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Disney is making every adult’s childhood dream come true by unveiling a real lightsaber that looks and sounds like the iconic weapon in Star Wars movies.
The innovation was demonstrated at SXSW by Josh D’Amaro, president of Disney Parks and Experiences, who pressed a button on the handheld device and released a glowing blue blade.
The neon-colored shot from the silver hilt, releasing the familiar sound associated with the Jedi weapon.
Disney hasn’t yet revealed if the device will be available to the public, but many Star Wars fans believe it will be used in the park’s rides based on the hit movies.
D’Amaro took the stage at SXSW and said, “I have the coolest job in the world. I’ve got a real lightsaber in my hand.”
Disney Parks and Experiences President Josh D’Amaro brought childhood dreams to life when he demonstrated a real lightsaber earlier this month
He explained that it is one of the lightsabers used aboard Disney’s ultra-expensive Galactic Starcruiser experience, deadline reports.
Disney hasn’t revealed the technology behind the lightsaber, but the company was granted a patent in 2018 detailing the possible structure of a similar device.
The patent, titled Sword Device with Retractable, Internally Illuminated Blade, describes a lightsaber that works like a motorized tape measure.
At the push of a button, the straps would extend to a total length several times that of the handle itself.
The bands would also have some sort of LED light inside so the lightsaber could light up like they appear in the movies.
A lightsaber is the official weapon of the Star Wars series, used by the Jedi, Sith and other Force sensitives.
In the movies, the device is made of a plasma blade powered by a kyber crystal, a fictional stone.
While the lightsaber can cut through just about anything in Star Wars, Disney’s innovation would be perfectly safe.
Disney is making dreams come true with the demonstration of a lifelike lightsaber earlier this month
Disney filed another patent in 2015 describing a “audience interaction projection system” that uses drones to beam beams of light at audiences, who are given “fake lightsabers” to deflect the laser beams back at the machine.
Disney filed another patent in 2015 describing a “audience interaction projection system” that uses drones to send beams of light to the audience, who are given “fake lightsabers” to deflect the laser beams back at the machine.
However, this technology would be used exclusively for entertainment at Disney parks.
One of the black-and-white drawings in the latest patent shows a drone shooting a beam of light at a figure holding a long, thin device with a handle — similar to a famous Jedi that may have been used.
“A process and system captures the infrared light reflected or emitted from a device to precisely locate the device,” reads the patent, published July 14 and first spotted by Patent Yogi.
A lightsaber is the official weapon of the Star Wars series and is used by the Jedi, such as Luke Skywalker (pictured), Sith and other Force sensitives.
“The process and system project visible light from a light source to the device so that the light is precisely aimed at the device.”
The document continues to create a picture of the area for park visitors to witness as they interact with the technology.
Disney describes filling the air above the audience with particulate matter such as water vapor, condensed water, liquid nitrogen, dust or theatrical fog.
This will prompt the drone to shine visible light through the particles and direct it at the audience member holding the device – giving the effect of what could be a real lightsaber deflecting laser beams.