Just think about the possibilities of sumo-wrestling iPhone balls.

GearBox is a recent startup that got funding from TechStars thanks to their robotic “spheres.” Using a simple interface that’s available to your iPhone or Android, you can easily take the little guy for a walk, toss him into the most high tech game of marbles ever, or freak out the cat with its stealth like movements. From the GearBox blog:

Our first smart toy is a robotic ball that you can move by tilting your phone in the direction you want the ball to roll. We are then leveraging the connectivity and computing power of the phone to create a fully interactive experience for the user. Our first app for the ball is Sumo. I throw my ball on a table, you throws yours on the table and then we can try and sumo each others ball off the table. However, while our physical balls are moving there is also an onscreen component with online stats, profiles, damage, powerups and other aspects of gameplay that aren’t possible with a regular remote control toy. For instance, when the balls collide they can sustain “damage” and roll slower or I could get a powerup to reverse your controls for a few seconds.

TouchArcade has a nifty video showing off the toy’s capabilities in the video below.

[via TouchArcade]