The recent unveiling of Sphero"s BB-8 Astromech Droid - to support the official Star Wars The Force Awakens toy set - generated huge excitement yesterday with its release amongst the global Force Friday event. The spherical robot comes packed with futuristic features including voice commands, a holographic message function and an "adaptive personality".
Although the $150 price tag is likely to deter many users from tampering with the Droid, the team at UBreakiFix were confident enough to hack their own and explore the inner mechanics of the robot. They posted their discoveries online:
The laceration of the outer plastic shell provided access to the internal mechanism of the toy. This was then confirmed to include a gyroscope and two wheels to keep the robot upstanding, similar to the original Sphero 2.0. A stem then extends upwards from the base of the structure to a magnet that holds the head in place, allowing fluid movement between both sections.
Although the hidden workings of the gadget consist of fairly standard mechanics, it is nonetheless intriguing to admire Sphero"s latest model, and perhaps speculate what the company could bring to market in the future.
Source: UBreakiFix via engadget