Tested: How the BB-8 Sphero Toy Works
We recently visited the workshop of Mike Senna, a droid builder who has made his own R2-D2 and Wall-E robots. Mike’s next project is recreating the BB-8 droid featured in Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens! We discuss what’s known so far about how BB-8 was built for the film, how a remote-controlled model could be built, and take apart a BB-8 Sphero to see if we can learn anything from the small-scale toy!
Shot and edited by Joey Fameli
11 thoughts on “Tested: How the BB-8 Sphero Toy Works”
Leave a Reply

Making
Adam’s Favorite Tools: Pin Gauges!
Adam looks upon the landscape of pin gauges to dive back int…

Premium
Adam Savage in Real Time: Painstaking Circle Cutti…
We invite you to watch Adam -- in real time! -- as he meticu…

Show And Tell
Adam’s Stunt Rifle Prop from Dunkirk!
Adam explains the use of stunt weapons used for filming and …

Making
Ask Adam: On Conflict Related to Sharing Tools
In this membership preview, Tested subscribers Gwyneth K and…

Making
Ask Adam: Processing Negative Emotions Associated …
In this livestream excerpt, Adam answers very similar questi…

Making
Ask Adam: Props That Have NEVER Been Properly Repl…
In this livestream excerpt, Tested Members Thomas Esson and …

Culture
Adam Savage Visits Wētā Workshop’s Dragon Fire For…
Wētā Workshop's Richard Taylor tours Adam through their fant…

One Day Builds
Adam’s One Day Builds: Spacesuit Negative Pressure…
While admiring the aesthetic fidelity of his new spacesuit g…

Show And Tell
Adam’s Favorite Tools: Pry Bars!
Adam shows a roundup of some of his favorite prying instrume…
Stream of The Endless – This is Only a Test 660 – …
We've got The Sandman on the mind as Norm reviews the new Netflix adaptation of Neil Gaiman's comic series this week, as well as the best Predator movie maybe ever in Prey. Plus, thoughts on Samsung's Unpacked event, Amazon buying iRobot, and the 90th anniversary of LEGO!
That HAIR!
Hey, if you’re going to be a robot-builder, you need the eccentric hair-cut :p
I’ve honestly been waiting for you all to talk about the builders club and the mechanics of a full size, fully functioning BB-8. I’ve been following Tiny P and Michael Irwin on the forum about their progress. It seems like they’re working on finishing up the 3D files for the body, but I haven’t seen much about the electronics and mechanics they’ll be using on the inside.
Great video!
It’s pretty incredible that in this day and age, we’re able to rebuild a droid from a movie not yet released!
I know its childish and all that but come on I cant resist it…”THEY’RE SHOWING THEIR WALLY-WALLYS!”
I was gonna say the same thing….definitely a Villian hairdo
I used to have a similar haircut and can assure you it’s not a hair cut of a villain. It’s the hair cut of a brilliant roboticist who develops a super fighting robot that must fight against evil maverick robots. Probably.
Also, cool video!
that was awesome, thx for the video! an accelerometer is totally needed
That clear ball gave me a fun idea for a bb8 costume. If you bought one of those walking on water spheres, painted the outside and attached a head on top you could quite easily make a giant bb8 costume. The head could be controlled with just a stick with magnets on from the inside.
My worlds finally merge! Been apart of the R2 club since ’04 or so and Mike has helped me out countless times. MORE MIKE!
love your videos.. let your subject matter experts speak more.. the interviewerhost comes across as lecturing to the subject matter expert sometimes