Sphero

Sphero, Inc.
FormerlyOrbotix
Company typePrivate
Industry
Founded2010; 14 years ago (2010)
Founders
  • Ian Bernstein
  • Adam Wilson
  • Joshua Cohen
[1]
HeadquartersBoulder, Colorado United States
Websitehttps://sphero.com

Sphero, Inc. (formerly Orbotix) is an American consumer robotics and toy company based in Boulder, Colorado.

Their first product, the Sphero, is a white spherical robot launched in December 2011 capable of rolling around under the control of a smartphone or tablet.[2][3] A remastered version, the Sphero 2.0, was launched in August 2013.[4] Both products are now discontinued.

In 2015, Sphero struck a licensing deal with Disney to create a BB-8 robot based on the Star Wars: The Force Awakens film.[5] Following the success of that robot, Sphero also created a model of R2-D2 and Lightning McQueen. The Disney products were discontinued in 2018 after their partnership ended.[6]

Sphero's current product lineup includes several spherical robots like the original Sphero: the Sphero Mini, BOLT, and SPRK+.

On February 19, 2019, Sphero announced a programmable tank-tracked kit called the Sphero RVR (pronounced "rover") on Kickstarter.[7][8] It is advertised as a "go anywhere, do anything programmable robot" with modular parts and all-terrain capability. It has an increased focus on education, and has been released in October 2019 at $249.[9]

In August 2019, Sphero acquired New York City-based startup, littleBits.[10][11][12]

  1. ^ Kimberly, Weisul (May 28, 2013). "This Robotic Ball May Change Everything". Inc. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  2. ^ Harry McCracken (August 15, 2013). "Sphero 2.0 Is a More Heroic Robotic Ball". Time. Time Inc.
  3. ^ Bonnington, Christina (December 19, 2011). "Review: Orbotix Sphero". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  4. ^ Heater, Brian (August 14, 2013). "Sphero 2.0 rolls out at speeds 'slightly slower than a Lamborghini' (video)". Engadget. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  5. ^ McFarland, Kevin (September 3, 2015). "The Story (And Tech) Behind That Awesome Star Wars BB-8 Toy". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  6. ^ Carman, Ashley (December 17, 2018). "Sphero discontinues its BB-8, R2-D2, and other licensed Disney products". The Verge. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  7. ^ "Sphero RVR – The go anywhere, do anything programmable robot". Kickstarter. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  8. ^ Stein, Scott (February 19, 2019). "Sphero RVR wants to be your future hackable robot kit". CNET. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  9. ^ "Sphero makes its 'RVR' programmable tank robot available to all".
  10. ^ "Sphero has acquired littleBits". TechCrunch. August 23, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  11. ^ Paynter, Ben (August 23, 2019). "Sphero acquires littleBits in a bid to rule the $150B educational toy market". Fast Company. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  12. ^ Stein, Scott. "Sphero acquires Littlebits, consolidating the educational tech landscape". CNET. Retrieved April 14, 2020.