Abstract: Economical toy vehicles powered by stored elastic energy. In one embodiment, an economical toy vehicle includes: a vehicle body; an axle rotatably attached to the vehicle body; a gear integrally affixed to the axle such that rotation of the gear causes rotation of the axle; at least one slotted member integrally affixed to the axle, the slotted member including at least one slot; a hook-pinion assembly characterized by a hook integrally adjoined to a pinion; where the hook-pinion assembly is rotatably attached to the vehicle body; where the pinion is interlockingly engaged with the gear affixed to the axle; and a rubber band detachably attached to the vehicle body on a first end and detachably attached to the hook at a second end, such that the at least one slot can be used to rotate the axle, consequently resulting in the application of a torsional force to the rubber band.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement devices adapted to propel themselves through a medium, where the path that they traverse can be advantageously controlled. In one embodiment, a device adapted to propel itself through a medium includes: a body; a drive mechanism coupled to the body; a propeller rotatably coupled to the drive mechanism; a first wing coupled to the body, the first wing being configured to generate a first lift; and a second wing coupled to the body, the second wing being configured to generate a second lift that is different than the first lift.

Abstract: A flying wing toy including a rigid planar body, a wing of flexible sheet material affixed to the body and preshaped with flexible leading and lateral edges and flexible, flanking stabilizers extending rearwardly, a propeller rotatably mounted to the front end of the body, and a manually actuated rotational drive unit comprising an elastic member mounted on the body and coupled to the propeller.