Since robots were thought up, many children have dreamt about one day having one for their very own. Now that we’re carrying around powerful wirelessly networked computers with us all of the time, this is slowly becoming a reality. If you have a tablet or smartphone, you can now own and control your very own robot.
Sphero Robotic Ball is a motorized spherical robot that interfaces with your iOS or Android device over Bluetooth. From your handheld, you can manipulate the movement, color, and speed of Sphero from dedicated applications. Chart a path with your finger, use the gyroscope to steer it, or use the accelerometer to remotely propel the ball like playing golf in Wii sports.
If you are dying for a robot of your very own, you’re in luck. For $129.99 USD, you can buy your own Sphero at ThinkGeek. Sadly, shipping outside of the US and Canada is a no-go. My sincerest apologies go out to all the international readers who now have robot envy. Maybe there is some kind of support group out there. Check Craigslist.
If you want to see the Sphero in action, check out the video embedded after the jump. It’s well produced, and it does a great job of showing off what the device is capable of doing.
