Walt Disney Imagineering is “bringing emotional intelligence into the field of robotics” with its innovative BDX droids.
The Imagineering team has been working on robots for many years, with new projects including the bipedal robotic BDX droids at Disneyland.
These expressive, free-roaming droids can interact with visitors, emote, dance, and walk on uneven terrain.
The bots are so impressive that they have been cast in 2026 film The Mandalorian & Grogu.
Kyle Laughlin, SVP at Walt Disney Imagineering’s research and development arm, has now spoken about the technology behind the BDX droids.
“The BDX droids are a big leap forward — not just for robotics, but for how we bring beloved characters to life in the real world,” Laughlin said.
The droids “can learn to move and balance like living beings”, he added.
“But beyond the tech, what really sets them apart is that spark of personality — they’re full of life, and they make people smile. That’s what we’re really after: emotional connection through technology.”
“Story first, technology in service of that story”
Disney, he said, is “bringing emotional intelligence into the field of robotics, and we’re doing it at scale”.
The technology created for the BDX droids will be applied in future developments at Disney, as “everything we do is part of a continuum”, said Laughlin.
“Audio-animatronics were the cutting edge 70 years ago — and we’re building on that legacy every day,” he added.
“Our robotic character platform is modular, flexible, and designed to evolve.
“The core tech — reinforcement learning, expressive motion, character-driven design — can be adapted for lots of different characters and experiences.
“We’re already working on what comes next, and I think people are going to be surprised by how far this can go.”
Reinforcement learning, a machine learning technique, allows Disney to “train hundreds of versions of a robot in simulation before we ever build one physically”, Laughlin said.
“That means faster iteration, smarter movement, and more time to focus on what really matters — creating a compelling character,” he said.
Reinforcement learning and expressive motion
“It shortens the path from idea to emotional connection, and that’s a big deal for us as storytellers.”
The BDX droids, he said, are an example of Disney’s ethos, which is “story first, technology in service of that story”.
“What’s new here is the level of responsiveness, physicality, and charm we can now achieve in real-time, guest-facing environments,” he said.
“It’s not a trick or a one-off moment — it’s an evolving character platform. And we’re just at the beginning.”
Images courtesy of Disney
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