2359results about "Toy vehicles" patented technology

A robotic vehicle capable of traveling over various terrain and traversing obstacles. In one embodiment, the vehicle includes a cylindrical body having two or more drive wheels coupled to the ends thereof. The wheels are selectively powered to propel the vehicle. The vehicle may further include a spring member which may be deflected to a first, stored position from a second, extended position. The spring member may be quickly released from the first, stored position such that it strikes the terrain with sufficient force to lift and propel the vehicle over or onto a proximate obstacle or object. Robotic vehicles of the present invention may also include one or more sensing devices operable to collect information. Electronics may further permit autonomous, semi-autonomous, and / or remote control of the vehicle. In still other embodiments, the robotic vehicle forms part of a multi-robot surveillance team. The robotic vehicles may be delivered to the desired location through the use of a deployment and communication apparatus which, in one embodiment, is a larger robotic vehicle. The deployment and communication apparatus may form part of the communication system between the robotic vehicles and a remote workstation.

An interactive apparatus is described comprising a portable gaming system and a mobile toy vehicle connected by a wireless communications link. The mobile toy vehicle has a drive system, a video camera, a communications link, a computer system, and vehicle control software. The gaming system comprises a visual display, a user interface, a communications link, a computer system and gaming software. The gaming system can display the real-time real-world images captured by the video camera mounted on the mobile toy vehicle overlaid with simulated gaming objects and events. In this way a combined on-screen off-screen gaming experience is provided for the user that merges real-world events with simulated gaming actions. The apparatus allows for single player and multiplayer configurations.

A toy system includes a drivable surface that includes location encoding markings. A toy vehicle or mobile agent is provided that includes a drive motor, an imaging system for taking images of the markings, a vehicle wireless transceiver, and a microcontroller operatively coupled to the motor, the imaging system, and the vehicle wireless transceiver. A basestation is provided that includes a controller operatively coupled to a basestation wireless transceiver. Via wireless communication between the wireless transceivers of the toy vehicle and the basestation, an action to be implemented by the toy vehicle can be determined by the basestation and communicated to the toy vehicle, whereupon the microcontroller of the toy vehicle controls detailed movement of the toy vehicle on the drivable surface based on images taken of the markings of the drivable surface by the imaging system to cause the toy vehicle to implement the action on the drivable surface.

A toy system comprises a surface (1) provided with position encoding information; and a toy (2, 20) arranged to be movable across the surface (1), said toy (2, 20) comprising at least one sensor (4) for reading said position encoding information, and processing means (3) arranged to process the position encoding information read by the sensor (4) and to determine the position of the toy (2, 20) on said surface (1) on the basis of said position encoding information.

The present invention has a simpler structure than before and is designed to precisely detect the position of a real environment's target object on a screen. The present invention generates a special marker image MKZ including a plurality of areas whose brightness levels gradually change in X and Y directions, displays the special marker image MKZ on the screen of a liquid crystal display 2 such that the special marker image MKZ faces an automobile-shaped robot 3, detects, by using sensors SR1 to SR4 provided on the automobile-shaped robot 3 for detecting the change of brightness level of position tracking areas PD1A, PD2A, PD3 and PD4 of the special marker image MKZ in the X and Y directions, the change of brightness level, and then detects the position of the automobile-shaped robot 3 on the screen of the liquid crystal display 2 by calculating, based on the change of brightness level, the change of relative coordinate value between the special marker image MKZ and the automobile shaped robot 3.

Robotic systems according to the invention include a frame or body with two or more wheels rotatably mounted on the frame or body and a motor for independently driving each wheel. A system controller generates a signal for actuating each motor based on information provided by one or more sensors in communication with the system controller for generating feedback signals for providing reactive actuation of the motors for generating one or more functions selected from the group consisting of forward motion, backward motion, climbing, hopping, balancing, throwing and catching. A power source is included for providing power to operate the drive motors, system controller and the one or more sensors.

A method and system for custom building a toy vehicle inside a store. A child makes design choices at a computer terminal inside the store that employs design software relating to a design of a toy car, the design software permitting design choices that trigger an ordering of components and an assembly of the toy car that simulates a real car assembly, the assembly commencing while the child interacts with the software and being completed within approximately a half hour of a first design choice. The assembly line located inside the store allows the child to dramatically see assembly of components and permits participating in the assembly by moving assembly objects to make design choices at component installation points. Design choices include style, model, color, front and rear ends, lights, doors, hood, height, wheels, engine, muffler, interior, spoiler, name and logo, and attachments.

