ROBOTICS MADE FUN

Master your ollies with Sphero’s smartphone-controlled automaton

What’s cylindrical, spins on its axis, barrels along at 23 km/h, flips, spins and has the capacity to scare pets and destroy your home? Sphero’s Ollie. This little robot relies on smartphone finger-swipe input to perform a preset circus of tricks – including the famous skateboard stunt from which it gets its name – but it can also be programmed using a series of simple code commands. In short, this funfilled automaton teaches kids the basics of robotics with instant gratification. Whoops, there goes the Ming! $150, gosphero.com/ollie