Imagineers at Work

After a robotics performance Marty Sklar's house and a trip to Disneyland, there was one last stop on my list to round out my Los Angeles weekend.  I've read so much about the long days and late nights bursting with creativity as the field of Imagineering was born.  Things have come a long way since then, but there was still a magical, creative buzz in the air everywhere I looked.

Would it be inappropriate to just walk in and hand them a resume?

Lots of construction means good days ahead for Imagineers

Someday...

Even the bus stops are festive!

Imagineering my Future

Tonight was the night that my biggest opportunity came to fruition.  I was ecstatic when the museum invited me to travel out to LA to help setup and run the Nao robot performance at the Marty Sklar fundraiser.  I've been working day and night on the robot's performance to start the evening, and the chance to be there rubbing elbows with the who's who of Imagineering has been the icing on the cake.

First, let me start off by thanking Mr. Sklar for his generosity, not just hosting the event, but also being so welcoming to those of us working and volunteering in his house the whole day beforehand.  I had a few chances to talk with him, and he is full of great stories, encouragement, and advice.

I'm also happy to report that the performance went flawlessly, without any network hiccups or stumbles.  Knowing that I'd be there in person, I actually ended up building messaging to the robot so that I could control actions discretely with my phone.  This worked like a charm.  I was able to start the main presentation on cue so that it seemed like the robot was really just starting up on its own.

I also put in a couple Easter eggs like having the robot fidget a bit after his spiel while others were talking and even sneezing at one point.  I also gave myself controls so that I could have him clap along as other guests were introduced.

It all worked exactly like it was supposed to, and it was great watching the room full of theme park, robotics, and museum professionals hang on each sentence.  Mr. Sklar had very kind and complementary words for me afterwards as well, so it's safe to say I was on top of the world.

To celebrate, since I was already in LA spending time with Imagineers, it seemed appropriate to spend a day in Disneyland, having never been.  Tomorrow, more adventures!

Going to Hollywood

I have very exciting new to share in this post.  Having only recently gotten involved with robots at the Museum of Science and Industry, things have quickly escalated into a once in a lifetime opportunity.  The museum is currently working to secure funding for a new, robot-oriented exhibit, and Disney Imagineering legend, Marty Sklar is planning to host a private fund raising event at his home on the west coast.

The guest list should include past and present Imagineers, which isn't surprising, given the numerous ties between the museum and Disney.  Not only are there employees with stops at both institutions, but, though it's not widely publicized, Walt was actually born in Chicago, and I've read that a trip to the museum's Coal Mine exhibit was part of what sparked his passion for themed attractions.

Thanks to my wonderful friends at the museum, I've been invited to program one of the Nao robots to do the introductions for the evening.  You read that right.  My first serious assignment in animatronics programming would be performed for Imagineers in the home of one of the greatest original Imagineers himself.

It's no secret that one of my dream jobs would be to work as an Imagineer someday.  I got involved in engineering because of the enjoyment I get using technology to create anything that moves and acts on its own.  Whether it's an industrial robot or a holiday animatronic, after long hours designing, programming, and testing, being able to push a couple buttons and then watch the result take on a life of its own is a thrill that I will never get tired of.

Adding to the excitement, I was given a decent amount of creative freedom with the performance, so I've taken the opportunity to be creative with it.  Hopefully I can entertain and amuse the attendees, make a good impression, and ideally build some rapport in the Imagineering community.  Below is the latest rough draft.  I'm going for something fun and a little unexpected.