Design of a customised BB8 Robot companion

In this paper we present the outcome and development of a customized replica of a tv character droid known as "BB8". The proposed design is using a low-cost Arduino-based hamster drive mechanism which allows to wirelessly control the movement of the robotic body through an app and a HC-08 Bluetooth 4.0 module. The robot’s design also embeds a set of acoustic and visual devices and sensors.Upon command the robot moves in specific directions or performs specific movements, as well as reacts with acoustic feedback; a light sensor also triggers visual feedback in the head of the robot.The proposed system is characterized by a simple and low-cost design, and it inherently allows a set of multiple uses, from rehabilitation to Human Robot Interaction applications.