Disney has big plans for the spherical robot that will debut in theaters on December 18. While I wouldn't be surprised to see it in a Happy Meal during the Christmas season, the BB-8 droid is already making waves as the new Sphero toy. In addition to wireless charging and control via smartphone and voice, BB-8 is simply adorable. But the big question remains: how does it work?
If you think Star Wars already has all the media attention, trust me, we haven't seen anything yet. Apparently, the so-called 'Force Friday' was a fiasco, with shortages in toys and other collectibles, but if there's one thing that survived all the complaints on Twitter, it's the BB-8 droid. For those who (somehow) don't know what I'm talking about, BB-8 is the spherical robot that accompanies the new heroes of The Force Awakens, and in a way, it will be the "R2-D2 of the new generation". The first surprising fact about BB-8 is that it's not a computer-generated effect, but a real physical prop. Since we first saw it on screen, we knew Disney was going to turn it into a toy. And this is what happened...
How Does It Work?
Thanks to the magic of Sphero, BB-8 is now a small robot that can be controlled with a smartphone and specific voice commands. BB-8 also has the ability to explore on its own and play back augmented reality holographic messages through a mobile device compatible with its app. This detail is very important because that mobile device is a requirement. If there's no smartphone or tablet at home, all BB-8 will do is move its head a little while resting on the charging base, which, by the way, works by induction (three hours of charging for every hour of operation). Now, if you're wondering how it actually works, the folks at UBreakIFix literally destroyed one to find out.
In short, the system is similar to the one Sphero used with its well-known toy, while the head stays attached to the body with the help of a magnet. If it comes off (and it certainly will), it's very easy to put it back. The official price of the BB-8 droid is $150, and as you can imagine, a waiting list is already forming to get one. The BB-8 toy exploded among fans, young and old alike, and I think the reason is easy to understand: it works exactly like its big brother in the trailer.
