Nvidia has officially partnered with Disney Research and Google DeepMind to develop Newton, a powerful physics engine designed to simulate realistic robotic movements in the real world. The collaboration was announced by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang during his keynote at GTC 2025 on Tuesday.
Disney is set to become one of the first companies to leverage Newton’s cutting-edge technology. The physics engine will help power its upcoming entertainment robots, including the Star Wars-inspired BDX droids — one of which made a surprise appearance on stage beside Huang.
An early open-source version of Newton is expected to be released later in 2025, giving developers a first look at the tool shaping the future of Disney’s robotic characters.
Disney’s Adorable BDX Droids Ready for Theme Park Debut
For years, Disney has teased its ambition to bring Star Wars-themed robots to its parks globally. Fans have caught glimpses of these droids in controlled demos — the latest being at SXSW 2025. Now, Disney says the technology is finally ready for prime time.
With Newton’s support, Disney plans to officially showcase the BDX droids at select theme park locations starting next year. The robots are designed to move more naturally and interact with guests in captivating ways.
In an official statement, Disney Imagineering SVP Kyle Laughlin highlighted the importance of the partnership with Nvidia and Google DeepMind, calling it a critical step in enhancing Disney’s entertainment robots.
Newton Engine to Make Disney Robots Smarter and More Expressive
Nvidia claims that Newton will give robots the ability to perform complex tasks with better precision while appearing more lifelike and expressive. This is crucial for Disney robots, which need to engage audiences in immersive park experiences.
Newton enables developers to accurately simulate how robots interact with everyday objects — from food and fabrics to sand and other flexible materials. Such precision ensures Disney’s robots behave convincingly in unpredictable, real-world environments.
In addition, Newton integrates seamlessly with Google DeepMind’s robotics tools, including MuJoCo, a physics engine focused on simulating intricate, multi-joint robot movements. This compatibility ensures developers have access to a powerful ecosystem for building advanced robotic systems.
Nvidia Expands Robotics Ambitions with Groot N1 Foundation Model
The Newton announcement was just one of several major updates from Nvidia at GTC 2025. The company also revealed Groot N1, a groundbreaking AI foundation model for humanoid robots. Designed to enhance perception and reasoning, Groot N1 enables robots to better understand their surroundings and make decisions in real-time.
To demonstrate the model’s potential, Nvidia integrated Groot N1 into Disney’s BDX droids, further showcasing how AI and robotics can bring characters to life.
Nvidia’s Broader Vision: AI Chips and Personal AI Computers
Nvidia didn’t stop with robotics. The tech giant also outlined its roadmap for next-generation AI chips, including the Blackwell Ultra and Rubin series. Alongside these, Nvidia unveiled its new line of “personal AI computers”, designed to push the boundaries of what AI can achieve in personal and professional environments.
A New Era of Disney Robots Powered by AI
This groundbreaking collaboration signals a new era for Disney robots, combining Nvidia’s AI expertise with Google DeepMind’s robotics innovation. As Disney prepares to roll out these advanced robots in its parks, visitors can expect an experience where characters come alive in ways never seen before.
With Newton’s advanced physics capabilities and Groot N1’s reasoning power, Disney’s next-gen robots will be smarter, more interactive, and truly unforgettable.
