A moveable toy (10) consisting of a base (12) and a motorized vehicle (14). The base includes a track (46) having a central groove (50) ending in openings (54) at either end. The track includes teeth (48) which cooperate with a drive gear (44) held in the vehicle to drive the vehicle along the track. Rotors (56) having notches (58) on the top surface are rotatably held in openings at each end of the central groove in the track. Upon actuation, the vehicle travels along the track until it arrives at either end of the track, where the vehicle rotates the base to allow the vehicle to continue along the track end for further movement of the toy in the same direction.
A system for regulating the movement of a model to simulate mimetic functions is disclosed. The system comprises at least one servo mechanism disposed within an interior surface of the model. The servo mechanism is connected to an interior surface of the model such that the surface moves in response to movement of the servo to stimulate mimetic movements. A power supply is connected to the servos and operative to facilitate movement of the servos in response to control signals. At least one control mechanism is connected to the servos and operative to generate control signals responsive to the desired mimetic movement to be implemented. A recording device is connectable to the control mechanism and to the servos. The recording device is operative in a first mode to receive and store the control signals from the control mechanism, and in a second mode to communicate the stored signals to the model. The stored signals are effective to regulate movement of the servos to stimulate mimetic movement.
The ambulatory robot is provided with front legs and rear legs that are constituted so that the lengths from the origins of the front legs and the rear legs to their terminal portions can be varied. In walking, the front legs and the rear legs are rotated and the lengths of the front legs and the rear legs are changed so that the front legs are raised from the ground surface while the rear legs are maintained in contact with the ground. Then, the front legs and the rear legs are rotated and the lengths of the legs are changed so that the front legs raised from the ground surface are replaced on the ground in the direction of ambulation and the rear legs that were maintained in contact with the ground are raised from the ground surface. Then, the front legs and the rear legs rotate and the lengths of the legs change so that the rear legs so raised from the ground surface are replaced on the ground in the direction of ambulation. Control in this manner is repeated while maintaining the trunk in a substantially erect posture as the ambulatory robot walks.
