Abstract: The present invention discloses a remote-controlled automatic dog-teasing ball, which comprises an upper shell and a lower shell which are spliced into a ball shape, wherein a driving box is arranged in the upper shell and the lower shell, the upper and lower parts of the driving box are respectively provided with a protruding fixed head and a movable head, the movable head and the lower shell are assembled in linkage by splicing; a circuit component and a driving component which are electrically connected are also arranged in the driving box; the fixed head and the circuit component are electrically connected by an elastic part, and the fixed head and the upper shell are elastically abutted and linked; the driving component comprises a motor and a gear, and transmission between the motor and the movable head is achieved by the gear; the circuit component comprises a control motherboard, and at least a receiving module, a vibration switch and an LED lamp are arranged on the control motherboard.

Abstract: Vehicles are disclosed which have a lower center of gravity than existing all-terrain, amphibious, and unmanned ground vehicles due to the location of propulsion units and other vehicle components inside the wheels of the vehicle. The vehicles can climb over large obstacles yet are also able to corner at high speeds. The vehicles can be configured for direct manual operation or operation by remote control, and can also be configured for a wide variety of missions.

Abstract: A rolling toy to be rolled on a horizontal support surface, for instance, on a floor, having a primary roller and a secondary roller. The primary roller having a tubular-like member extending along a longitudinal axis and at least one annular flange fixedly attached to the tubular-like member and extending outwardly therefrom. The secondary roller is adapted a for rolling motion upon an interior surface of the tubular-like member when the primary roller rotates about the longitudinal axis due to the rolling motion of the rolling toy on the horizontal support surface. At least one of the following includes a helical guiding means: (i) the tubular-like member and (ii) the secondary roller. Thereby, when the secondary roller is disposed on the interior surface of the tubular-like member and the primary roller is set in a rolling motion on the horizontal support surface in a predetermined direction, the rolling motion of the primary roller results in a tilting of the latter.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for charging a power source of a device. The method is performed by one or more processors. The one or more processors detect that a charging interface of the device and a charging interface of a charging dock are misaligned when the device is placed into contact or operational proximity with the charging dock. The device is automatically caused to move relative to the charging dock to achieve alignment.

Abstract: A rolling toy to be rolled on a horizontal support surface, for instance, on a floor, having a primary roller and a secondary roller. The primary roller having a tubular-like member extending along a longitudinal axis and at least one annular flange fixedly attached to the tubular-like member and extending outwardly therefrom. The secondary roller is adapted a for rolling motion upon an interior surface of the tubular-like member when the primary roller rotates about the longitudinal axis due to the rolling motion of the rolling toy on the horizontal support surface. At least one of the following includes a helical guiding means: (i) the tubular-like member and (ii) the secondary roller. Thereby, when the secondary roller is disposed on the interior surface of the tubular-like member and the primary roller is set in a rolling motion on the horizontal support surface in a predetermined direction, the rolling motion of the primary roller results in a tilting of the latter.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing, a rotational motor situated within the housing, a vibrating mechanism, and a plurality of appendages each having an appendage base proximal to the housing and an appendage tip distal from the housing. One or more of the appendages are adapted to cause the apparatus to move across a surface in a forward direction generally defined by a longitudinal offset between the appendage base and the appendage tip, and the appendages include two or more appendages disposed such that the appendage tips of the two or more appendages are adapted to contact opposing surfaces to produce a net force in a direction generally defined by a longitudinal offset between the appendage base and the appendage tip of the two or more appendages as the vibrating mechanism causes the apparatus to vibrate. The net force can allow the apparatus to climb when the opposing surfaces are inclined.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for utilizing internally generated angular momentum for supplementing the propulsion of a mobile spherical vehicle capable of motion by rolling over terrain, thereby enabling such vehicles to climb steeper inclines and overcome larger obstacles. Torque generated by counter-rotating gyroscopes was used to supplement gravity generated torque produced by a pendulum drive propulsion system. Precession torque may be generated along a desired axis by changing the angular momentum of the gyroscopes while leaving its magnitude unaffected.

Abstract: A method and a system are provided for controlling a controller without physically touching the controller. A hand or other object interacts with a field surrounding the controller, altering the field. A change in characteristic of the altered field causes a corresponding movement of the controller that, in turn, corresponds to an amount of change in a parameter of a target device being controlled by the controller. The parameter of the target device is controlled by the controller while a user has no physical contact with the controller.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a toy disk wheel. The disk wheel is defined to include a housing having first and second housing members, each housing member is substantially shaped as a half disk such that assembly of the first and second housing members forms a disk with a rounded outer surface to permit the housing to roll on a surface and a pair of outer sections. A transparent side portion is positioned along each outer surface of the pair of outer sections. Each transparent side portion includes a protuberance positioned about the center of the transparent side portion with a notch positioned thereon. The notch is used to accommodate an axle having ends which transverse the housing to rotatably position in the notches of both side portions.

