Tech Tools: Star Wars BB-8 – the droid you’re looking for

Sphero unveils its ‘Star Wars’-inspired robot

With a Star Wars reboot on the horizon a scatter of cash in toys were sure to follow. The first out of the traps is the 'BB-8 droid'. Ciara O'Brien reviews.

Remember a few years ago when Sphero showed up at CES? The small, spherical robot was controlled by an app on your smartphone or tablet and gave you hours of rolling fun. But now, to coincide with the coming of the new Star Wars movie, Sphero has turned its hand to a bit of merchandise for the film. The BB-8 is a miniature version of the BB-8 droid in the trailer for The Force Awakens.

Standing 4½ inches tall, it responds to your command, whether they’re coming from your Bluetooth-connected device or your own mouth – BB-8 responds to voice commands. It’s a smart little thing too: it learns from your interaction and adapts accordingly.

And if that wasn’t enough, it can send and display video messages. Definitely the droid you are looking for. Watch out for the full review, coming soon.

sphero.com/bb8