Boulder Company Making BB-8s, The Star Wars 'Droid Of The Future'
BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - Now you can own your very own BB-8.
BB-8 is the latest Star Wars robot featured in the upcoming moving "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." And the toy version of the character was created in Boulder.
"This is a new friend, it's a new droid of the future," said Adam Wilson, cofounder of Boulder company Sphero.
The tech startup partnered with Disney and created BB-8 over the last year. CBS4 first reported about the partnership back in April.
Sales for the toy have exceeded expectations -- 22,000 were sold in just the first few hours.
"We were pretty nose down in the product, and when it launched (Friday) the fans received it so well," Wilson said.
Using Bluetooth technology, BB-8 is controlled entirely through a smartphone. He moves, talks and even can project holograms using a phone.
"There's all sorts of things you can do with this little robot ball," Wilson said.
With its partnership with Disney, Sphero is in charge of handling all the distribution of the much-in-demand toy -- a large feat for a small company.
"It's something we planned for. We knew how many we could make, we knew our fastest run time," Wilson added. "We are making them as we speak."
Many store locations have sold out of the toy, but Sphero staff is making them as fast as they can with hopes that by Christmas every Star Wars fan who wants their own BB-8 can own one.
Sphero's BB-8 runs for $149.99. There are less expensive versions of the toy, but staff says Sphero's is the most authentic BB-8 on the market, and the only one controlled through a smartphone.
As for the Boulder company, Wilson believes toys are just beginning as they plan to take entertainment robots to the next level.
"Robots in the home, a robot for every home," Wilson said.
Pick up a BB-8 at Apple stores, Best Buy, Brookestone, and online at www.Sphero.com.
Mark Taylor is a weekend morning anchor and reporter with CBS4 news covering a wide variety of stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkTaylor_TV.