Abstract: A portable device comprises a motor for providing vibration, a power source for powering the motor, a switching device for controlling the direction of the motor, propelling means for engaging a surface and for propelling the device when the motor is vibrating, the propelling means extending downwardly at an angle to the vertical, and an input device connected to the switching device, the switching device arranged to switch the direction of the motor when the input device receives a predetermined signal. Advantageously, the propelling means comprise a set of bristles. By using angled bristles, this increases friction in the backwards direction and so causes the device to move forwards when vibrating. The bristles dig into surface when vibration tries to move the object backwards, and the bristles slide over surface when vibration tries to move object forwards.

Abstract: A multivalued FSK modulation system is provided in which when data to be transmitted is multivalued and transmitted/received, the detection level is different every symbol. When a two-valued signal is transmitted as one symbol, data (11), (01), (00) and (10) are previously set to be, for example, a shift of ?6, a shift of +6, a shift of +2, and a shift of ?2, respectively. When data to be input next is (00), mapping is performed so as to provide a sign weight of +2 from the sign weight at the position of current data. When the data to be input next is (10), mapping is performed so as to provide a sign weight of ?2 from the position of the current sign weight. Thus, even if data of the same level is input, signals can be always detected in different levels, so that the sign detection point is not specified erroneously.

Abstract: An all terrain vehicle having a casing, a motor assembly, a cradle supporting the propulsion system, and an outer shell. The casing surrounds the propulsion system with three connected rings, each ring capable of independent rotation. The cradle is positioned in the center of the vehicle and is attached to the innermost ring. The outer shell encircles the motor assembly, cradle, and casing, and is constructed from a plurality of vertical and horizontal bars. The vehicle rolls upon the ground while the cradle remains upright. The vehicle may be operated by a remote control or by a person seated within the vehicle.

Abstract: The robot ball comprises an encapsulating shell, a drive system and a steering system. The shell has an axis of rotation and an outer annular tread surface centered on the axis of rotation. The drive system is encapsulated in the shell and comprises a first motorized mechanism and a counterweight. The first motorized mechanism has a stator portion and a rotor portion centered on the axis of rotation and connected to the shell. The counterweight is connected to the stator portion and is spaced apart from the axis of rotation whereby, due to inertia of the counterweight, rotation of this rotor portion rotates the shell to roll the tread surface on the ground. The steering system comprises a second motorized mechanism through which the counterweight is connected to the stator portion. This second motorized mechanism includes a pivot assembly having a pivot axis transversal to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A toy includes a platform, a moving body, and a balance bar. The moving body has front and rear wheels rotatable about horizontal rotary axes, a turning wheel, and a drive unit coupled to the turning wheel and one of the rear wheels to drive movement of the moving body when the moving body is disposed on the platform. The turning wheel is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the rotary axes of the front and rear wheels, and prevents the moving body from falling off the platform when the moving body moves to a peripheral edge of the platform. The balance bar has an intermediate fulcrum portion mounted pivotally on the moving body about a horizontal pivot axis, and two arm portions projecting from two opposite lateral sides of the moving body.

Abstract: A voice-actuated spherical tumbler including two hollow semi-spherical shells connected into a spherical housing, a mounting plate fixedly mounted inside one semi-spherical shell, a rocker supported on a spring to hold a weight, a voice-controlled circuit board, a motor controlled by the voice-controlled circuit board to turn the rocker, causing it to shift the center of gravity of the tumbler.

Abstract: A rolling toy includes a sphere body composed of two parts between which a axle is connected, a frame disposed in the sphere body and having a motor disposed thereto which is mechanically connected to a gear assembly, an end gear of the gear assembly fixedly mounted to the axle, a magnetic switch disposed to the frame and including a switch element and a first magnetic element, a weight disposed to the frame and located opposite to the first magnetic element, a second magnetic element magnetically adhered to an outer surface of the sphere body and magnetically lifting the first magnetic element so as to actuate the magnetic switch to let the gear assembly be operated such that when the sphere is rolled, the second magnetic element will always be magnetically adhered to an upper position of the rolling sphere body.

Abstract: A self-propelled musical toy rolling ball which plays musical tunes and sound effects. The ball may also include decorative images on its surface which may generally correspond to the musical tune or sound effects played by the ball. The electronics of the ball, once energized, operate to propel the ball and simultaneously activate an integrated circuit sound effects chip which plays first sound sequence, typically a musical tune. When the ball bumps into a wall or other object, the propulsion mechanism, typically a drive motor which may be transmissivly connected to a central axis shaft, is disengaged and the circuit then plays a second sound sequence, typically a randomly selected pre-programmed sound effect from one of a plurality of different sounds. Thereafter, the propelling mechanism is again activated and the ball resumes playing the musical tune.

