A recently published patent application details Universal’s plan for creating an animatronic figure that can appear to walk.

Animatronic Patent

The patent application (US-20260084074-A1) is called “Animated Figure Walking Mechanism,” and it shows and describes how Universal would create a two-legged animatronic character that can appear to walk.

Pictured above, the system involves a carrier with a limb and a motor. Plus, there is a second limb, a hinge, and sliding motor system.

Unlike Disney’s walking Olaf at Disney Adventure World, Universal does not plan to create an ambulatory robot. These plans are for a more traditional animatronic, but it can appear to walk.

An ambulatory animated figure system includes an animated figure having a body with a first limb and a second limb extending therefrom. The system also includes a carrier configured to be disposed on a support, and the animated figure extends away from a side of the carrier in a direction. The carrier is coupled to a first limb through a first actuator system, which is configured to move the first limb away from the side of the carrier in the direction and configured to slide an end of the first limb transversely relative to the direction. The carrier is translated relative to the support through a second actuator system. The system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the first actuator system and the second actuator system and configured to coordinate actuation of the first actuator system and the second actuator system to provide an ambulatory effect.

-Patent abstract

There is no official word from Universal and nothing in the patent that indicates what they are thinking of using this technology for.

What would you like to see Universal use a walking animatronic for? Let us know on social media.

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