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Build Your Own Phone-Controlled, Life-Sized BB-8

Did you shell out $150 for the Sphero BB-8 before you even saw Star Wars: The Force Awakens? You’re not alone. The little guy is sitting on my desk right now. If you’re like many people on the Internet, you were surprised by how tiny he is. (Also, please stop torturing your cats with this toy. It’s just mean, despite how many times I may have watched videos of you doing it. Okay, and laughed like a loon.) Thankfully, earlier this month TechBuilder uploaded a DIY video allowing you to build your very own life-sized BB-8. Just like the Sphero droid, you can control his movements with your phone. Forget scaring the cats! You’re going to scare the children! Or maybe have them follow you around like you’re the Pied Piper.

The step-by-step video teaches you how to created everyone’s favorite robot with nothing but household materials and Arduino circuitry. There are definitely a lot of components, including a beach ball, a Styrofoam ball, some easily-purchased tech, wood glue, lithium batteries, ball bearings, canvas and a few other materials. You’ll also need a hot glue gun. The people at Home Depot are going to love you when you tell them why you need all of this! It’s a little complicated and the spray paint will require an adult or an ID, and you’re definitely going to need to do this outside. (If you’d like the full blueprints, just click here.) According to the video, the materials will cost you a total of $120, but considering the fact that this guy is life-sized, I’d say it’s worth forgoing a few caramel macchiatos from Starbucks for a few weeks.

If you decide to create one of these, promise you’ll tweet me/us at @JennaBusch/@Nerdist to show us the video! Hell, tweet us if you even think you might give it a shot!

HT: YouTube
Images: Disney

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