Abstract: A remote controlled movable ball amusement device includes a hollow sphere having two propulsion mechanisms within the sphere, with each mechanism driven on a separate track. Each propulsion mechanism includes a receiver and a drive unit. The drive unit causes the sphere to move when actuated by the receiver. A remote transmitter sends signals to the receiver for causing the actuation of the drive unit.

Abstract: A remote controlled movable ball amusement device includes a hollow sphere having a propulsion mechanism within the sphere. The propulsion mechanism includes a receiver and a drive unit. The drive unit causes the sphere to move when actuated by the receiver. A remote transmitter sends signals to the receiver for causing the actuation of the drive unit.

Abstract: This invention relates to a toy sphere and in particular to one including an annular member provided with a circular groove at both sides, a plurality of internal gear teeth at an inner surface, and two opposite eccentric pins at an outer surface, a power seat threadedly engaged with the internal gear teeth of the annular member and having a motor electrically connected with batteries, an upper hemispherical housing having internal threads, a lower hemispherical housing having external threads engageable with the internal threads of the upper hemispherical and having two aligned holes engaged with the two opposite eccentric pins of the annular member.

Abstract: A toy ball in accordance with this invention includes a hollow sphere with spaced apart resilient knobs extending outwardly from the sphere and an internal mechanism that causes a random motion and bouncing of the ball. A safety switch is also provided to prevent injury to a user or damage to the toy while it is disassembled.

Abstract: A self-propelled roller drive unit with enclosed power source, motor(s) and transmission(s) coupled to external reaction load such as golf bag frame, wheelchair, industrial transport, personal transport or other drive unit.

Abstract: A spherical element is disclosed having an external pivotably mounted bail counterbalance by an internal counterweight where the sphere is operable over plane surfaces and water supporting a variety of counterbalanced instrumentalities upon the bail and maintained upright by the counterweight when the spherical unit is moving, as well as when at rest.

Abstract: A radio-controllable spherical toy vehicle including a spherical toy body, a running mechanism, a fixing shaft, and a direction-control mechanism is disclosed, in which the running mechanism is rotatable circumferentially on the center-shaft by a driving motor, and the direction-control mechanism is swingable on the axle of the fixing shaft by a servo-motor.

Abstract: A sealed container with a movable weight therein is eccentrically mounted within a light rollable object on a guideway. Liquid mercury, powered metal, or metal pellets or spheres would move within the container to shift the center of gravity. Maintaining the center of gravity of the weight to the uphill side of a vertical extension of the tangent between the rolling object and the guideway will enable the rolling object to return uphill after rolling down within a limit, thereby seeming to defy the law of gravity.

Abstract: A mechanized ball includes a hollow sphere having a removable hatch through which a powered ball driving unit can be placed within the sphere and removed therefrom. The ball driving unit can be electrically or mechanically powered and may be in the form of a single powered driving wheel or a self-contained four wheeled toy vehicle. The vehicle may be guided within the ball by a strut and/or a spring device which contacts an interior part of the ball. In some species the ball may be steered by a weight which is moved back and forth along a dual helical groove on a diametral support from which a single powered drive wheel is suspended.

Abstract: A toy or novelty is disclosed which is in the form of standing mobile and has a series of parts each pivoted to another and each provided with eccentric weights. The weights and the arrangement of the pivots may be operative to pivot the parts from a position aligned with each other to a position extending from each other when the stability of the parts is sufficiently disturbed from the condition of stability when such parts are filed or folded. Alternatively, the parts may simply rock in an undulating fashion from the extended condition of stability. Some of the parts may have printed matter thereon which make sense or nonsense in one condition of stability or make sense or more sense in the other condition of stability. Some of the parts may include two parallel walls substantially to enclose other of said parts in the filed position. The parts may be circular in form and of reduced diameter in ascending order in one condition of stability.

Abstract: A rolling vehicle having a generally spherical cage-like body with a diametrical axle on which a pod is suspended within the cage structure. The pod contains a propulsion unit which provides thrust for driving the vehicle in a particular direction and also carries aerodynamic lift and control surfaces. When the vehicle is rolling, the lifting surfaces reduce the bearing load of the vehicle on the supporting surface and the control surfaces provide directional control. Outrigger stabilizing wheels on the ends of the axle provide basic stability and can be made of buoyant material for operation on water.

Abstract: A spherical vehicle including a spherical shell having a drive shaft secured to the interior wall thereof. A drive motor is connected to the shaft for imparting a rolling motion to the spherical vehicle on a supporting surface. Continuous steering of the vehicle is accomplished by changing the position of a mass suspended from the drive shaft to thereby change the center of gravity of the vehicle.