'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Cast, Trailer & Toys: Is This How Sphero BB-8 Comes to Life?
"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" BB-8-inspired toy is literally broken down to find out how the awesome merchandise actually works.
The robot-making company formerly known as Orbotix has recently released a $150-worth toy based on the ultimate "Force Awakens" droid which The Next Web deemed something that seems to be "built with magic."
"When playing around with Sphero's BB-8 toy, the miniature version of the personality-filled droid from the upcoming movie 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens,' it's hard to not feel like it's made with a little bit of magic," the report read.
The outlet also explained that the manner at which the toy is able to keep its head floating on top of its body and its capability to stay upright while moving to and fro is not a work of magic but a 'well-developed science.'
Considering the company's history at making life-sized droids, the toy version of the adorable BB-8 robot in Episode VII of the franchise did not disappoint.
In fact, it piqued the interest of teardown experts at uBreakiFix so much that they decided to "break it down" and find out how this little contraption works.
Here is a quick look at what the group did.
Since there is no clear seam to the toy, the group was unable to break it down without carnage, leaving them no choice but to take a rotary tool to open it up.
After the grueling task of dissecting the robot, the group found out that the toy contains a gyroscope and a counterweight in order to maintain its balance and keep its body upright.
UBreakiFix also found out that the toy has a wheel that is constantly in contact with its shell which serves as its locomotive.
As for its head, a magnetized stem is attached to keep it from falling at the same time provide a science fiction-y effect of floating.
CNet noted that while the BB-8 toy has a droid-like paint job, a movable head and an all-new charging base, it maintains an impeccable similarity with the company's signature miniature robots Sphero and Sphero 2.
The BB-8 toy is 4.5 inches tall and has a diameter of 2.9 inches while its weight is estimated to be around 7 ounces.
Another difference between the classic Sphero robots and the Star Wars miniature droid is the Sphero BB-8 app available on the Apple Store and Google PlayStore.
This app allows its users to control its movements as well as its special features including obeying voice orders, apply pre-programmed commands and record and play holographic communications from Star Wars flicks.