Disclosed is a product comprising a container, comprising a toy product and at least one collectible card configured to be used in a card game and said container having a physical shape related to at least one of said toy product and said card game.

The possibilities of collision of a mobile robot with objects can be reduced significantly in actual robot movements. In an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an autonomous mobile robot system including a mobile robot and a computing system. The mobile robot includes: a sensing section for measuring surrounding conditions of the mobile robot; a position-posture estimating section for estimating position-posture data from sensing data obtained by the sensing section and an environmental map; and a robot moving section for controlling movements of the mobile robot according to movement control data determined from the position-posture data thus estimated and movement route data.

Ball robot comprising a shell, a diametric main axle, at least one pendulum, and a drive mechanism comprising at least two drive motors, wherein the drive motors are arranged on the pendulum(s) in the vicinity of the inner surface of the shell. There is also provided a ball robot with a ball attached to the shell concentric the shell, and a drive mechanism located inside the shell and supported by the diametric axle, wherein the diametric axle is arranged to accommodate for dimensional changes of the shell along the main axis of rotation.

The present invention relates to an electronic device, and in particular, to the input and output of data from the electronic device. The present invention also relates to an object that is identifiable by an electronic device having a touch screen. The object includes contact members that can engage or be positioned proximate to the touch screen. The contact members create contact points that are sensed or detected by the touch screen. The object is at least partly conductive and includes at least a first contact member and a second contact member spaced from the first contact member. The first and second contact members define the pattern of contact points. An output is generated and displayed by the touch screen when the object engages or is proximate to the touch screen and is identified.

A programmable toy with a receiver for receiving instructions for programming of the toy, and elements for executing received instructions. The toy has a transmitter for transmission of instructions to a second toy.

An operation control system for an electrically powered and remotely controlled vehicle to be occupied by a child with a steering mechanism to be engaged and disengaged for either local or remote control. A remote control device for selectively controlling the direction and speed of the vehicle. A remote control receiver in the vehicle for receiving control signals from the remote control device and generating steering mechanism and speed control signals. A drive motor for driving the wheels of the vehicle and responsive to the speed control signals; and a steering motor for controlling the direction of movement of the vehicle and responsive to the steering mechanism control signals.

A wireless remote controlled rover (100) having a circular outer boundary when viewed in profile, comprising an elongated round-profile frame (20) outfitted with a pair of omnidirectional wheels (101L,R), rotatable in opposite directions by a drive system (50), for steering. Each of omnidirectional wheels (101L,R) comprises a set of secondary wheels (150L,R) akin to large diameter hollow flexible shafts arcuately bent and distributed in a polar array about corresponding hubs (82L,R). The secondary wheels (150L,R) are rotatable by the drive system (50) for longitudinal thrust of rover (100). A user controls the steering and thrust actions via remote control (166) for navigation and to compensate for incidental inertial rolling / careening effects of the two-wheel round-profile rover (100) while in motion. An onboard intelligent electronic processing unit (33) uses sensory feedback for autopilot, or assistive navigation, during certain scenarios such as performing user-requested optimum stopping maneuvers.

A method provides a virtual presentation including a virtual character in an environment other than a natural environment of the virtual character. The method includes validating a registration code associated with a toy, providing at least one virtual room representing a natural environment of the toy in the virtual presentation, and displaying the virtual character in the virtual room representing the natural environment of the toy, which represents the toy in the virtual presentation. The method further includes providing at least one additional virtual room representing an unnatural environment of the toy in the virtual presentation, the unnatural environment of the toy being different than the natural environment of the toy, and providing the virtual character with an environment extension tool that enables the virtual character to exist in the room representing the unnatural environment of the toy. The virtual character and the environment extension tool can be displayed in the unnatural environment of the toy.

Ball robot comprising a shell, a diametric main axle, at least one pendulum, and a drive mechanism comprising at least two drive motors, wherein the drive motors are arranged on the pendulum(s) in the vicinity of the inner surface of the shell. There is also provided a ball robot with a ball shaped shell, a diametric axle attached to the shell concentric with the main axis of rotation of the shell, and a drive mechanism located inside the shell and supported by the diametric axle, wherein the diametric axle is arranged to accommodate for dimensional changes of the shell along the main axis of rotation.

A hovering remote-control flying craft having a molded frame assembly includes a plurality of arms extending from a center body with an electric motor and corresponding propeller on each arm. In various embodiments, the motor and propeller are mounted downward-facing at a distal portion of each arm with a motor cover over the motor. The center body can be formed of a two-piece molded structure that sandwiches a circuit board to provide structural support for the frame. The circuit board can include a plurality of tabs that facilitate mounting of wire connectors, and can also provide antennas and emitters for both IR and RF communications. In some embodiments, a removable safety ring protects the propellers from lateral contact.

