Sphero Release Two New Robotic Star Wars Droids, R2D2 and BB-9E !

After the highly successful BB8 robotic droid released last year - one million units were sold - Sphero announced today the release o two new droids, one is the beloved R2D2 and the other is a brand new one, BB-9E, which will appear in the upcoming "The Last Jedi" movie, and this one is on "the dark side of the force".

From CNN: In stark contrast to BB-8's cheery white and orange exterior, BB-9E's body is a menacing black and gray. In 'The Last Jedi,' good droid BB-8 will meet its dark side in a new droid character, BB-9E. "We saw some imagery of "The Last Jedi" and learned how it sounds and behaves in the movie," said Sphero CEO Paul Barbarian. Like the BB-8 toy, BB-9E is also a 4.4-inch app-controlled robot. It has the same ball-shaped body that moves without wheels. It comes with a magnetically-attached head. It features blue and red lights that illuminate when the head is attached to the body. "This is clever engineering," said Berberian. "The lights are powered through induction when the head is connected to the body."



BB-9E features 40 sounds and nine commands controlled via the app such as "patrol," "run away" and "look around." Meanwhile, Sphero's draw-and-drive function -- first created for BB-8 -- lets you program BB-9E to follow any pattern you draw via the app. After putting the toy on a base, you can explore the different ships of the "Star Wars" galaxy through an augmented reality experience on your mobile device. Soon, the droids will be able to interact with each other. The BB-9E toy ($149) will go on sale midnight Friday during the "Force Friday" event, along with the mini robotic version of R2-D2 ($179).

For inspiration, Berberian said the company purchased every R2-D2 toy it could find and found "not one could behave and move as the character did in the movie." But Sphero's R2-D2 design can pull a third leg up into its body, waddle and fall down and play dead, just like the character in the movie. "We want to think of [our products] as droids come to life; not just toys," Berberian said. The BB-8, BB-9E and R2-D2 toys are designed to interact with the movie itself. When the film is playing, the droids make noise and interact with each other. "Through sound, BB-9E shows it is happy when the bad guys win and BB-8 becomes sad," he said.



In 2014, the startup participated in a three-month Disney accelerator. During that time, Sphero was handpicked by Disney CEO Bob Iger to make the toy version of BB-8. "[Iger] knew us and immediately pulled out his iPhone and showed us photos from the Star Wars set and BB-8," Berberian said. "He asked if we could make it come to life." Sphero was already working on the next iteration of its app-controlled robotic ball, which closely resembled BB-8. The Sphero ball was the company's first product, and it sold 800,000 units. But the company said it will be a producing a much smaller quantity of BB-9E. "We're not going to be able to make any more, even if there's a lot of demand for it," said Berberian, adding that the move was a deliberate decision. "Typically good characters tend to be more popular than evil ones," he said. "We're [also] not making as many because we want to keep the mystique of [BB-9E]."

Watch all of them in the video below and another one on CNN HERE, then jump to the Sphero website HERE.




Pictures and video: copyright Sphero

Text: copyright CNN

Jedi Training Academy Will Debut Next Summer at DLP Discoveryland Videopolis

The good guys of ED92 forum are back with exclusive news about Disneyland Paris future, and this time they have all details about the Jedi Training Academy which will debut on DLP Discoveryland Videopolis stage next summer. As usual, i did a translation of their post and D&M french readers can read it in french on ED92 forum right HERE.  That said, there we go:


It will be at the end of July, or early August at the latest, that the Jedi Training Academy will open its doors in the heart of Discoveryland on the Vidéopolis stage. But contrary to what you might think, Disneyland Paris will not just simply adapt the show already present in the U.S since several years.

Thus, 6 times a day, and every day of the year, a group of 16-18 young children will be able to register at City Hall to learn how to use the Force and the noble art of lightsaber fight. But, in order to don't make anyone jealous, two additional children will be selected before of each performance directly inside the Videopolis theater, and so it's up to 120 children each day who will proudly become Padawans. It should be noted that the show will be accessible to children in wheelchairs, the needed ramps will be installed during the renovation of Videopolis.

But how this Jedi initiation will look like, you ask? Let's get into the details ...

Let's start first with the stage decor ...

We will be supposedly on planet Tatooine, and the Lion King sets will be kept to represent the rocks of the Tatooine desert.

Three blocks will make up the background of the scene:

- The right block will be equipped with an access door for the young Padawans and the two Jedi Animators. Note that these Jedi animators will be bilingual since the show will be in French and English simultaneously ( according to the specific needs other languages could then be added temporarily, such as Spanish when they are very numerous on the Resort ). Note that behind this block will be built specific backstages where the young Padawans will be able to calmly prepare themselves before and after the show.

- The central block will be similar to the decor currently used for the Jedi Training Academy in Orlando and thus will look like the entry of an Empire fort. But its color will change and it will have a sand color to match the Tatooine desert. Its large door will allow the entrance of different characters from the Star Wars Universe.

- The left block will be a "simple" decorative element that will have a platform for a surprise about  which i will talk in a few seconds.

Above, a ED92 home made concept art of how the stage might look.

Now, about the show itself!

It will start with the Jedi Animators leading the young Padawans on the stage and they will teach them the basics of using a Lightsaber.

It's at this time that the two first Guest Stars will appear: C3-PO, which will appear throughout the show on the two side screens and his everlasting sidekick, R2-D2, which will appear in real on stage, on the platform of the left block. Note that R2-D2 will be a real remote droid.

The training of the young Padawans in the learning of how to use the Force will therefore continue. The twenty children will not be too many to levitate R2-D2, reminding us a famous scene from the Empire Strikes Back.

It's at this moment that, feeling a disturbance in the Force, Darth Vader escorted by two Stormtroopers will enter by the large central door. Providing an opportunity for each Padawan to have a lightsaber fight with the terrifying Sith Lord!

Above, a scene from the WDW Disney Hollywood Studios Jedi Training Academy

Despite their efforts, none of the Padawans will be able to defeat the almighty Darth Vader. Will the Empire win? Of course not, as when all will seem to be lost a Jedi Master will enter for a grand finale and give the audience the chance to enjoy a high level lightsaber fight.

The Sith Lord will of course be defeat and the Jedi Master will proudly give to each young Padawans a diploma testifying of their exploits in the Jedi Training Academy.

Note that this show will be temporary, it will close its doors in spring 2017 to make way for a more "traditional" Disney Show. But don't worry, the Jedi Training Academy will find another location within Star Wars Land. But this is another story...

So, are you ready to follow the way of the Force?

Text and concept-art: Copyright ED92 - English translation: copyright Disney and more

Top picture: copyright Disney - Lucasfilm

Amazing R2D2 Virtual Keyboard !

Remember this legendary scene in the first Star Wars movie - now Episode 4 - with a hologram of Princess Leia projected by R2D2? I mean: THAT scene:

Well, now you can have for your own iPad, or others tablets or mobile phone, or for your computer a virtual keyboard also projected by R2D2 and with the original R2D2 sounds! Isn't it cool? To learn more about this amazing R2D2 virtual keyboard jump to the full article on my Innoventions Blog HERE.