Disney Research develops a robot that plays catch

Usually when you go to a Disney theme park the only interaction you have with an Audio-Animatronic figure, or robot, is to watch it. Now, Disney Research Labs in Pittsburgh is trying to enhance the experience.

Imagine standing next to a robot and playing. "Using a theme park type animatronic humanoid robot, we developed a test bed for a throwing and catching game scenario," according to a YouTube video posted by Disney Research Labs.

The video explains this is done with the use of a camera system which locates the ball and predicts the destination and timing. The robot's hand then is placed into position for the catch. If the robot catches the ball it then throws the ball back to the person.

If the robot does not catch the ball, the video shows how there are numerous pre-programmed responses, such as shaking a head as if it is disappointed and turning its body to look for the missed ball.

There was even test performed with three jugglers in which the robot and human threw three balls back and forth and juggled them between the two.

How far along this project is until it could be used or even tested in a park is unknown, but it would be cool, even to play catch with a robot.