Young Lee

Lee766@usc.edu

Audio-Animatronics: From Singing Birds and President Lincoln himself, to Infinity and Beyond!

Abstract: The Disney Company has become a household name and is known by people all around the world. One aspect of the company that symbolizes the spirit of Disney is its theme park, Disneyland. Disney’s Imagineering division created most of the park and its attractions

with both artistic skill and scientific design. As beautiful as Disneyland is aesthetically, it is also a masterpiece when it comes to the actual functions and mechanics of its attractions. In this article, the history, function, and future of one of Disney’s most famous patent, the Audio-

Animatronic, will be explored.

Bio about me: Young Lee is a junior studying Biomedical Engineering at USC. On his free time he likes to explore the city of Los Angeles and find out new things about the city.

The Disney Company We Now Know Today

The Walt Disney Company, currently ranked as 66 in the Fortune 500 and first in

entertainment companies, has become a household name for children and adults alike all around

the world. Mr. Walt Disney, the original founder, is arguably one of the most fabled rags to

riches stories in history. He started as just a humble cartoonist and with unwavering dedication,

bold creativity, and a “follow your dreams” attitude, created the company that we now know

today. Disney’s original market, the film industry, is still the most famous aspect of the company

today. However, a close second is its theme parks. Presently, there are four locations with a fifth

one in Shanghai currently being constructed. The original theme park was Disneyland in

Anaheim which opened on July 17, 1955 [2]. As aesthetically pleasing and creative this park is

on the surface, underneath the colors and designs are intricately created machines and systems

that truly make the rides and attractions a “magical” experience. The science and engineering

behind everything Disney is done by the Imagineering Division.

“Imagineers”

Disney’s research and development department is called the Imagineering because it

brings together two different but crucial aspects together: creativity and engineering. A few

innovations that Imagineering has created are improving efficiency of buildings such as the

Angels baseball stadium and Los Angeles International Airport’s Encounter Restaurant, crafting

new filming techniques, and designing its line of cruise ships and tropical resorts [4]. However,

many of its patents and inventions have developed from or has become a part of its theme parks

and its attractions. A quick “tour” through Anaheim’s Disneyland park with a discerning eye will

reveal the true magic that happens behind many of the amazing attractions. Arguably the most

iconic invention used in Disneyland is the Audio-Animatronic.

Figure 1: Welcome to the Happiest Place on Earth, Disneyland! (http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/File:Disneyland_map_2011.jpg)

The Extensive Use of Audio-Animatronics throughout the Park

Audio-Animatronics is a registered trademark created by Disney’s Imagineering division

and by definition they are robots that move and repeat recorded sounds or noises [9]. They are

different than our traditional idea of a “robot” in that they cannot walk but only sit and stand

because they are secured to a frame. They also cannot respond to external stimuli and are

controlled by a person or have a set pattern of actions. Although by today’s standards they may

seem outdated, when audio animatronics were first introduced in 1963, they were revolutionary.

You may recognize these machines because they are used frequently throughout the entire park

at Disneyland. Some examples are Indiana Jones in the Temple of the Forbidden Eye ride, the

Yeti in Matterhorn, all of the characters in the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean ride,

and the “It’s a Small World” ride, and much more [9]. A less celebrated Audio-Animatronic

attraction now that actually started it all back in 1963 is “The Enchanted Tiki Room”.

Pre Audio-Animatronic Times:

The idea of the audio-animatronic was inspired by Walt Disney’s trip to New Orleans

where he came across a mechanical bird [9]. He wanted to improve it so that it could move “on

its own” and sing as well. So Walt Disney assigned his Imagineers to the task and their first

prototype at robotics was the Dancing Man. It used the technology known as the cams and levers

system.

Figure 2: Pear Shaped Cam on a rotating shaft with smooth rise and falling edges with a blue lever follower

An eccentric cam with a smooth rise and fall, as the shaft is off center

(http://newmediaartist.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=17%3Achapter-15&id=144%3Atwo&Itemid=19)

The cams would rotate around, usually powered by electricity, and raise or lower

whatever object was attached to the cams and levers[6]. Although the Dancing Man and the cam

and levers mechanisms were a good start to robotics, the flaws are clear in the system. Because

the motions are simple, (rising and falling, opening and closing, etc), to have more complex

movements, many more cams and levers need to be implemented which increase not only the

power source of the machine but also the total size needed for the attraction[7].

Figure 3: The Dancing Man itself is actually pretty small (only nine inches tall!) but the “stage” and cams and levers system that supports it is significantly larger. (http://www.magicalkingdoms.com/blog/2008/07/08/the-history-of-disneys-audio-animatronics/)

The Imagineers’ next product was the large animals seen on the Jungle Cruise ride. These

animals are much larger than the dancing man and use a different type of technology, hydraulic

movements. Hydraulics basically involves use of using an incompressible fluid, or in some cases

vapor, as a medium through which force is transferred [3]. The figure below shows how

hydraulics work in the basic sense. When force is applied at one end, it causes the other end to

rise accordingly.

