A barbell-like body with the head attached to the top via a steel bar through the middle. It would allow the robot to move forward and backward, but not side to side.

A group of mobile, attracting and repelling, heavy-duty magnets inside both the head and the body to cling to each other as BB-8 moves. In this design, the head would be able to control the movement of the body in any direction.

BB-8’s smooth surface would have a tough time rolling uphill. A layer of texturized material, like rubber car tires, would go a long way in terms of traction. Spikes or tread would allow the robot to climb out of craters and make its way over steep, uneven surfaces.

Weather balloon-like material protects the robot. Although protecting the robot is great, here, driving the robot would not be an option.

It’d go wherever the wind blows!

BB-8 being driven by a hamster. Okay, Dr. Fink didn’t talk about a hamster. We just wanted to see what this would look like.

Wolfgang Fink is a world-renowned roboticist who engineers free-

thinking Mars rovers. As an avid “Star Wars” fan, these days he’s

particularly interested in BB-8 and how he might build one in real life.

Image courtesy of HiRise

Image courtesy of Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona

Image from HiRise

Image courtesy of NASA

Image courtesy of NASA

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