Control Star Wars’ BB-8 droid with the power of your mind*

Sasha Muller January 5, 2016

*Okay, okay. The headline isn’t entirely accurate.

I think we can all agree that the best thing in Star Wars: The Force Awakens was cute, orange and equipped with an endearing vocabulary of beeps and bloops. No, not Carrie Fisher – I’m talking about BB-8, of course.

Chances are, if you’re an avid Star Wars fan, that you rushed out and bought Sphero’s miniature, smartphone-controlled BB-8 when it came out a few months ago. Now, however, Sphero has gone one better at CES 2016 by releasing the Force Band, a wearable that allows you to control BB-8 with a variety of Force-like hand gestures.

I find your lack of wires disturbing

Sphero’s BB-8 was already pretty awesome as Star Wars toys go (and pretty expensive too at £130), but the company’s new wearable accessory aims to add an extra dimension of fun to the rotund little droid. Bluetooth connectivity isn’t quite as exciting as bona-fide Force powers, but it’s a start. Strap the Force Band wearable to your wrist, and waving your arm left, right, up and down allows you send BB-8 careering around the room at up to 4.5mph, or stop it dead in its tracks.

Pricing hasn’t been decided, but Sphero has revealed that the Force Band is set to release in autumn of this year. Check out the video below to see if this is the droid accessory you’ve been looking for.