Robotic toy

Abstract

An apparatus that is a robotic toy. The robotic toy includes at least one processor that controls both sensors and a motor. The motor powers a plurality of ground contacting devices. The ground contacting devices allow the robotic toy to move over a surface. The ground contacting devices rotate about an axel and each ground contacting device includes a plurality of flexible members that provide for at least four radial points of contact for each revolution of the axel. The processor controls the rotation of the ground contacting device by regulating the flow of energy that is provided from a battery source. Two axels are generally employed in various embodiments of the robotic toy where each axel has two ground contacting devices. Each of the ground contacting devices represents a leg of an animal and simulates the movement of the animal. Each flexible member includes a joint at which the flexible member bends. The flexible member and the joint may be made out of two different materials each having a different elasticity. The joint of the flexible member compresses the flexible member during a portion of the rotation about the axel and decompresses about a second portion of the rotation.

1 . A the robotic toy for movement over a surface comprising: 
 a plurality of ground contacting devices rotating about an axel, each ground contacting device including two or more flexible members that provide at least four radial points of contact per rotation;    a motor;    a processor for controlling rotation of the ground contacting devices by providing control signals to the motor.    
   
   
       2 . The robotic toy according to  claim 1  wherein the robotic toy includes two axels and each axel includes two ground contacting devices.  
   
   
       3 . The robotic toy according to  claim 2 , wherein the flexible members each bend at a joint compressing the flexible member about a portion of the rotation and decompressing about a second portion of the rotation.  
   
   
       4 . The robotic toy according to  claim 3 , wherein the flexible members compress and decompress over one half of a rotation.  
   
   
       5 . The robotic toy according to  claim 3 , wherein each flexible member comes into contact with the surface at two non-contiguous locations.  
   
   
       6 . The robotic toy according to  claim 5 , wherein the each ground contacting members are made of urethane.  
   
   
       7 . The robotic toy according to  claim 5 , wherein the flexible members have a durometer above 40.  
   
   
       8 . The robotic toy according to  claim 3 , wherein the flexible member is made from a plurality of materials wherein the joint includes a more elastic material as compared to other sections of the flexible member.  
   
   
       9 . A the robotic toy having an interior and an exterior comprising: 
 a processor;    a wireless link electrically coupled to the processor;    a motor receiving a control signal from the processor;    a ground contacting apparatus powered by the motor causing the robotic toy to move along a surface;    an input device coupled to the exterior of the robotic toy for allowing user selection;    wherein the wireless link receives wireless communications from a wireless interface providing a user with an audible plurality of selections and the wireless link can transmit a user's selection from the input device.    
   
   
       10 . A system for wirelessly controlling a computer program, the system comprising: 
 a robotic toy including a wireless link;    a computer executing the computer program, wherein menu selections from the computer program are converted from text to a speech file; and    a wireless transceiver coupled to the computer for at least sending the speech file to the robotic toy and receiving a response signal from the robotic toy;    wherein the robotic toy includes an input device for indicating a selection of one of a plurality of menu selections that are audibly played through a speaker and for wirelessly transmitting a response signal to the wireless transceiver indicating the selection;    wherein the computer program is responsive to the wirelessly transmitted user selection.