Abstract: In one aspect, there is provided a combination vehicle system, including a drone and a hovercraft body. The drone has a plurality of motor-driven rotors and a controller. The hovercraft body defines a ground-facing chamber having a hover air inlet, and includes a mount for the drone. The drone is removably connectable to the mount in a mounted position so as to form a hovercraft. The controller is programmed to drive the plurality of rotors to maintain stable flight of the drone without the hovercraft body connected thereto. The controller is programmed to drive the first rotor to at least partially lift the hovercraft off a support surface and to drive the second rotor to propel the hovercraft along the support surface.

Abstract: A toy with an exterior structure. Constructed to transform from a rollable first shape to a second shape. An interior structure inside the exterior structure is endowed with a magnetic body that moves by way of a magnetic force that acts from the exterior of the toy, an interior locking portion that moves simultaneously with the movement of this magnetic body, and a biasing member that effects a force which moves or turns this interior locking portion in a particular direction. If the magnetic force does not act from the exterior of the toy, the first shape of the exterior structure maintained. In the event that a magnetic force has acted from the exterior of the said toy, the exterior structure transforms from the first shape to the second shape.

Abstract: In an aspect, a toy assembly is provided. The toy assembly includes a housing, an inner object inside the housing, a sensor, a motor and a controller. A portion of the inner object is drivable into engagement with the housing to break the housing and expose the inner object. The sensor detects interaction with a user. The motor is operatively connected to the inner object such that operation of the motor drives rotation of the inner object in the housing. The controller determines whether a selected condition has been met based on at least one interaction with the user, and operates the motor to rotate the inner object and drive the portion of the inner object into engagement with the housing to break the housing and expose the inner object if the condition is met.

Abstract: In an aspect, a toy character assembly is provided, and includes a housing, a toy character, at least one sensor and a controller. The toy character is positioned inside the housing and includes a breakout mechanism that is operable to break the housing to expose the toy character. The at least one sensor detects interaction with a user. The controller is configured to determine whether a selected condition has been met based on at least one interaction with the user, and to operate the breakout mechanism to break the housing to expose the toy character if the condition is met. Optionally, the condition is met based upon having a selected number of interactions with the user.

Abstract: In an aspect, a robotic system is provided and includes at least two digital servo modules, each of which includes a position-controlled motor and a position sensor for sensing a servo position, a plurality of building block elements that are connectable with the digital servo modules to create position-controlled joints of a robotic figure, at least two wheel modules enabling wheeled movement of the robotic figure and a central controller communicating with and controlling the digital servo modules and the wheel modules. The central controller operatively places a selected group of digital servo modules in a learned motion mode, wherein a corresponding group of position-controlled joints is enabled to be manually manipulated, and wherein each of the selected digital servo module periodically transmits servomotor position to the central controller. The central controller can steer the robotic figure wheel modules based on servo positions of the selected digital servo modules.

Abstract: In an aspect, a toy assembly is provided, and includes a housing, an inner object, at least one sensor and a controller. The inner object is positioned inside the housing and includes a breakout mechanism that is operable to break the housing to expose the inner object. The at least one sensor detects interaction with a user. The controller is configured to determine whether a selected condition has been met based on at least one interaction with the user, and to operate the breakout mechanism to break the housing to expose the inner object if the condition is met. Optionally, the condition is met based upon having a selected number of interactions with the user.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a construction toy element is provided and includes a body and a first circumferential row of arms extending from the body. The body has an axis, and has a first axial end and a second axial end. A first circumferential row of arms extends from the body. Each arm includes a root end and a free end, and has a first connecting member thereon that is configured for connecting the construction toy element to another construction toy element. The root end projects from the body in a direction that is angled towards one of the first and second axial ends relative to a normal direction to a surface of the body.

Abstract: A system includes digital servo modules and building blocks that are assemblable in several permutations to construct robotic figures. A central controller communicates with the modules via communication channels, each subdivided into sub-channels. The system utilizes a discovery process wherein the central controller periodically transmits a discovery signal in each sub-channel until a newly attached module transmits a reply to the discovery signal. The central controller transmits position commands to the recognized servo modules and receives position feedback from the recognized modules.

