Adhesive Playscape Tape With Machine-Readable Codes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toy construction systems for creating playscapes with toy cars are expensive, bulky, cumbersome, and lack flexibility, offering limited creative play options and requiring adult assembly, while existing RC tracks are costly, inflexible, and difficult to store and transport.
Innovation Solution
A construction system using adhesive playscape tape with machine-readable codes for autonomous mobile agents, allowing customizable play surfaces that are inexpensive, easily constructed, securely attached, and easily stored and transported, featuring a two-layer system where the bottom layer with adhesive can be stuck to any surface and the top layer can be easily replaced with different designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional plastic racetrack systems are used, then vehicles can travel along a fixed-path track, but the system becomes expensive, bulky, cumbersome, and offers limited flexibility for arbitrary playscape design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical plastic track system with a two-dimensional surface containing machine-readable codes. Instead of using physical raised guides and connection pieces, the system uses optically readable codes printed or formed on a flat surface to direct vehicle movement, eliminating the need for complex three-dimensional plastic track structures while maintaining the ability to guide vehicles along arbitrary paths
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses machine-readable codes as a representation or copy of the track path information. Rather than requiring the physical track structure itself to guide the vehicle, the system encodes the path information in a two-dimensional code format that can be read and interpreted by the vehicle's sensor, allowing the same path information to be conveyed in a simplified, flat format
2Adaptability or versatility
If pre-defined plastic building and road sets are used, then structures like car washes and auto lifts can be created, but the system becomes difficult and complex to assemble, requiring adult assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical interlocking plastic pieces with a two-dimensional code-based system. Instead of requiring children to physically connect plastic building pieces and road segments, the system uses printed or formed machine-readable codes on a flat surface that automatically define the playscape structure when scanned by the vehicle, eliminating the need for manual assembly while preserving structural creativity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-encodes the playscape design information directly into the machine-readable codes on the surface. Rather than requiring assembly at the time of use, the entire playscape structure, including buildings and road layouts, is预先 encoded in the code pattern, allowing the vehicle to automatically reconstruct and navigate the playscape without human intervention during setup
3Adaptability or versatility
If elastic or carpet mats with pre-defined roads are used, then a playscape can be created, but the system becomes inflexible in fostering creative play and is costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the fixed physical road markings on elastic or carpet mats with machine-readable codes on a two-dimensional surface. This allows the playscape design to be dynamically defined by the code pattern rather than being fixed in the physical material, enabling easy reconfiguration and customization without requiring different physical mats for different designs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the playscape design dynamic by using machine-readable codes that can be easily modified, reprinted, or reconfigured on the two-dimensional surface. Unlike fixed physical mats that require replacement to change designs, the code-based system allows the same physical surface to be reconfigured for different playscapes by simply changing the code pattern, making the system adaptable and flexible
4Ease of operation
If professional RC tracks are used, then vehicles can be controlled remotely, but the system becomes costly and requires large outdoor areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the need for large physical RC tracks with machine-readable codes on a two-dimensional surface that can be placed anywhere. Instead of requiring extensive space for remote control operation, the system uses the code pattern to guide the vehicle's movement autonomously, allowing RC vehicles to be operated in compact indoor spaces or on any flat surface without requiring large outdoor areas or complex track infrastructure
Data Source
AI summary
A customizable adhesive toy playscape is constructed of a combination of printed adhesive playscape tape and other accessories, such as printed stickers, upstanding signs, toy vehicles, and the tape roll core that can be used by children (or adults) for creating imaginary playscape tape worlds for play, education, or other uses. The playscape tape can be part of a two-layer track construction that includes machine-readable codes for controlling movement of a mobile agent traveling thereover.