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 pulsating imitation speaker includes a fixed cover, a flexible cover, and a motor and gear assembly having a motor with a motor shah, a first gear on a first axle, and a second gear on a second axle. The motor is drivingly engaged with the first gear via a pinion on the motor shaft and the first gear is drivingly engaged with the second gear such that when the pinion is rotated by the motor, the first and second gear also rotate. The pulsating imitation speaker further includes an actuator fixedly engaged with the flexible cover and a first and second circular member each engaged with the actuator and respectively positioned on opposite ends of the second axle such that the circular members rotate with the second gear. The actuator is reciprocated by rotation of the circular members such that the flexible cover moves relative to the fixed cover, when the motor is activated.

A pulsating imitation speaker includes a fixed cover, a flexible cover, and a motor and gear assembly having a motor with a motor shah, a first gear on a first axle, and a second gear on a second axle. The motor is drivingly engaged with the first gear via a pinion on the motor shaft and the first gear is drivingly engaged with the second gear such that when the pinion is rotated by the motor, the first and second gear also rotate. The pulsating imitation speaker further includes an actuator fixedly engaged with the flexible cover and a first and second circular member each engaged with the actuator and respectively positioned on opposite ends of the second axle such that the circular members rotate with the second gear. The actuator is reciprocated by rotation of the circular members such that the flexible cover moves relative to the fixed cover, when the motor is activated.

A drivable surface includes a plurality of segments that can be arranged according to any desired configuration. One or more mobile agents are configured to automatically explore the drivable surface so as to ascertain the positions, orientations, and/or configurations of the various segments, as well as how they are connected to one another. The information collected during such exploration can be transmitted to a host device or other location, where a virtual representation of the drivable surface can be constructed based on the collected information.

A drivable surface includes a plurality of segments that can be arranged according to any desired configuration. One or more mobile agents are configured to automatically explore the drivable surface so as to ascertain the positions, orientations, and/or configurations of the various segments, as well as how they are connected to one another. The information collected during such exploration can be transmitted to a host device or other location, where a virtual representation of the drivable surface can be constructed based on the collected information.

A pulsating imitation speaker includes a fixed cover, a flexible cover, and a motor and gear assembly having a motor with a motor shah, a first gear on a first axle, and a second gear on a second axle. The motor is drivingly engaged with the first gear via a pinion on the motor shaft and the first gear is drivingly engaged with the second gear such that when the pinion is rotated by the motor, the first and second gear also rotate. The pulsating imitation speaker further includes an actuator fixedly engaged with the flexible cover and a first and second circular member each engaged with the actuator and respectively positioned on opposite ends of the second axle such that the circular members rotate with the second gear. The actuator is reciprocated by rotation of the circular members such that the flexible cover moves relative to the fixed cover, when the motor is activated.

A pulsating imitation speaker includes a fixed cover, a flexible cover, and a motor and gear assembly having a motor with a motor shah, a first gear on a first axle, and a second gear on a second axle. The motor is drivingly engaged with the first gear via a pinion on the motor shaft and the first gear is drivingly engaged with the second gear such that when the pinion is rotated by the motor, the first and second gear also rotate. The pulsating imitation speaker further includes an actuator fixedly engaged with the flexible cover and a first and second circular member each engaged with the actuator and respectively positioned on opposite ends of the second axle such that the circular members rotate with the second gear. The actuator is reciprocated by rotation of the circular members such that the flexible cover moves relative to the fixed cover, when the motor is activated.

Mobile agents automatically manipulate components such as blocks on a working surface, to perform operations such as construction of generalized structures. The working surface and/or the components can have machine-readable codes to assist the agents in maintaining current knowledge of their respective locations. Agents identify components by type and location, and can move components according to directions; such directions can be provided by a user, or can be based on a pre-programmed directive, or can be determined dynamically based on current conditions or in response to actions of other agents. Agents may cooperate with one another. Agents can also respond to changes in the environment, alterations in works in progress, and/or other conditions, and may be configured to exhibit responses simulating emotional reactions. Different mobile agents can be associated with different character traits, which may be configured to change based on environmental conditions and/or the behavior of other mobile agents.

A vehicle toy that can work with common construction blocks provides connector surfaces covering the top and bottom of the toy housing for full integration into construction projects. Interface and control with the vehicle are provided by mesh wireless connectivity to a cell phone or the like greatly simplifying its construction. Mesh interconnections between vehicles and controllers allow greater interaction of the devices including allowing one device to be nominated as a referee permitting automatically refereed interactive contests.

A robotic system is integrated with one or more mobile computing devices. Physical configurations of individual components of the system in physical space, or agents, under control of a user or users, are duplicated in a representation in virtual space. Some degree of real-time parity is maintained between the physical and virtual spaces, so as to implement a virtual environment that mirrors the physical one. Events occurring within one environment can directly influence and bear consequence on the course of events occurring within the other environment. Elements of virtual space thereby become truly interdependent and unified on a peer footing with elements in physical space. In at least one embodiment, the system is implemented as an application in entertainment, such as the manifestation of a video game in physical space.