Disney and Field AI show a parking-guide robot prototype styled like a Cars character

Walt Disney has shown a prototype parking-guidance robot developed with robotics start-up Field AI, styled after characters from the animated film Cars. The four-wheeled robot is meant to direct drivers towards empty parking spaces.

A large screen like a windscreen shows animated moving eyes, a sign on the roof changes directional messages, and two arms with red lights mark the exact path, like airport marshalling wands. The makers say the prototype is for evaluating autonomous driving systems and studying how visitors react to machine assistants.

Field AI was founded in 2023 by former Google DeepMind, NASA, NVIDIA and Tesla engineers. Disneyland officials stressed there is no timetable for operational use in car parks: the machine shown is a concept only.

Correction: The Cars-style robot shown in the concept video is a rendering, not a demonstrated physical prototype. Disney says FieldAI is exploring robots for parking operations.