Disney Research robot plays catch and juggles with humans, won't replace their parents (video)

[ ](http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/22/disney-research-robot-plays-catch-and-juggles-with-human-lackeys/)

It's entirely possible for [robots to juggle](http://www.engadget.com/tag/robots,juggling/) or play catch. They've usually been relegated to playing with their own kind, however, which is as good an excuse as any for [Disney Research](http://www.engadget.com/tag/DisneyResearch/) to experiment with a ball-tossing robot tailored to games with humans. The [animatronic](http://www.engadget.com/tag/animatronic/) creation uses a depth-aware motion camera -- there's conflicting mentions of using both the Microsoft [Kinect](http://www.engadget.com/tag/Kinect/) and ASUS' [Xtion Pro Live](http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/18/asus-updates-xtion-pro-motion-sensor-makes-it-even-more-like-ki/) that we're hoping to sort out -- to track any mid-air balls as well as throw them back to a human participant. Disney's robot does more than just move the robot's arm to account for imperfect tosses, too, as it knows to feign a dejected look after a botched reception. The company suggests that its invention would ideally bring two-way interaction to theme parks, so it's more likely to show up at Disneyland before it stands in for a parent in the backyard. It's just as well; when the [Robopocalypse](http://www.engadget.com/tag/Robopocalypse/) comes, the last thing we'll want at home is a machine that can toss grenades.

[Continue reading _Disney Research robot plays catch and juggles with humans, won't replace their parents (video)_](http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/22/disney-research-robot-plays-catch-and-juggles-with-human-lackeys/)

Filed under: [Robots](http://www.engadget.com/category/robots/), [Microsoft](http://www.engadget.com/category/microsoft/), [ASUS](http://www.engadget.com/category/asus/)

**[Comments](http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/22/disney-research-robot-plays-catch-and-juggles-with-human-lackeys/#comments)**

**Via:** [Gizmodo](http://gizmodo.com/5962617/disneys-animatronics-now-play-catch-like-the-android-dad-you-always-wanted)

**Source:** [Popular Science](http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-11/watch-awesome-robot-play-catch-better-your-dad)

URL: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/22/disney-research-robot-plays-catch-and-juggles-with-human-lackeys/