Sphero's R2-D2, BB-9E App Controlled Droids Announced For Force Friday II

Smart toys maker Sphero has released two new “Star Wars” droid for Force Friday II. Sphero now sells an app-controlled version of the classic “Star Wars” R2-D2 droid, as well as an evil version of BB-8 called BB-9E.

Like Sphero’s original app-controlled BB-8 droid from 2015, the new R2-D2 and BB-9E droids feature very detailed representation of their movie counterparts. However, BB-9E hasn’t actually appeared in any of the films yet, but it’s expected to make an appearance in “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.”

First up is the Sphero R2-D2 app-controlled droid which is a 1:24 scale robot of the life-size version, accoridng to Mashable. Like the BB-8 droid, R2-D2 will be controlled by a companion app on Android an iOS devices. Users will be able to drive around R2-D2 or have it explore on its own.

Like its movie counterpart, the Sphero R2-D2’s dome head can turn and even feature accurate lights and sound. Sphero says that it used the original R2-D2 beeps and boops from “Star Wars: A New Hope.” Unlike BB-8 and BB-9E, R2-D2’s droid sounds actually come out of it instead of the user’s smartphone.

Sphero’s R2-D2 droid is so accurate that it can even switch between two and three legs just like in the films. The third leg extends and retracts from R2’s body like in the films when it it has to move around. The Sphero R2-D2 will only use two of its legs when it’s in its standing mode.

Although users can control R2 to move its individual parts, the companion Droid App also comes with animation presets. One of the droid animations included with R2 is falling down, which is similar to how R2 reacts when being shot at by Jawas.

Next up is the BB-9E, which is pretty much a black version of BB-8. In many ways the Sphero BB-9E is similar to BB-8, including its circular rotating body and magnetic head. The BB-9E differs from BB-8 in a couple of interesting ways.

Its magnetic head is actually flat and features a pair of LED lights. Sphero was able to make the LEDs light up through inductive electricity so users won’t have to worry about getting batteries. BB-9E’s LED lights will actually turn on automatically when it’s close to its body.

Sphero uses the same robotics technology it implemented from BB-8, so the BB-9E will function very similarly. Users can turn its head, make do droid animations and have go explore in patrol mode via the Droid App.

Sphero has also added a new Droid Trainer platform along with the BB-9E’s charging base. When users place the BB-9E on the Droid Trainer, they will be able to run augmented reality routine with the Droid App, according to Engadget. Sphero says that the Droid Trainer platform will also be compatible with BB-8 as part of a software update.

The Sphero R2-D2 sells for $179.99, while the Sphero BB-8 costs $149.99. Both droids are available now in stores and from Sphero’s own website.