly geared servo motor, and much better in terms of power density because of its high speed. It can deliver 4.5 Nm of continuous torque, has a range-of-motion of 135 degrees, and weighs 120 grams.
In non-tech-speak: "it’s likely that a system like this will show up in next-generation animatronics that not only perform to an audience but also interact closely with people."
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