How To Use A Flying Orb Ball

Flying orb balls are one of the hottest new toys on the market. These futuristic balls have the ability to hover, float, spin, climb, and even boomerang back to you!

With colorful LED lights and the ability to perform countless tricks, flying orb balls provide hours of fun and entertainment.

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What is a Flying Orb Ball?

A flying orb ball is a handheld drone toy that can illuminate, hover, and glide through the air in many exciting ways. It’s spherical shape encloses the electronic components and rotors that allow it to fly. The outer shell is made of durable, flexible plastic or ABS material so it can withstand crashes and drops.

Key Takeaway: A flying orb ball is a toy drone enclosed in a ball that can hover, spin, float, and boomerang in the air.

Flying spheres are designed to be controlled primarily by the motions of your hand. Simply toss it gently into the air and its internal sensors and gyroscope will keep it airborne. The onboard software allows it to perform pre-programmed flight maneuvers like climbing, dropping, spinning, floating, or boomeranging back to you.

Many flying orb balls also have multicolored LED lights that create a dazzling display as they fly through the air. This makes them perfect for playing at night for maximum visual impact. The LEDs often cycle through different colors and patterns automatically while the ball is airborne.

Safety is a key priority for flying sphere toys. They are designed to be safe to grab and hold with your hands during flight thanks to the protective outer shell. Most are made for ages 6 and up with adult supervision required for younger kids.

Getting Started with Your Flying Ball

Getting started with your flying orb ball is quick and easy. Here are the basic steps:

Charge It Up – Flying spheres have a rechargeable lithium battery inside. Be sure to give it a full charge before first use by plugging it into a USB port for around 20-30 minutes. This will allow for the longest flight times.
Power It On – Locate the small power switch on the ball and slide it to the “On” position. For models without a switch, you may need to simply shake it to activate the motion sensor and start the rotor.
Toss Gently – Once powered on and the LED lights activate, you’re ready for takeoff! Hold it upright in your hand and gently toss it straight upwards a few feet to get it airborne. Be sure not to throw it hard or at an angle on the first try.
Experiment – Now the fun begins! Try tossing it higher, angling the throw, bouncing it off surfaces, and more to see the amazing tricks it can do. The ball will correct its orientation and activate different flight modes depending on how you throw it.
Catch and Stop – Most flying orbs will eventually orient themselves vertically and gently float back down to you. Simply catch it in your hands to stop the motors. You can also stop it manually by pressing the power button at any time.

Flying Sphere Safety Tips

Flying orb balls are designed with safety in mind, but you should still follow these common sense guidelines whenever playing with your orb to ensure maximum enjoyment and prevent injuries or damage:

Play in a large open area with plenty of room in all directions to toss and catch. Avoid confined spaces.
Keep your eyes on the ball at all times when in flight. Be prepared to catch it as it floats back down.
Make sure other people are aware you are playing with the ball and keep a safe distance in all directions.
Avoid throwing the ball hard or aggressively. Soft tosses work best.
Only fly gently indoors and keep away from valuables that could be knocked over or damaged.
Never fly near faces or heads. Keep the ball at least several feet away.
Turn off the power when not in use and avoid leaving it powered on unattended.
Recharge after each use for the next day. Fully recharge at least once per week if used regularly.
Check for damage after crashes and do not fly if the outer shell is cracked or compromised.

By following these tips and using common sense, flying spheres can provide hours of safe family entertainment either indoors or outdoors. Now let’s look at some of the incredible tricks these amazing balls can perform!

Basic Flying Orb Ball Tricks

The versatile design of flying orb balls allows them to perform an incredible variety of flight maneuvers and tricks. Here are some of the basic ones you can try:

Straight Vertical Flights

The most basic trick is a straight vertical toss. Throw the ball gently straight upwards and it will hover and float before returning slowly to your hand. This demonstrates the internal stabilization and ease of catching.

Figure 8s

Give the ball a bit of horizontal momentum on the toss and it will often trace a figure 8 pattern as it engages different orientation sensors and stabilization modes.

Boomerangs

A boomerang toss is a favorite trick. Throw the ball at a 30-45 degree upward angle and it will arcs through the air before returning to you like a boomerang. This is possible due to the aerodynamic design.

Bounces

Bouncing the hovering orb off surfaces introduces unpredictability making it chase and return from odd angles. Just be sure to avoid fragile objects!

Pendulum Motion

Swing your arm holding the orb in a gentle pendulum motion and release. It will gain momentum and continue the pendulum swing on its own flying back and forth.

Back and Forth Tosses

A simple back and forth game of catch with a partner provides great fun. Take turns throwing it gently to each other from a few feet apart.

Orb Juggling

Juggling multiple flying orb balls introduces a fun new challenge! The difficulty keeping them all airborne provides hours of entertainment.

These are just a few of the basic tricks to try with your flying orb ball. Once you master these, you can move on to more advanced tricks and skills.

Advanced Flying Sphere Tricks and Techniques

Once you have spent some time playing with your flying orb ball and mastered some of the basics, you can move on to some more advanced tricks and techniques. Here are some fun and challenging ones to try:

The Wall

Throw the ball at a smooth, vertical wall and let it rebound and dance along the surface. Move your body to keep it playing on the wall.

The Ceiling

Toss the ball high enough to graze the ceiling. It will rebound and react in unpredictable ways. Just be sure the ceiling is smooth.

Underhand Volleys

Try underhand volleys back and forth with a partner. This gives the orb a more erratic flight path making catches and rebounds more challenging!

