A model car racetrack with at least one model car which is guided along a lane, a roadway which defines the lane, wherein the roadway has at least one bus bar which extends in the direction of the lane, and a transformer arrangement comprising a primary element and a secondary element for contact-free energy transmission from the roadway to the model car, wherein the bus bar is the primary element of the transformer arrangement and the model car represents the secondary element of the transformer arrangement for coupling in the electromagnetic field which is produced by the primary element.

A throttle emulator system for a model vehicle includes an emulator module and a DCC interface having a connector to permit connection with a DCC command station. The DCC command station is configured to provide digital signals to control the model vehicle. The emulator module is coupled to the DCC interface and configured to transmit command and control signals to the DCC command station, via the DCC interface. The command and control signals are relayed by the DCC command station to control the model vehicle. The emulator module is further configured for wireless communication with a mobile electronic device such that a user can communicate with the emulator module to control the model vehicle through an interface on the mobile electronic device.

A throttle emulator system for a model vehicle includes an emulator module and a DCC interface having a connector to permit connection with a DCC command station. The DCC command station is configured to provide digital signals to control the model vehicle. The emulator module is coupled to the DCC interface and configured to transmit command and control signals to the DCC command station, via the DCC interface. The command and control signals are relayed by the DCC command station to control the model vehicle. The emulator module is further configured for wireless communication with a mobile electronic device such that a user can communicate with the emulator module to control the model vehicle through an interface on the mobile electronic device.

A magnetic tracked toy assembly for entertainment includes a panel, which is annular, and plurality of shells. A plurality of rails is coupled to an upper surface of the panel so that the rails extend annularly and in parallel around the panel. A respective groove, which is complementary to the rails, is positioned in a bottom of a respective shell so that the groove is positioned to selectively insert a respective rail. Each shell is coupled to a respective blower module, which in turn is coupled to a respective controller. The panel, the rails and the shells are magnetized so that each shell is repelled by the panel and the respective rail to levitate the shell above the panel. The controller is positioned to command the blower module to selectively expel air to propel the respective shell along the panel with the respective rail positioned to guide the respective shell.

A magnetic tracked toy assembly for entertainment includes a panel, which is annular, and plurality of shells. A plurality of rails is coupled to an upper surface of the panel so that the rails extend annularly and in parallel around the panel. A respective groove, which is complementary to the rails, is positioned in a bottom of a respective shell so that the groove is positioned to selectively insert a respective rail. Each shell is coupled to a respective blower module, which in turn is coupled to a respective controller. The panel, the rails and the shells are magnetized so that each shell is repelled by the panel and the respective rail to levitate the shell above the panel. The controller is positioned to command the blower module to selectively expel air to propel the respective shell along the panel with the respective rail positioned to guide the respective shell.

An electronic toy vehicle track that abruptly stops selected cars along their path of travel based of their progress on the course. The abrupt stoppage can occur as a result of a vehicles position relative to other vehicles on the track, time duration on the track, traveling at too low of a speed for any period of time or combinations of such data or other data. A selected car may abruptly stop by such methods as crashing into an obstacle having a disruption in its lane of travel by something such as a collapsing bridge.

An electronic toy vehicle track that abruptly stops selected cars along their path of travel based of their progress on the course. The abrupt stoppage can occur as a result of a vehicles position relative to other vehicles on the track, time duration on the track, traveling at too low of a speed for any period of time or combinations of such data or other data. A selected car may abruptly stop by such methods as crashing into an obstacle having a disruption in its lane of travel by something such as a collapsing bridge.

A slot car track cleaner is provided. The slot car track cleaner includes a housing having at least an upper plate and a lower plate. A ledge may be disposed within the housing. The present invention further includes a plurality of floating weights. The floating weights hang from the ledge. A bottom portion of each of the floating weights protrudes beyond the lower plate. Each of the floating weights slide upwards when a pressure is applied to the bottom portion. A vertical plate is secured to the housing. The vertical plate includes a bottom edge protruding from the housing beyond the lower plate. A cleaning pad is secured to a bottom surface of the lower plate and covers the bottom portions of the plurality floating weights and at least a portion of the bottom edge of the vertical plate.

A slot car track cleaner is provided. The slot car track cleaner includes a housing having at least an upper plate and a lower plate. A ledge may be disposed within the housing. The present invention further includes a plurality of floating weights. The floating weights hang from the ledge. A bottom portion of each of the floating weights protrudes beyond the lower plate. Each of the floating weights slide upwards when a pressure is applied to the bottom portion. A vertical plate is secured to the housing. The vertical plate includes a bottom edge protruding from the housing beyond the lower plate. A cleaning pad is secured to a bottom surface of the lower plate and covers the bottom portions of the plurality floating weights and at least a portion of the bottom edge of the vertical plate.

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.