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Rolling around with Sphero BB-8 (pictures)

Sphero's latest toy rolls straight out of the "Star Wars" universe, offering up a robotic toy version of the spherical droid from the upcoming film.

Michelle Starr
Michelle Starr is CNET's science editor, and she hopes to get you as enthralled with the wonders of the universe as she is. When she's not daydreaming about flying through space, she's daydreaming about bats.
Michelle Starr
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1 of 23 Josh Miller/CNET

Sphero BB-8 comes with a themed charging cradle, which uses a coil to charge the  toy. Four hours charges BB-8 completely.

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The robot's head is detachable. Tiny wheels on the base allow it to stay oriented to the magnet on top of the robot ball.

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The size of BB-8's body is comparable to that of other Sphero toys, measuring around 7.6 centimetres (3in) in diameter.

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BB-8 comes packaged in a very handsome box.

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The control system. The pad that controls the direction BB-8 faces is on the right, with the directional pad to control movement and steering on the left.

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BB-8 can be sent out on autonomous patrol, interacting with its surroundings.

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Weights and a gyroscope inside keep the electronics oriented with a magnet up the top to keep BB-8's head in place.

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A recorded message can be played back in augmented reality by framing BB-8 in your device's camera. Sadly, these messages can only be viewed on the same device that recorded them.

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As you continue to interact with BB-8, its interactions and attitudes will evolve. You can also train it to respond to voice commands.

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At high speeds, BB-8's head does tend to slip down its body, righting itself when the ball slows down or stops.

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