The Floor is Lava

Keep the orb aloft and off the floor as long and as creatively as possible. Swat, juggle, and throw it anyway you can without it touching the floor.

Night Flights

The LED lights really make the flying orb ball shine at night! Try all your normal tricks in a darkened room or outdoors at night.

Obstacle Courses

Set up obstacles like hoops and poles and guide the ball through your obstacle course by hitting it with your hands or body.

Target Practice

Set a target like a bucket and take turns trying to guide the orb into it from increasing distances away.

As you can see, the possibilities are endless for advanced flying sphere fun and games. Use your creativity to keep pushing your trick skills! Just remember to always keep safety first.

Tips for Improving Your Flying Orb Ball Skills

Mastering control of your flying orb ball takes a bit of practice and skill development. Here are some useful tips to help improve your flying sphere skills:

Start slow and work on precision throws before adding speed or fancy angles. Aim for vertical tosses first.
Pay close attention to how subtle variations in throw angle and force impact flight behavior. Make small adjustments.
Try alternating your release point from eye level to waist level to overhead for a variety of launches.
Use larger arm motions like swinging a pendulum to generate momentum and longer flights.
Move your body in relation to the ball to redirect its motion and keep it in play.
Use smooth quick hand motions to gently tap or cradle the orb during complex tricks and redirects.
Anticipate landing spots and move there early so you are ready to catch. Don’t wait until the last second.
Try “juggling” 2 balls and quickly switch focus between controlling them for advanced skills.
Practice for short periods daily rather than marathon sessions for better muscle memory development.

The more you experiment with controlling the flying orb ball with nuanced and precise throws, the more adept you will become. It’s an entertaining process of discovery!

DIY Flying Sphere Mods and Upgrades

Once you have mastered the basics tricks that come pre-programmed on most flying orb balls, you may be looking for ways to customize or upgrade your orb. Here are some DIY mods you can try:

New Shell Designs

Replace or decorate the outer plastic shell with custom paints, decals, stickers etc. Let your creativity run wild!
Affix ribbons or streamers to the shell that will flow behind it spectacularly while flying.
3D print your own completely custom outer shell designs to house the working orb components.

Programmable Boards

Open up the shell and install programmable sensor boards that allow modifying the flight programming for new tricks.
Add programmable RGB LED light boards for custom color patterns and shows.
Install video recording cameras and transmitters to get a drone’s eye view.

Automated Controls

Use a microcontroller like Arduino and sensors to create an automated system to launch and catch the orb.
Build machine learning neural networks to teach your orb to do completely novel maneuvers.
Leverage things like phone apps and voice controls for even more ways to interact with your orb.

Troubleshooting Flying Orb Ball Problems

Even with typical careful use, you may occasionally encounter issues with your flying orb ball not behaving as expected. Here is some troubleshooting advice for common problems:

Issue: Orb will not power on

Solution: Recharge the battery via the USB port. Check that any power switches are on. Plug the USB cable directly into a wall adapter if needed to force a stronger charge.

Issue: Short or uneven flight times

Solution: Fully recharge the battery first. Over time the battery capacity will diminish so shorter flights are expected. Replace batteries if needed.

Issue: Unstable flight behavior

Solution: Power off and check for any external shell damage or cracks that could affect aerodynamics. Avoid flying if damaged.

Issue: Not catching/returning reliably

Solution: Try launching from different angles and positions to recalibrate internal sensors. Adjust the throw gentle-ness and angle for most reliable return flights.

Issue: Limited or unresponsive tricks

Solution: Review trick instructions and practice technique. Reboot orb fully by powering off for 30+ seconds to reset systems.

With a bit of experimentation, most minor issues can be resolved. Just be sure to place safety first!

Frequently Asked Questions About Flying Orb Balls

What age is appropriate for flying orb balls?

Most flying sphere manufacturers recommend ages 6 and up as the minimum for safe use with adult supervision. The enclosed rotor design helps prevent finger injuries. Kids under 6 may lack the coordination and judgement for safe operation.

Can the plastic outer shell crack or break?

The soft plastic ABS material is designed for flexibility and durability. But any plastic can crack under extreme stress or impact forces. Inspect for damage after crashes and discontinue use if severe cracking occurs or pieces detach.

How long does the battery last?

Flying time ranges from 5 to 15 minutes generally. Factors like battery age, room temperature, and flight maneuvers impact this. Time per charge will diminish over hundreds of charge cycles as well.

Can you fly them outdoors?

Light wind outdoors doesn’t cause much issue, but any moderate breezes can disrupt flight stability. Gusts could blow the orb out of control and damage it, so indoor use in calm air is highly recommended.

What is the range of the remote control?

The limited remotes included with most flying spheres have a functional range of just 10-30 feet for basic ON/OFF control. Advanced programmable replacements offer much longer ranges if needed.

Can the LED lights be turned off?

Unfortunately there is no way to disable the LED lights on most stock flying orb ball models. Some DIY programmable versions could allow this customization however.

Conclusion

Flying orb balls provide a uniquely fun and mesmerizing take on drone toys. With their ability to float eerily through the air and perform tricks like boomerangs, they delight kids and adults alike. Just be sure to start slow with the basics and always prioritize safety. With creativity and practice, you will be amazed by the skills you can develop in controlling these magical flying spheres! The flashing LED lights and futuristic flying ball design will make you the life of any party.

Key Takeaway: Mastering a flying orb ball takes patience and practice, but the magical hovering tricks and LED light shows provide hours of safe entertainment. With an understanding of the technology and flight dynamics, flying sphere toys can be customized and programmed for even more incredible maneuvers.

How to Use a Flying Orb Ball