Complete droid Review and use with the Force Band smart health innovation

While the Star Wars saga will resume next December, many products have already been released to keep fans of the films patient. This is particularly the case of the Sphero BB-8 drone.

(embed) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPlJ4fKSkxo (/ embed)

Mark : Sphero

Category: smart health connected toy

Price: 169.90 euros

Tested with: iPad Mini

Unboxing of the Sphero BB-8

Presented in its protective shell to futuristic patterns, however, you will need to overcome the barrier of three layers of cardboard before reaching the Sphero BB-8. As soon as the last box opens, only the famous music from Star Wars so that we are immersed in the universe of Georges Lucas. Delivered in two parts, the drone and its charger, the BB-8 is ready to roll out of the box. In addition, a user manual is also present, although relatively refined.

Design and ergonomics of the Sphero BB-8

Once out of its huge box, the BB-8 struck by its smallness. Equip it with its head and the droid barely exceeds 11cm high, giving it more of a toy look than that of a real robot. However, we can not take away that the details are taken care of: the shell perfectly imitates the appearance of the (few) images we have on the BB-8 which will soon appear on the big screen, going so far as to display the small reliefs present under the head. In short, we, we find it successful and even quite cute.

The Sphero BB-8 is however not " than " a simple toy. Just take it in hand to notice: with its a few grams, the robot turns out to be quite heavy given its size. This is the first glimpse of the technology concentrate with which it is filled. The second will be when you take it in hand after having loaded it, and you will notice the impressive temperature of the sphere.

Moreover, the material which constitutes BB-8 is extremely solid. He easily endures shocks in walls and table legs (without displaying any trace), and even survives falls of several meters. The only downside: antennas. Although made of malleable material, which makes them relatively flexible, it will surely be the first element to suffer if you like them waterfalls.

Sphero BB-8 app

The app is one of the most successful aspects of this BB-8, in that it manages to be both simple and complete. As soon as the application is launched, the main screen offers four buttons organized in a scrolling menu: Navigation, Message, Patrol and Settings.

Navigation allows you to select direct control of the robot using two pads: one to determine the direction of BB-8, the other to calibrate our position relative to that of the robot. It is also in this section that we find different pre-programmed actions, as " Yes ", " No " and some other behaviors.

Message is a rather functionality anecdotal but who can wow your friends. It allows BB-8 to project the hologram of your choice (only visible in augmented reality from your screen, preferably Apple), selected from the pre-existing models or the personalized videos that you can record from theapplication.

Patrol is the mode "Automatic exploration", which gives BB-8 the opportunity to explore the room as they wish. In fact, the robot mostly just rushes from one wall to the other, grating and shaking its head at each impact. The cool thing is that the app is very roleplay and offers tons of information on the environment of the droid, such as the outside temperature, its speed, an event log, an overview of its gyroscope (which allows it to keep its balance), the distance traveled, its acceleration, a stopwatch and the mapped area. Because yes: the Patrol mode offersanalyze the impacts of the robot (displayed by small Stormtroopers on the map) to establish a map of the room where it is located. If this feature looks attractive on paper, theefficiency and robot memory has not dazzled us, since it often happens to be gathered on the same wall a few seconds apart. However, this is THE mode that will make you feel like you are dealing with a real companion and will make you smile.

Parameters, not surprisingly, allows you to customize the sounds of the interface and the droid, the choice of metric units and the activation of voice recognition.

Finally, let's talk about the compatibility. Even if the Sphero BB-8 declares itself compatible with iOS and Android, it is only on Apple products that the application is really usable. Speech recognition (one of the most interesting features) is simply not available on Android, and from what we have tested, Message mode is so slow that it is unusable. We really hope this will be fixed in future updates (advertised as regular).

Use and handling of the Sphero BB-8

Preparation

Before starting, synchronization via Bluetooth is necessary. For this, no need to search the application back and forth and across. You just need to bring your tablet or phone closer to the BB-8 and let the application run. From the start, whether in the credits or when receiving the product, we tell ourselves that this droid should not be easy to master. Far from a R2D2 or a C3PO (probably obsolete), the Sphero BB-8 is a sphere whose head remains magnetized no matter the movements. The least we can say is that you need a (small) training before you can perfectly control this drone. First step, the calibration. In order to prevent the drone from going all over the place, it is important that it recognizes which way its pilot is positioned. For this, a PAD located on the right of the screen allows to determine the front of the drone in relation to the location of the user. An aspect not always easy to master, and which remains extremely sensitive. In addition, each time the position of the user changes, recalibrate the drone. A boring stage but essential.

