An interactive play device, method and apparatus, is disclosed that includes means for generating a plurality of interactions, input control mechanisms, means for storing responses to interactions, and control means to select the next interaction based on memorized responses. This invention provides a new class of interactive play devices, which is founded on personalizing a play device so that its current functionality is based on how the player has interacted with it in prior playing sessions. The invention also discloses a doll device and a car device, which operate in a plurality of states that mimic human behavior. Further, the specification describes a game during which the player is challenged to transform a play device from an initial state to a desired state by providing appropriate responses to interactions initiated by the device.

A system includes a drivable surface that includes location encoding markings. A 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 mobile agent and the basestation, an action to be implemented by the mobile agent can be determined by the basestation and communicated to the mobile agent, whereupon the microcontroller of the mobile agent controls detailed movement of the mobile agent on the drivable surface based on images taken of the markings of the drivable surface by the imaging system to cause the mobile agent to implement the action on the drivable surface.

A system includes a drivable surface that includes location encoding markings. A 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 mobile agent and the basestation, an action to be implemented by the mobile agent can be determined by the basestation and communicated to the mobile agent, whereupon the microcontroller of the mobile agent controls detailed movement of the mobile agent on the drivable surface based on images taken of the markings of the drivable surface by the imaging system to cause the mobile agent to implement the action on the drivable surface.

A model train control system providing a more realistic modeling of the movement, sound, smoke, and lighting effects of a model train is disclosed. A number of dynamic inputs are used to control such effects. Novel features include providing a dynamic variable speed compensator, a dynamic engine load calculator, automatic dynamic momentum, an adjustable train brake, spectrum control, a velocity controller, pressure sensitive effects, a voice activated dispatcher system, a train location and information reporter network, two digit addressing, a traffic control system, accessory control, a model train Central Control Module, and removable memory modules.

A model train control system providing a more realistic modeling of the movement, sound, smoke, and lighting effects of a model train is disclosed. A number of dynamic inputs are used to control such effects. Novel features include providing a dynamic variable speed compensator, a dynamic engine load calculator, automatic dynamic momentum, an adjustable train brake, spectrum control, a velocity controller, pressure sensitive effects, a voice activated dispatcher system, a train location and information reporter network, two digit addressing, a traffic control system, accessory control, a model train Central Control Module, and removable memory modules.

A model train control system providing a more realistic modeling of the movement, sound, smoke, and lighting effects of a model train is disclosed. A number of dynamic inputs are used to control such effects. Novel features include providing a dynamic variable speed compensator, a dynamic engine load calculator, automatic dynamic momentum, an adjustable train brake, spectrum control, a velocity controller, pressure sensitive effects, a voice activated dispatcher system, a train location and information reporter network, two digit addressing, a traffic control system, accessory control, a model train Central Control Module, and removable memory modules.

A model train control system providing a more realistic modeling of the movement, sound, smoke, and lighting effects of a model train is disclosed. A number of dynamic inputs are used to control such effects. Novel features include providing a dynamic variable speed compensator, a dynamic engine load calculator, automatic dynamic momentum, an adjustable train brake, spectrum control, a velocity controller, pressure sensitive effects, a voice activated dispatcher system, a train location and information reporter network, two digit addressing, a traffic control system, accessory control, a model train Central Control Module, and removable memory modules.

An embodiment of an interactive play apparatus may include a camera to capture a projected image, an image recognizer communicatively coupled to the camera to recognize the captured projection image, and a projection responder communicatively coupled to the image recognizer to respond to the recognized projection image. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

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.

An interactive play device, method and apparatus, is disclosed that includes means for generating a plurality of interactions, input control mechanisms, means for storing responses to interactions, and control means to select the next interaction based on memorized responses. This invention provides a new class of interactive play devices, which is founded on personalizing a play device so that its current functionality is based on how the player has interacted with it in prior playing sessions. The invention also discloses a doll device and a car device, which operate in a plurality of states that mimic human behavior. Further, the specification describes a game during which the player is challenged to transform a play device from an initial state to a desired state by providing appropriate responses to interactions initiated by the device.