BB-8 Captures Hearts Of Star Wars Fans
BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4)- Star Wars fans lined up outside theaters for hours before the opening of the latest Star Wars installment all around the Denver metro area. But one Boulder startup hopes that one droid featured in the movie will make an impression with fans: BB8.
"We've been looking forward to this day for a long time," said Sphero Chief Product Officer John Blakely.
BB-8 was created in 10 months by Sphero, a company that calls Boulder home.
"We're all fans at heart, we've all kind of grown up with the movies, with the licenses, with the characters, and now we get to bring one of them to life and start a whole new journey with Star Wars," said Blakely.
Disney picked Sphero to be a part of Disney Accelerator, which pairs entrepreneurs with Disney senior officials. Those officials at the time were finishing work on the latest episode of Star Wars, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."
Star Wars fans can buy BB-8 at retail stores for $150. The head comes off but while in motion remains in contact with the body, but how?
"In real life we say it uses the Force," said Blakely. "We have magnetic coupling in there and did some technology magic."