Figure 4: basic hydraulic pump

(http://defdriving.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/figure-4-hydraulic-force-multiplication.jpg)

The clear advantage of this improvement was that now the machines could be much

larger and free from a bulky support system. However, the same problem of being restricted to

simple movements, rising and falling, opening and closing, etc., still persists.

The First Audio-Animatronics:

Up to this point, these advancements in the field of robotics were not considered Audio-

Animatronics. It wasn’t until the 1960’s, when Imagineers first discovered what is now known

and patented as Audio-Animatronics. This new method is based on a solenoid coil, which is

basically a tightly wound spiral that makes a hollow cylinder [12]. This is where the audio

portion comes into the field of robotics. Sound is played from a recorded magnetic tape and

causes vibrations within a metal reed within the machine. The vibrations create electric currents

that are passed through the coil, triggering pneumatic or gas powered mechanisms to create

motion[12]. This is why sometimes you hear a hissing sound around these objects. Pneumatic

forces are not as strong as hydraulic or liquid (usually oil) pumps but they do not leak like the

latter (which is why sometimes you see water droplets near or on some of these audio-

animatronic machines) [12]. “The Enchanted Tiki Room” utilizes this technology by placing

birds with the solenoid coil within them all throughout the room and when the music fills the

room, the birds react to the songs and “sing” by opening and closing their beaks.

Figure 5: Inside the Enchanted Tiki Room (http://parksandresorts.wdpromedia.com/media/disneyparks/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Tiki-RoomLARGE.jpg)

However, this breakthrough in technology was still very raw, particularly because of the

lack of development of computer programming. Back in the 1950’s and 1960’s, “animators” or

basically an unlucky imagineer, would be strapped to a harness to make specific movements[10].

These actions were recorded as electrical signals that would eventually be used as part of the

programming code for the machine’s motion algorithm. Each different movement had to be

carried out specifically by the “animator” and sometimes there would be as many as fifty

different movements to be recorded which would be very tedious for the “animator” [10]. This

compromised the potential complexity of the movement. For example, early hands were able to

wave but unable to point or close its fingers because that would necessitate five more programs

for each finger, maybe more, which would be a hassle to program and control.

The persistent problem of jerky motion and limited range of movement was improved but

remained unsolved. This was because motion was still on a one-dimensional scale and generally

had two positions, on or off, up or down, left or right, and was only in between these two

positions when it was going to the other option [7].

Another early example of Audio-Animatronics takes us near the entrance of Disneyland

Park in “Mainstreet USA”. Almost immediately to the right after passing through the entrance of

the park, you’ll find an attraction called “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln”. Although not as

famous as some of the other attractions in the park, this modest attraction actually has been a

great milestone in the field of Audio-Animatronics: it was the first human Audio-Animatronic.

The Lincoln model was originally shown at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York but eventually

found its home in Disneyland the year after [8]. The technology that was implemented is very

similar to those within the birds of in the “Enchanted Tiki Room” but it is on a much larger and

more complicated scale. For instance, twenty two different head movements had to be recorded

by the “animator” which meant that he or she had to act out all of the movements specifically

and following the correct sequence [10]. Both the birds in the “Enchanted Tiki Room” and Mr.

Lincoln have, for the most part, stood the tests of time and are still fully functioning machines

today.

Technological Improvements and Recent Implementations of Audio-Animatronics

In 1969, Imagineers designed a new and more efficient way to record the motions using

computer programming. The system is called the Digital Animation Control System and the

main difference of this improvement compared to previous methods is that it writes its programs

on a computer disk instead of a tape [9]. This allows for easier manipulation and editing of the

order of movements such as adding, deleting, or moving sequences around. Also, it makes the

process of the “animator” wearing the harness and acting out the movements obsolete because

the control board can be used to program the Audio-Animatronics.

Figure 6: Control board method of programming (http://dizfanatic.com/diztech005-obama.jpg)

The Audio-Animatronic was implemented extensively throughout the park in many

attractions as listed previously. No groundbreaking breakthroughs have been developed in the

field of Audio-Animatronics but it has been upgraded comprehensively. For example, the new

Buzz Lightyear figure before the Astro Blasters ride is one of the newest models of Audio-

Animatronics. This machine is a member of the line of A-100’s, which is the newest model

today, while Mr. Lincoln and other older models are from the A-1 line [7].

