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Disney Details Free-Walking Olaf Robot in New Research Paper

A new Disney Research release explains the tech enabling a self-roaming Olaf ahead of a 2026 park debut.

Overview

  • The paper describes reinforcement-learning policies trained on animator-created references to reproduce Olaf’s stylized gait within real-world constraints.
  • A hidden mechanical system employs asymmetric six-degree-of-freedom legs beneath a soft foam skirt to preserve the character’s screen-accurate look while walking.
  • Operational solutions include an impact-reduction reward that lowered footstep noise by about 13.5 dB and a thermal-aware policy that eases motion when actuators heat up.
  • Physical specs list a height of about 88.7 cm and weight near 14.9 kg, with 25 total degrees of freedom across legs, neck, arms, eyes, jaw and brow.
  • Disney confirms park deployment at World of Frozen in Hong Kong Disneyland and at Disneyland Paris’s Disney Adventure World, which opens March 29, 2026.