We have one and I think myself and the kids played with it most of last weekend. I was hoping that the Bluetooth sequences might be able to be decoded so one could emulate commands (or create new ones) from a Bluetooth equipped broadcasting PC. If anyone has any info on anyone attempting this, please post.
The original Sphero has an SDK, but BB-8 is build on a newer version of their platform. It uses BLE like Ollie. It should be possible to reverse engineer their BLE service, for example: https://github.com/hybridgroup/cylon-ollie
I had to saw my Sphero open to replace its batteries (lesson learned - don't leave it charging). Its guts are very similar, and I used some plastic-specific adhesive and then clear repair tape to hold it shut. Ideally the shell would have screwed open and shut, given the wall thickness (I have seen some other repair / upgrades that used clear plastic balls, like xmas ornaments, as the replacement shell). The polycarbonate is very strong, my Sphero once fell ~12 feet onto hardwood, without any damage - physical, mechanical, or electrical.
> Also note the lead weights used here to make the product feel more substantial
Are these weights really made of Lead? Or is "lead weight" just an industry term for anything heavy?
If they're actually Lead, how do toys like this conform to RoHS?
I'd be surprised if it was. Children's toys get tested for lead and just breathing it in is dangerous for kids.
Also, lead has a certain look and feel to it. When I open up toys and gadgets, the weight in there doesn't look like lead to me. No idea what it is, but I'd guess a zinc or iron alloy.
