NVIDIA, Disney Research, and Google DeepMind have joined forces to bring Star Wars-inspired droids to life, taking a giant leap toward making science fiction a reality at Disney theme parks worldwide. At the recent GTC 2025 conference, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang unveiled “Blue,” a charming robot that captured hearts and imaginations, signalling a new era in entertainment robotics. This collaboration combines AI expertise, physics simulation, and Disney’s magical storytelling to create interactive robotic characters that will soon greet visitors at Disney parks worldwide.
When NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang took the stage at the company’s annual GTC conference on March 18, 2025, few expected him to be joined by an adorable, beeping robot companion. But that’s exactly what happened when “Blue,” a Star Wars-inspired droid, waddled onto the stage to thunderous applause from the audience.
This wasn’t just any robot demo – it was the public unveiling of a groundbreaking collaboration between three technological powerhouses. NVIDIA, Google DeepMind, and Disney Research have partnered to develop “Newton,” an open-source physics engine that promises to revolutionize how robots like “Blue” move and interact with the world around them.
The audience watched in delight as Blue responded to Huang’s questions with expressive beeps, head nods, and body movements that felt remarkably lifelike. While the demonstration was controlled remotely by humans at this event, it offered a compelling glimpse into the future of robotic entertainment.
“This is how we’re going to train robots in the future,” Huang explained during the keynote, noting that Blue contained two NVIDIA computers inside. The droid’s fluid movements and engaging personality captivated the audience and showcased what’s possible when cutting-edge AI meets imaginative design.
Newton: The Physics Engine Powering Disney's Robotic Future
At the heart of this collaboration is Newton, a specialized physics engine designed to help robots learn how to handle complex tasks with greater precision and expressiveness. Built on NVIDIA’s Warp framework, Newton aims to solve one of the most challenging aspects of robotics: simulating how robots interact with the unpredictable, messy real world.
What makes Newton special is its highly customizable nature. Developers can use it to program robotic interactions with a wide variety of objects and materials – from food items to cloth, sand, and other deformable objects. This versatility is crucial for creating robots that can navigate complex environments like theme parks, where they’ll encounter countless unexpected situations.
The physics engine will be compatible with Google DeepMind’s ecosystem of robotic development tools, including its MuJoCo physics engine, which simulates multi-joint robot movements. This integration creates a powerful toolkit for robotics researchers and developers.
Perhaps most importantly, NVIDIA plans to release Newton as an open-source project later in 2025, empowering the entire robotics community to build upon and improve the technology. “Newton is open source, empowering the entire robotics community. This enables roboticists to use and distribute the framework freely and contribute cutting-edge research to its development,” according to NVIDIA’s press release.
Disney's BDX Droids: From Galaxy's Edge to Your Favorite Disney Park
Disney has been dreaming of bringing Star Wars-inspired robots to its parks for years. The company first revealed its BDX droids at a Disney event in 2023, demonstrating them roaming around the “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. More recently, the droids appeared at SXSW 2025 alongside Jon Favreau and Disney Imagineers.
Kyle Laughlin, Senior Vice President at Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development, expressed Disney’s ambitious vision: “The BDX droids are just the beginning. We’re committed to bringing more characters to life in ways the world hasn’t seen before, and this collaboration with Disney Research, NVIDIA, and Google DeepMind is a key part of that vision”.
Disney plans to showcase these robots at multiple theme park locations in 2025, including Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris. For visitors, this means the possibility of interacting with droids that seem to have stepped straight out of the Star Wars universe – a dream come true for fans young and old.
While Disney has used audio-animatronic figures in its attractions for decades, these new robots represent a significant evolution. Rather than being fixed in place and performing the same movements repeatedly, the BDX droids can move freely, interact with guests, and respond to their environment in ways that feel genuinely alive.
Beyond Blue: NVIDIA's Broader Vision for Humanoid Robotics
The collaboration with Disney and Google DeepMind is just one part of NVIDIA’s ambitious robotics agenda. During the same GTC keynote, Huang also announced “Isaac GR00T N1,” described as “the first open and fully customizable foundational model for general humanoid reasoning and skills”.
