Disney Unveils HoloTile, the World's First Omnidirectional, Multi-User Treadmill

Walt Disney recently introduced HoloTiles, the world’s first multi-person, omnidirectional, modular, expandable treadmill floor. This new technology enables multiple users to share a VR experience, walk in any direction, and avoid collisions. 

"It's a very special piece of technology... I can walk on this omnidirectional floor in any direction I want. It will automatically do whatever it needs to have me stay on the floor. And what's amazing about this is multiple people can be on it and all walking independently," said Lanny Smoot, a seasoned Imaginer at Walt Disney Imagineering R&D, and the brain behind HoloTiles. 

He envisions its application in creating immersive virtual reality experiences, transforming theatrical stages, and offering new possibilities in entertainment and beyond. He currently has a total of 106 patents. Some of the other notable inventions and contributions include Electromagnetic Eyes for Animatronices, Interactive Zoetrope, and Extendable Lightsaber. 

Smoot joined Walt Disney in 1999 after working for over two decades in the telecommunication industry and at Bell Labs. Smoot has been recognised with induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. This prestigious honour places him alongside Walt Disney himself, marking him as only the second Disney employee to receive this distinction. 

Walt Disney Imagineering 

Walt Disney Imagineering, founded by Walt Disney himself, is renowned for blending creative imagination with technical know-how. It has a rich history of pioneering innovations in themed entertainment, starting from the creation of Disneyland in the 1950s. 

Recently, Imagineering revealed Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, an immersive themed land at Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios. Additionally, it introduced Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle! at Hong Kong Disneyland, showcasing advanced interactive technologies. 

Walt Disney Imagineering continues to push the boundaries of creativity and technology in theme park experiences and attractions. Check out all of their recent products here. 

“I sometimes forget that Disney is actually a very, very good robotics hardware company,” said Jim Fan, senior research scientist and lead of AI agents at NVIDIA, pointing at a lifelike Shaman robot in the Na’vi River Journey (from movie Avatar) at Disneyland. “Such fluid & expressive motion,” he added. 

“Note that this is animatronics - robots that don't have autonomy but only follow fixed, artist-curated moves. If this level of hardware is combined with state-of-the-art robot foundation models, I'd imagine the potential would be off the charts,” said Fan.