Other aspects to take into account, the directional joystick. Located on the left of the screen, it works like any other drone. Up to move forward, down to move Sphero BB-8 back pilot, in short you will have seized. A technology already seen, but which absolutely does not interfere due to its maneuverability. With a full battery, you can use the drone during one hour. A low autonomy which is explained above all by the presence of a tiny battery.

On the way

Once prepared, it's time to go start guiding. The main difficulty to which the user is subjected remains maneuverability. Indeed, it is very difficult to progress in a given space without hitting all the obstacles. Even if it is possible to manage the speed at which your Sphero BB-8 progresses, you have to be patient and delicate so that your droid doesn’t do anything. In addition, a little peculiarity as fun as it is irritating, his strong personality. This robot can thus, at any time, decide to go in completely random directions, and more particularly in patrol mode. Anyway, this robot is closer to the companion than being metal.

Use with the Force Band

Since the end of September 2016, Sphero has been marketing a new smart health smart health connected object for the BB-8, the Force Band. It’s simply a bracelet to direct the companion from the stars. It is not necessary to use La Force, a few arm movements will be enough.

First, the Force Band bracelet looks like a toy. In the colors of the Resistance, the device is plastic and has a worn design. Despite its fragile appearance, it attaches very easily to your wrist. The clasp is magnetic and remains strong enough not to open at the slightest gesture. The length of the bracelet can be adjusted to adapt the bracelet to your size using a scratch.

The Force Band has its own application on iOS and Android. It asks your age before automatically launching an hour update. Yes, you must not only arm yourself with a lightsaber, but more especially patience. The same is true for changing the language, the audio update takes 60 minutes.

Finally put the Force Band around our wrist. The application specifies thatyou must carry the device with the micro USB port towards you. A single press of its single button starts it. A longer press will allow you to access the application menu with several modes.

The "Force mastery training" mode offers tutorials to introduce you to the future use of the BB-8. You can also go looking forholocrons, artifacts giving access to bonus videos and information about the world of Star Wars. These data are listed in the "Holocron vault" and the "Armory". These modes allow the Force Band to reproduce the sounds of lightsabers and blasters.

Among all these options, we must admit that the one that interests us the most is "Robot control". You just have to approach the Force Band and the robot for the connection to be made. This done, BB-8 will follow your movements.

Extend your arm forward and it will spin in that direction as if to escape a stormtrooper. You will understand, to turn right or left, just rotate your arm on a horizontal plane. To make it come back to you, just bend your elbow. The speed is controlled by lowering and raising the arm. If you place it alongside your body, BB-8 will stop running.

Motion detection is rather sensitive and reactive. Despite everything, several tests are necessary to master it perfectly. He has literally lost his head against a wall, but BB-8 has always left.

The Force Band is sold alone at a price of € 89.99 or comes with the new edition of the BB-8 for € 229.99. The second version is very similar to the first except for its more used appearance. To believe that the robot has suffered many battles. Despite this, the two editions are compatible with the bracelet.

Conclusion

Difficult to locate the Sphero BB-8 between the toy or the robot. If, basically, it has no other purpose than having fun, we must admit that his semblance of personality differentiates him from other drones or toys of the genre. Maneuverability is not always obvious but acceptable, the voice recognition is pretty cool (even if it’s a shame it’s absent from Android systems) and we had a lot of fun watching it wander around in Patrol mode. Only problem : his price, which is not yet justified by features on board. A problem that should be resolved Sphero via the several updates already announced in terms of his personality and expressions. In short, this is a product full of untapped potential, but which we are impatiently waiting to see explode. A word of advice: if you don't buy it: keep an eye on it.

Want to know more ? ABsmarthealth.com was able to interview managers from Sphero on the occasion of the product launch in order tolearn more about the ambitions and strategy of the company behind the droid.

Overview

Design: A simple design, unpretentious but not pushed enough for our taste. Application : Both simple and complete, the navigation is intuitive and the functions easily accessible.Use : Although complicated at first, it seems more tame after some training.Value for money: Undoubtedly the big weakness of the BB-8. The features present do not yet justify the price of 169.90 euros.

3.2

 3.2 out of 5 

In the average

Sphero BB-8, complete Review of the Star Wars smart health connected droid 

Reviewed by Sebastien  

we 2016-10-06

   Design: A simple design, unpretentious but not pushed enough for our taste. Application : Both simple and complete, the navigation is intuitive and the functions easily accessible.Use : Although complicated at first, it seems more tame after some training.Value for money: Undoubtedly the big weakness of the BB-8. The features present do not yet justify the price of 169.90 euros.

Rating: 3.2 

AB SMART HEALTH REVIEW