Figure 7: This Buzz Lightyear model uses a projection for the face, instead of machinery, to have better lip-syncing and facial expressions. (http://www.varley.net/Pages/VarleyYarns/Disneyland/Disneyland%20images/Buzz%20Lightyear%20-%20Disneyland%20Part%206.jpg

Conceptually, the newer models are still the same as the model used in the Mr. Lincoln

exhibit. The difference however is that there are many more control points and valves to allow

for greater complexity and smoothness in motion. Consistent improvements in this field has led

to smaller and more efficient parts. An application of this upgrade would be that now hands have

motors for each finger instead of just one for the entire hand. Another significant improvement is

the development of compliance. Compliance is basically having fluid motion and slowing to a

stop instead of halting immediately [13]. Older models without compliance were unable to make

fast movements because when the motion reaches the end, the inertia would cause the entire

figure to jerk, thus losing control and looking awkward. Compliance acts similarly to shock

absorbers to the entire “body” and makes quick motions more natural.

The Future: Autonomatronics and other variations of the Audio-Animatronic

With the exponential technological growth of the twenty-first century, the field of

robotics has improved greatly. Within the realm of Disney, new robots called Autonomatronics

are being developed. What separates these machines from Audio-Animatronics is that they are

able to observe the audience using different senses and interact accordingly. Because Disney and

the Imagineering department are very secretive about most of its future developments, it is

difficult to pinpoint exactly what they will come up with next. However, in recent years, Disney

has introduced a few Autonomatronics, most notably the first one, Otto, in 2009 [11].

Figure 8: Otto the Autonomatronic (http://parksandresorts.wdpromedia.com/media/disneyparks/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/OttoLARGE.jpg)

Otto is a robot that has the ability to move and recite pre-programmed speeches like its

A-100 predecessors. However, the difference is that Otto chooses what to say and how to move

depending on what he observes. He can see using its camera eyes to “detect smiles” and hear

using microphones [11]. It processes the data that it obtains and chooses a reaction that best fits

the external stimuli.

The field of robotics within the realm of Disney has come a long way and will continue

to improve and be revolutionized by Imagineers. Audio-Animatronics will continue to be

upgraded to have even more movable joints for greater complexity in its motions and some

Imagineers are making Audio-Animatronics that are remotely controlled so that it can move

around the park and interact with tourists like a puppet[5] [7].

Figure 9: A remote controlled Audio-Animatronic that can move on its own.

http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20070130152050/muppet/images/5/53/Muppet_mobile_laboratory.jpg

Ever Changing, Always Improving

Disney’s Imagineers have greatly changed the field of robotics in entertainment.

However, when you look around the theme park, there are so many more examples of how

engineering and science has made Disneyland the famous place that it is today. Matterhorn was

the first steel rollercoaster ever made in the world[4]. The fast pass system is another patent that

Disney incorporated that transformed the process of queuing for lines[4]. Even the iconic

Disneyland Castle was specifically built with exact proportions to make it seem larger and more

majestic than its actual dimensions[4]. These are just a few that are on the ever growing list of

innovations that Disney Imagineers have invented. In the words of the late Walt Disney,

“Disneyland is something that will never be finished. It’s something that I can keep developing”

[1]. So next time you’re in line for a ride at Disneyland, take a moment to admire not just the

aesthetic beauty of the park, but also the ingenious engineering design beyond what you can only

see with your eyes, that truly encapsulates the meaning of Imagineering and gives Disney the

magic touch that everyone experiences.

Sources:

[1] http://www.notable-quotes.com/d/disney_walt.html

[2] "Company History". Corporate Information. The Walt Disney Company.

[3] Carlisle, Rodney (2004). Scientific American Inventions and Discoveries, p. 266. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New Jersey. ISBN 0-471-24410-4.

[4] Walt Disney Imagineering: https://disneyimaginations.com/

[5] Theme Park Insider, Disneyland's Mr. Lincoln debuts Disney's next generation of animatronic storytelling, Published: December 17, 2009, By Robert Niles,http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/200912/1593/

[6] http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~rapidproto/mechanisms/chpt6.html

[7] A. Goswick Real Life Canvas: Animating with Animatronics DizTech Volume 4.

[8] F. Ficarra, C. Lozano, M. Jiménez, E, Nicol, A. Kratky, M. Cipolla-Ficarra, Advances in New Technologies, Interactive Interfaces, and Communicability: First International Conference, ADNTIIC 2010, Huerta Grande, Argentina, October 20-22, 2010, Revised Selected Papers; Springer, 2011

[9] The History of Disney’s Audio Animatronics http://www.magicalkingdoms.com/blog/2008/07/08/the-history-of-disneys-audio-animatronics/

[10] C. Sandler, Walt Disney World Resort: Also Includes Seaworld and Central Florida; Globe Pequot, 2007

[11] Disney Parks Blog, Disney Autonomatronics Figure Can Sense If You’re Happy, posted September 28th, 2009 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks,http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/tag/autonomatronics/

[12] P. Anderson, Audio-Animatronics, Persistence of Vision

[13] A. Albu-Schaeffer, O Eiberger, M. Grebenstein, S. Haddadin, Ch. Ott, T. Wimboeck, S. Wolf, and G Hirzinger. Soft robotics: From torque feed- back controlled lightweight robots to intrinsically compliant systems. IEEE Robotics and Automation Magazine, 15(3):20–30, 2008.