26 February,2017 02:30 PM IST | | A correspondent
Sign up for a workshop on building a workingversion of BB-8, the lovable droid from the sci-fi epic Star Wars
A participant tries his hand at building BB-8 bots at a former workshop
Just this week, Walt Disney World announced that it would be including the famed rolling droid, BB-8, to its starry lineup of Star Wars characters at Disney's Hollywood Studios. While this is great news for fans of the epic sci-fi series, what if we told you that you didn't have to fly all the way to the US to experience this stellar robot? Even better, what if you could make your own version of BB-8.
Girish Nair, founder of innovation space Curiosity Gym, says it's just about possible. In a one-of-its-kind workshop, Nair will be training young kids (ages 12 and above) to make their own BB-8-inspired robot. This three-day session has been designed for anyone interested in creating a working version of the droid. And, no prior background knowledge is required, said Nair. "The kids will be exposed to the mechanical and electronic components of what goes into making a robot. They will be cutting, screwing, wiring and spray-painting things to create the final product. It's going to be a fun, hands-on workshop," added Nair.
The students will also be educated on the physics of this engineering marvel. "Since BB-8 bots are spherical in shape, we will be teaching them about how magnetism helps in keeping them together," he added. All the study material and kit equipment will be provided at the session. The students are, however, expected to carry an Android phone along. "They will be taught how to control it using an app," says Nair. What's best, you get to take this new Android-enabled bot friend home.