A pet toy capable of being moved or rollably deployed about the floor or room or which may be hung from a support as a swingable toy. A housing is provided having an audible sound generator with vents through which sound or light is conducted so as to be sensed by a sensor for actuation of the sound generation. A diaphragm receives motion airwaves, while a photo-electric cell carried on the housing receives light waves. The sound generating device is included in an interior housing along with the sensor and is mounted on a platform. Audio wave generation is conducted from a loudspeaker through the interior of the housing for exiting through the vents.

A mobile skateboard-shaped toy which is propelled by a displaceable flywheel is described. The skateboard-shaped toy comprises a skateboard deck with the flywheel positioned within the skateboard deck. The flywheel is positioned such that the flywheel protrudes beyond a top portion and a bottom portion of the skateboard deck. The flywheel is rotatable within the skateboard deck to change a rotational direction of the flywheel with respect to a major axis of the skateboard deck. Additionally, the flywheel can be repositioned at different ride heights within the skateboard deck. In one aspect, the flywheel is removable from the skateboard deck to allow the flywheel to be easily repositioned within the skateboard deck or replaced with another flywheel.

A developmental toy for small children includes a contacting member is rotated by an electric motor and a controller that, in response to input from a sensor, signals the electric motor to move the toy from a starting position for an initial period of time in an initial direction and signals the motor to wait a resting period of time. If no further input is received from a child that is detected by the sensor within the resting period of time, the controller signals the motor to move the toy back in an opposite sense, toward the starting location.

A programmable toy comprising a microprocessor which can execute instructions in the form of program stored in a memory; a display integrated in the toy. The microprocessor is adapted to control electrical and / or electro-mechanical units in response to the instructions, said microprocessor being adapted to receive signals from electrical and / or electro-mechanical units. The display comprises a plurality of icons which each represent instructions for the microprocessor, and which can be activated by a user for programming of the microprocessor. The toy can hereby be programmed by means of a visual user interface.

The present invention provides a play extension system enhancing a fun of a toy system by use of network. The play extension system is used by combination with the toy system in which a user can change the setting of parameters affecting motion control of a driving machine, for extending a playing method with the toy system. In the system, the setting information corresponding to the setting state of the parameters is received from a predetermined user terminal through a network, and estimation on the obtained setting information is created by referring to a database which stores the setting information and the information for estimating the setting state correspondingly. The created estimation is transmitted to a predetermined destination through the network.

Described herein is electroadhesion technology that permits controllable adherence between two objects. Electroadhesion uses electrostatic forces of attraction produced by an electrostatic adhesion voltage, which is applied using electrodes in an electroadhesive device. The electrostatic adhesion voltage produces an electric field and electrostatic adherence forces. When the electroadhesive device and electrodes are positioned near a surface of an object such as a vertical wall, the electrostatic adherence forces hold the electroadhesive device in position relative to the surface and object. This can be used to increase traction or maintain the position of the electroadhesive device relative to a surface. Electric control of the electrostatic adhesion voltage permits the adhesion to be controllably and readily turned on and off.

A toy vehicle that is capable of lifting off a travel surface by means of a cam member. The toy vehicle comprises a chassis that has first and second ends and first and second drive wheels disposed between the first and second ends. The first and second drive wheels are aligned along an axis and are coupled to a drive system. To provide the toy vehicle with “tank steering” capabilities, the first and second drive wheels may be controlled independently of each other. One or more cam members aligned along the same axis as the first and second drive wheels are adapted to selectively rotate about the axis so that an outer edge contacts the travel surface, causing the toy vehicle to lift into the air. The cam members may be controlled by a cam motor, which operates independently of the drive system. In one embodiment, the toy vehicle and its cam members are adapted to be fully operable in an upright, first drive position and an upside-down, second drive position.

A system for a controlled toy to interact with a computer game includes a toy including an unique identity and configurable for controlled movement within a predefined space including at least one predefined location. A controller controls movements the toy. A database stores the unique identity and a registration of the toy with a player of the computer game. A computing device executes the computer game, wherein the computing device controls parameters within the predefined space, instructs the controller to move the toy and records at least one event of the toy moving in the predefined space. At least one sensor detects the unique identity, wherein an arrival of the toy at the at least one predefined location in the predefined space enables the at least one sensor to detect the unique identity and communicate the unique identity and the arrival to the computing device for recording as an event.