A robot system has a follower robot and a leader robot. The follower robot follows the path of the leader robot using infrared (IR) signals. The follower robot follows the physical path and positioning of the leader robot. The leader robot is permitted to travel an arbitrary path or is controlled by a wireless transmitter. Relative robot positioning, being distance or direction can use an infrared system between respective robots.

A robot system has a follower robot and a leader robot. The follower robot follows the path of the leader robot using infrared (IR) signals. The follower robot follows the physical path and positioning of the leader robot. The leader robot is permitted to travel an arbitrary path or is controlled by a wireless transmitter. Relative robot positioning, being distance or direction can use an infrared system between respective robots.

The present invention relates in one aspect to a toy construction system for constructing and operating a remote controlled toy vehicle model. The system comprises: a plurality of modular toy elements; a modular toy vehicle base detachably connectable with the modular toy elements by means of coupling members so as to construct a toy vehicle model; and a remote control device adapted to control motorized functions in the modular toy vehicle base. The modular toy vehicle base further comprises an interaction sensor adapted to generate an interaction signal in response to a mechanical interaction with the toy vehicle model; wherein the toy construction system further comprises a processor with a signal analysis process. The signal analysis process is configured to perform an analysis of the interaction signal for indications of a building interaction according to predetermined criteria, and based on the analysis to generate an output indicative of a building interaction status.

The present invention relates in one aspect to a toy construction system for constructing and operating a remote controlled toy vehicle model. The system comprises: a plurality of modular toy elements; a modular toy vehicle base detachably connectable with the modular toy elements by means of coupling members so as to construct a toy vehicle model; and a remote control device adapted to control motorized functions in the modular toy vehicle base. The modular toy vehicle base further comprises an interaction sensor adapted to generate an interaction signal in response to a mechanical interaction with the toy vehicle model; wherein the toy construction system further comprises a processor with a signal analysis process. The signal analysis process is configured to perform an analysis of the interaction signal for indications of a building interaction according to predetermined criteria, and based on the analysis to generate an output indicative of a building interaction status.

A lighter-than-air toy drone having at least one balloon that is inflated with a lift gas. The drone has a first conduit progresses along a first axis and a second conduit that progresses along a perpendicular second axis. At least one motorized propeller is provided that can selectively moving air through the first conduit and the second conduit to propel the drone. The motorized propeller can also generate a gyroscopic force that acts to rotate said at least one balloon for directional steering.

A lighter-than-air toy drone having at least one balloon that is inflated with a lift gas. The drone has a first conduit progresses along a first axis and a second conduit that progresses along a perpendicular second axis. At least one motorized propeller is provided that can selectively moving air through the first conduit and the second conduit to propel the drone. The motorized propeller can also generate a gyroscopic force that acts to rotate said at least one balloon for directional steering.

A system in accordance with present embodiments includes a source of electromagnetic radiation that operates to emit electromagnetic radiation into an active playing area. The system also includes a sensing device that operates to receive the electromagnetic radiation after being reflected from a retro-reflective material of an article positioned in the active playing area and operable to generate data based on receiving reflected electromagnetic radiation from a series of article positions. Further, the system includes a controller that operates to process the data generated by the sensing device to determine whether the series of article positions correlate to a stored gesture and output a control signal to actuate an effect when the series of article positions correlate to the stored gesture.

A system in accordance with present embodiments includes a source of electromagnetic radiation that operates to emit electromagnetic radiation into an active playing area. The system also includes a sensing device that operates to receive the electromagnetic radiation after being reflected from a retro-reflective material of an article positioned in the active playing area and operable to generate data based on receiving reflected electromagnetic radiation from a series of article positions. Further, the system includes a controller that operates to process the data generated by the sensing device to determine whether the series of article positions correlate to a stored gesture and output a control signal to actuate an effect when the series of article positions correlate to the stored gesture.

An entertainment system includes: a robot device capable of acting in an autonomous action mode in a real world; a server device configured to cause a virtual robot associated with the robot device to act in a virtual world; and a terminal device capable of displaying an image of the virtual world in which the virtual robot acts. The server device provides the image of the virtual world to the terminal device. The server device transmits a request from the virtual robot to the robot device. When the robot device acquires the request from the virtual robot, the robot device acts in a collaboration action mode in which collaboration is made with the virtual robot.

Provided is a self-propelled reading device to read cards more reliably. Each of the cards includes a first end part configured to be adjacent to another card in a predetermined direction; a second end part configured to be on the opposite side of the first end part and adjacent to another card different from the first end part; and a surface printed with a pattern in which are coded coordinates indicating a positional relation relative to a reference line extended in the predetermined direction indicative of a region in which a self-propelled device is to travel. Each of the first and the second end parts has a positioning part regulating how the other card adjacent to the end part is to be placed. The positioning parts and the reference line have a predetermined positional relation therebetween.