Former TechCrunch editor-in-chief Matthew Panzarino was able to try something we’ve only heard about. He gave a mini demo of a “real” Star Wars lightsaber designed by Disney. Unlike other popular models, this sword actually works – in the sense that its light blade comes out of the hilt, just like in movies and games.
Here’s how this lightsaber probably works:
According to the patent, the lightsaber’s “blade” consists of two spools of translucent material that, when wound, lie flat, like a tape measure in a casing. As each ribbon is fired outward, it bends into a semicircle, forming one half of the blade. They are mounted on a rounded “tip” of the lightsaber, which also pulls a flexible LED strip wound around a third motorized spool inside the hilt. The two halves of the blade are joined together by the “blade shape” as they exit the hilt, forming a single blade of light.
Would such a lightsaber be tough enough for a training match? Only Disney engineers can say with certainty – but in any case, this could be a real breakthrough for the lightsaber community.
