Boston Dynamics, a MIT spinoff company, has always been known for providing entertainment through their systems since their early days. This is evident in the dozens of viral videos they have released over the years.
While entertainment was not the main focus for Boston Dynamics, this is about to change as they have recently announced a partnership with Neon, an entertainment brand based in Singapore.
Neon, the parent company of Animax Designs, has a strong track record in creating theme park and exhibition animatronics for popular franchises such as Avatar, Jurassic Park, Marvel, and Harry Potter.
“The deal is set to culminate with a reveal at the end of 2024 that will engage, inspire, and dazzle audiences,” states the announcement.
While there are not many details disclosed at the moment, it is clear that the collaboration will bring about fascinating experiences for audiences. It is unclear whether the focus will be on theme park robots or something entirely different.
A major advantage for Neon and Animax Designs is Boston Dynamics’ capability to produce high-quality and self-sufficient autonomous systems at a large scale. In recent years, theme park robots have evolved to interact with park-goers, with Disneyland’s Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge being a prime example.
“We are excited about the partnership with Neon and Animax for the development of fully untethered entertainment robots,” says Marc Theermann, the Chief Strategy Officer of Boston Dynamics. “These interactive creatures are set to captivate consumers with their unique and thrilling engagements. By joining forces with Neon, a leader in immersive storytelling, we are merging our advanced technology with their storytelling expertise.”
This collaboration is another step in Boston Dynamics’ plan to commercialize their products, which began with the Spot quadruped and the truck unloading robot, Stretch. However, the company has a history in entertainment as well, as Marc Raibert and his team worked on robots for the set of the 1993 film Rising Sun starring Sean Connery, Wesley Snipes, and Michael Crichton.
With this new deal, it is clear that Boston Dynamics is not just focused on creating groundbreaking robotic technologies, but also on providing captivating entertainment experiences.
