Disney has demonstrated a retractable lightsaber at South by Southwest (SXSW), a tech, film, and music festival. The device uses motors to unroll a blade filled with a strip of flexible lights hidden within its handle. Chairperson of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Josh D’Amaro demonstrated the device in front of a live audience.
According to a patent filed by Disney, the lightsaber features a “sword device with retractable, internally illuminated blade.” The device includes two long plastic semi-cylinders that are rolled perpendicular to their length, creating compact cylinders that can be provided on spools in a hilt. To extend the blade, a motor in the hilt unrolls the blade body members from the spools, guided by a blade forming guideway.
Not Available For Public Sale
Disney’s lightsaber is used in shows at Disney World but is not available for public sale. One reason for this is safety concerns, preventing the lightsaber from being able to cut through objects like in the Star Wars movies.
Alex Burkan, a YouTuber who runs the channel Alex Lab, created a working lightsaber that entered the Guinness Book of World Records last year. The device uses an electrolyser to generate hydrogen and oxygen and compress the gas to any pressure without a mechanical compressor. The blade is 1-meter long and can cut through steel, but only works for about 30 seconds on full power. Burkan warns that there is a risk of the lightsaber exploding due to hydrogen flashback.
How Disney’s Retractable Lightsaber Works
Disney’s lightsaber uses a strip of LED lights to create a blade that appears to extend and retract like a real lightsaber. The blade is contained within the hilt of the device, which is a little over a foot long. To turn on the lightsaber, the user presses a button on the hilt, which triggers the motor to extend the blade from the hilt.
Disney’s lightsaber is unique in that it uses a strip of LED lights that are wrapped around a flexible material inside the blade. When the blade is extended, the LEDs light up, creating a glowing effect that looks like a real lightsaber. To retract the blade, the user simply presses the button again, and the motor pulls the blade back into the hilt.
Disney has not revealed whether it plans to make its lightsaber available for purchase by the general public. Given the high level of interest in the device, it’s likely that many Star Wars fans would be willing to pay top dollar to get their hands on one.
What’s Next For Lightsaber Technology?
The development of Disney’s retractable lightsaber marks a significant milestone in the evolution of lightsaber technology. While previous attempts to create a real lightsaber have been limited to static replicas, Disney’s device represents a significant leap forward in terms of functionality and design.
With the popularity of Star Wars showing no signs of slowing down, it’s likely that we’ll see continued innovation in lightsaber technology in the years to come. Whether it’s through advances in materials science, or improvements in battery and motor technology, it’s clear that the lightsaber is a technology that continues to captivate our imagination.
In the meantime, fans will have to settle for the replica lightsabers that are currently available on the market. While these devices may lack the functionality of a real lightsaber, they still provide plenty of entertainment value for Star Wars enthusiasts of all ages. Whether you’re looking to recreate your favorite scenes from the movies or engage in epic lightsaber battles with your friends, there’s a replica lightsaber out there that’s perfect for you.
