The Technology Behind The Force Awakens – BB-8.

BB-8 at CelebrationPopular Science Magazine recently had the opportunity to talk with Matt Denton (electronics design and development supervisor) and Josh Lee (animatronic designer) about working with BB-8 on set. In the article they talk about where the design came from, and how it works.

 

In the article, Lee says that they used seven versions of the droid on set. All with a different purpose, such as displaying emotion, or running across set during an action sequence. The producers of the film wanted to create a real life BB-8 that can be showcased at events such as Celebration in Anaheim.

PS: And yet another BB-8 rolled on stage at the Star Wars Celebration fan event in Anaheim?

Lee: “Yes, in production we used those props. But I couldn’t stop thinking about how we could make BB-8 for real. At Star Wars events you always see R2-D2, so I thought we would need a BB-8 to go down the red carpet. In my spare time—weekends and evenings—I started working on it. And then Matt and I built a proof-of-concept model and showed it to Neal Scanlan [the head of the creature shop]. He showed the producers, and they released a bit of money to make it look like an actual BB-8.”

When asked if the Sphero toy worked the same as BB-8 in the movie, Denton said this:

“It’s a totally different beast. Sphero is a hamster in a ball, and BB-8 has a head that’s independent of the body so it can spin on the spot.”

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The prop itself is operated by animatronic puppeteers that give it precise motion. Inside the ball, counterweights and accelerometers attached to wheels allow the ball to move. The “head” is most likely made of lightweight materials with magnets connected to a rod protruding from the motor inside the ball to ensure it won’t fall off. Since BB-8’s body is a closed system with all its moving parts stationed inside the ball, the head itself likely has ball bearings hidden beneath the underside to provide smooth movement. The balancing act is made possible by the same technology used to keep Segway’s upright.

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The technology used to make a real life BB-8 comes from the same company that produces the toy, Sphero. Bob Iger, helped to fund the startup company which was developing a small ball toy that could be controlled by a smartphone.

 

Link to the full article here.

 

To see an animated demonstration click here.

 

+ posts

8 thoughts on “The Technology Behind The Force Awakens – BB-8.

  • November 19, 2015 at 6:59 pm
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    This is really neat. I’m excited to see a DIFFERENT Astromech-class droid in the spotlight. No disrespect to R2 or 3PO (or Kenny Baker/Tony Daniels for that matter) but George had this weird idea that Star Wars was /their/ story, so they were always shoehorned into the “sidekick droid” roles in the PT, which is total bull.

  • November 20, 2015 at 4:38 pm
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    Before I didn’t really think much of BB-8’s design, sort of “meh, just a new take on R2, whatever”.
    But now seeing her [she’s a girl. I’m siding with the designers on the gender issue] in action in the latest TV spots, I’m totally seeing the purpose of the new design: Onscreen sprinting alongside humans.
    Before they would have to awkwardly cut away from R2, just kind of talking his miraculous navigation of harsh terrain for granted, but offscreen.

    Now- they can have the droid RIGHT THERE alongside the humans no matter what’s happening on what terrain.

    The wave of the future indeed.

    • November 20, 2015 at 11:35 pm
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      They’ve officially said BB-8 is a “boy.” If ever referred to in third person in the film, it will be as “he” or “him.”

  • November 20, 2015 at 4:51 pm
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    How does BB-8 go UP stairs???

    • November 20, 2015 at 7:22 pm
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      I’m sure in 20 years, we’ll find out that he has had rocket flight this whole time.

    • November 21, 2015 at 2:00 am
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      with bat-shark repellent

  • November 21, 2015 at 7:11 am
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    I think bb8 popped right out of the dome top of r2d2. Kind of like a droid baby.

    Or maybe it will be R2d2s love interest…

    How come there are no theories about the family ties to the original characters liked there are for rey, Kylo and Finn?

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