Sphero Mini : the robot ball that you control with an app

For small and large children who are tired of boring balls, there is now the Sphero Mini. You can program and operate this robot ball with your smartphone.

What is the Sphero Mini?

The Sphero Mini is, in short, a robot in the shape of a ball. Inside the ball are motors, which can move the ball via wheels. This works, because the center of gravity of the ball is not in the center of the ball, but below it. You can control the ball through an app and program a route that the ball will follow. The robot ball costs about € 60. Of course, the manufacturer does its best to sell you a lot of extra accessories.

The ball is also equipped with LEDs, so you can make it flash. A fully charged Sphero Mini is good for about an hour of fun before it can be recharged. Charging is via micro-USB.

What can you do with it?

You can use the Sphero Mini in different ways. For example, you can hold a race with it, but you can also use the ball to teach children programming. You can do this using the supplied app, which you can install on a smartphone. This allows you to let the ball travel a certain course. For more advanced programmers, you can also program in JavaScript. In short, a fun way to introduce children to programming.

But that’s not all. The most hilarious feature of the Sphero Mini is to use your face to control the ball, Face Drive. Shake your head to the right or left, and the ball moves with it. There are also several games included. So this little ball has a lot of possibilities, and this is probably a toy that children aged 4-8 will not soon get tired of.