GR00T N1 is the first offering in what NVIDIA envisions as a family of fully customizable models that will be pre-trained and released to robotics developers worldwide. “The age of generalist robotics is here,” declared Huang during his presentation, signalling NVIDIA’s belief that we’re entering a new era where robots can perform a wide range of tasks rather than being limited to specific functions.
This broader vision extends beyond entertainment robots to potentially transform industries ranging from manufacturing to healthcare, retail, and beyond. By creating open, adaptable platforms like Newton and GR00T N1, NVIDIA is positioning itself at the centre of this robotics revolution.
The Making of Magical Moments: How the Collaboration Came Together
The collaboration between these three tech giants began more recently than you might expect. According to an NVIDIA spokesperson, the first conversation between NVIDIA, Google DeepMind, and Disney Research took place in December 2024, just a few months before the public announcement.
The partnership leverages each company’s unique strengths: NVIDIA’s AI and computing power, Google DeepMind’s expertise in artificial intelligence and robotics, and Disney’s unparalleled creativity and storytelling capabilities. Together, they aim to create robotic experiences that are not just technically impressive but emotionally engaging.
“This collaboration will empower us to develop new generation robotic characters that are more expressive and engaging than ever, allowing them to connect with our guests in a manner only Disney can achieve,” explained Laughlin.
What This Means for the Future of Entertainment and Robotics
This collaboration signals a significant shift in how we might experience entertainment in the coming years. As robots become more expressive, responsive, and capable of handling complex environments, they open up new possibilities for storytelling and guest interactions.
For Disney, this technology could eventually expand beyond Star Wars-themed droids to bring other beloved characters to life. Imagine meeting a robotic Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy or interacting with Wall-E as you explore a Disney park.
The open-source nature of Newton and GR00T N1 also means these advancements won’t remain confined to major corporations. As developers worldwide gain access to these tools, we can expect to see innovations in robotics across various industries and applications.
A New Chapter in Human-Robot Interactions
The collaboration between NVIDIA, Disney Research, and Google DeepMind represents more than just a technological achievement—it’s a step toward creating more meaningful connections between humans and robots. By combining cutting-edge AI with imaginative storytelling, these companies are working to create experiences that inspire wonder and delight.
As Kyle Laughlin from Disney Imagineering put it, this is “just the beginning” of bringing characters to life in unprecedented ways. The BDX droids wandering through Galaxy’s Edge today might be the precursors to even more remarkable robotic characters tomorrow.
For visitors planning their Disney vacations in the coming years, the chance to interact with these next-generation robots adds yet another layer of magic to the experience. For the robotics industry as a whole, this collaboration demonstrates how entertainment can drive innovation in ways that eventually benefit various applications of the technology.
As Jensen Huang proclaimed on stage, “The age of generalist robotics is here”. With Blue and its siblings preparing to greet guests at Disney parks worldwide, that future is arriving sooner than many of us expected—and it comes with a friendly beep and an endearing waddle.
What is the Blue robot that was shown at NVIDIA's GTC 2025?
Blue is a Star Wars-inspired droid developed through a collaboration between NVIDIA, Disney Research, and Google DeepMind. It’s part of Disney’s BDX droid series and was showcased during Jensen Huang’s keynote at GTC 2025.
What is Newton and how does it relate to these robots?
Newton is an open-source physics engine being developed by NVIDIA, Disney Research, and Google DeepMind. It’s designed to help robots like Blue learn how to handle complex tasks with greater precision by simulating how robots interact with the real world.
When will visitors be able to see these robots at Disney parks?
Disney plans to showcase the BDX droids at several theme park locations in 2025, including Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris.
Are these robots fully autonomous?
While the ultimate goal is to create more autonomous robots, the demonstration at GTC 2025 featured remote-controlled robots. The Newton physics engine and other technologies being developed aim to increase the robots’ ability to navigate and interact independently.
What is Isaac GR00T N1?
Isaac GR00T N1 is NVIDIA’s open and customizable foundational model for humanoid robots, announced alongside the Disney collaboration. It’s designed to help robots better perceive and reason about their environments.
Will this technology be available to other companies or developers?
Yes, NVIDIA plans to release Newton as an open-source project later in 2025, allowing developers worldwide to use and build upon the technology.
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