Abstract: In an aspect, an apparatus and method are provided for creating an illusion of animation of a subject shape. The apparatus includes a screen, an intermediate body, a plurality of lights, and a controller in electronic communication with the plurality of lights. The controller is operable to turn the plurality of lights on and off in at least one of: a selected order, a combination, and a simultaneous operation of all of the lights. The intermediate body and the plurality of lights are positioned relative to said screen such that the intermediate body is positioned between the screen and the plurality of lights and such that said plurality of lights are operable to project a plurality of unique outlines of at least portions of the intermediate body onto the screen to generate an illusion of animation of the subject shape.

Abstract: In an aspect, a toy character assembly is provided, and includes a housing, a toy character, at least one sensor and a controller. The toy character is positioned inside the housing and includes a breakout mechanism that is operable to break the housing to expose the toy character. The at least one sensor detects interaction with a user. The controller is configured to determine whether a selected condition has been met based on at least one interaction with the user, and to operate the breakout mechanism to break the housing to expose the toy character if the condition is met. Optionally, the condition is met based upon having a selected number of interactions with the user.

Abstract: A toy with an exterior structure. Constructed to transform from a rollable first shape to a second shape. An interior structure inside the exterior structure is endowed with a magnetic body that moves by way of a magnetic force that acts from the exterior of the toy, an interior locking portion that moves simultaneously with the movement of this magnetic body, and a biasing member that effects a force which moves or turns this interior locking portion in a particular direction. If the magnetic force does not act from the exterior of the toy, the first shape of the exterior structure maintained. In the event that a magnetic force has acted from the exterior of the said toy, the exterior structure transforms from the first shape to the second shape.

Abstract: A flying toy figurine includes a main body having an upper body portion, a lower body portion and a middle body portion, the middle body portion including a waist portion and a hip portion. A center shaft connects the upper body portion to the lower body portion, and the waist portion and the hip portion are mounted for independent rotation about the center shaft. A motor drives a rotor assembly, including at least two main propeller blades, located in the waist portion in one direction for imparting vertical aerodynamic lift to the figurine. Rotation of the waist portion in one direction causes the hip portion to counter-rotate in the opposite direction. The center shaft is not connected to the waist portion or the hip portion and therefore rotation of the upper body portion and lower body portion remains independent of the rotation of the waist portion and the hip portion.

Abstract: A toy projectile launcher includes a body having a magazine for storing at least one cylindrical projectile. The body has an elongate barrel in communication with the magazine. The barrel is shaped for travel of the projectile from the magazine to an exit end. The barrel has an intermediate opening between the magazine and the exit end. A drive wheel is powered by a motor to spin about an axis of rotation. The drive wheel can be coupled to the body by a drive wheel biasing member. The drive wheel intrudes into the barrel though the intermediate opening to contact and propel the projectile down the barrel. The drive wheel can include a resilient part. The axis of rotation of the drive wheel can deviate from being perpendicular to the length of the barrel by a predetermined angle selected to impart spin to the projectile.

Abstract: In an aspect, the invention is directed to a set of game pieces including a character game piece representing a character and a plurality of parameter impact game pieces. Each of the parameter impact game pieces includes a parameter impact indicator. When a parameter impact game piece is stacked on the character game piece the parameter impact indicator provides a graphic representation of the parameter impact carried out by the parameter impact game piece. When another parameter impact game piece is stacked on the first parameter impact game piece a graphic representation of the total parameter impact carried out by both parameter impact game pieces is provided by permitting the parameter impact indicators from both parameter impact game pieces to be visible to the players. In this way, the parameter impact level incurred by the character can be shown to increase incrementally after subsequent parameter impacts.

Abstract: A flying toy figurine includes a main body having an upper body portion, a lower body portion and a middle body portion, the middle body portion including a waist portion and a hip portion. A center shaft connects the upper body portion to the lower body portion, and the waist portion and the hip portion are mounted for independent rotation about the center shaft. A motor drives a rotor assembly, including at least two main propeller blades, located in the waist portion in one direction for imparting vertical aerodynamic lift to the figurine. Rotation of the waist portion in one direction causes the hip portion to counter-rotate in the opposite direction. The center shaft is not connected to the waist portion or the hip portion and therefore rotation of the upper body portion and lower body portion remains independent of the rotation of the waist portion and the hip portion.