Game With Remotely Controlled Game Vehicles

Abstract

A game has one or more remotely controlled game vehicles that are each controlled by an operator interface. The game includes a visually controlled computer that senses the remotely controlled game vehicle or vehicles visually and controls each remotely controlled game vehicle using visually sensed input and input from its operator interface.

1 . A game having at least one remotely controlled game vehicle that is controlled by an operator interface characterized in that the game includes a control computer that senses the remotely controlled game vehicle visually and controls the remotely controlled game vehicle using visually sensed input and input from the operator interface. 
   
   
       2 . The game as defined in  claim 1  wherein the control computer senses the position and orientation of the remotely controlled game vehicle. 
   
   
       3 . The game as defined in  claim 2  having a plurality of remotely controlled vehicles each of which are controlled by a respective input device and wherein the control computer senses each of the remotely controlled game vehicles visually and controls each of the remotely controlled vehicles using visually sensed input and input from its operator interface. 
   
   
       4 . The game as defined in  claim 3  wherein the control computer senses the position, orientation and identify of each of the remotely controlled vehicles. 
   
   
       5 . The game as defined in  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4  having a playing field for the remotely controlled vehicle or vehicles. 
   
   
       6 . The game as defined in  claim 5  wherein the remotely controlled vehicle or vehicles have active lighting to facilitate the control computer sensing the remotely controlled vehicle or vehicles visually. 
   
   
       7 . The game as defined in  claim 5  wherein the control computer includes a vision system having a camera, wherein the game includes a light source near the camera and wherein the remotely controlled vehicle or vehicles have retro-reflective surfaces to facilitate the camera of the control computer sensing the remotely controlled vehicle or vehicles. 
   
   
       8 . The game as defined in  claim 5  wherein the control computer includes a vision system having a camera, wherein the game includes a special light source below the camera and wherein the game includes a filter between the special light source and the camera to facilitate the camera of the control computer sensing the remotely controlled vehicle or vehicles. 
   
   
       9 . The game as defined in  claim 5  wherein the playing field in on a platform that raises and lowers. 
   
   
       10 . The game as defined in  claim 9  wherein the game includes a storage area for the remotely controlled vehicle or vehicles that is beneath the platform. 
   
   
       11 . The game as defined in  claim 10  wherein the remotely controlled vehicle or vehicles have on-board batteries and the game has battery recharging means in the storage area. 
   
   
       12 . A game vehicle that is generally round with a low center of gravity and that has a pair of driving wheels. 
   
   
       13 . The game vehicle of  claim 12  wherein the game vehicle has two arms that pivot. 
   
   
       14 . The game vehicle of  claim 14  wherein the two arms are of sufficient length to right the game vehicle when it is overturned by more than ninety degrees. 
   
   
       15 . The game vehicle of  claim 13  or  14  wherein each arm has an upper arm that pivots about two axes. 
   
   
       16 . The game vehicle of  claim 13  or  14  wherein each upper arm has a longitudinal axis, a first joint for pivoting the upper arm about a first axis in a first plane containing the longitudinal axis of the upper arm, and a second joint for pivoting the upper arm about the longitudinal axis of the upper arm. 
   
   
       17 . The game vehicle of  claim 16  wherein each arm has a forearm that is at an angle with respect to the upper arm. 
   
   
       18 . The game vehicle of  claim 16  wherein each arm has a forearm that is fixed at an angle with respect to the upper arm. 
   
   
       19 . A game booth for the game of  claim 1  comprising a cabinet, an upper area supported on the cabinet, and a viewing area between the cabinet and the upper area. 
   
   
       20 . A method for playing a game having a remotely controlled vehicle that is controlled by a operator interface and a control computer that senses the remotely controlled vehicle visually and controls the remotely controlled vehicle using visually sensed input and input from the operator interface comprising:
 operating the operator interface to provide the input from the operator interface to the control computer.