Method and system for graphically programming mobile toys

Abstract

A control program for a programmable toy (24) is created using a graphic programming system implemented on a personal computer (10). In the preferred embodiment, the programmable toy comprises a vehicle that can be commanded to make turns in 45.degree. increments and to track an infrared source (220). To create the graphic control program, the user simply selects graphic objects from control panel (154) presented on a cartoon-like graphic screen. For example, the user can select a horn graphic object (168) or a headlight graphic object (166) to respectively activate a horn or headlights on the programmable toy. The user creates a graphic control program on a grid (160) using a mouse (23) to select the graphic objects and indicate parameters. Once the graphic control program is completed, it is downloaded from the RS-232 serial port of the personal computer into the programmable toy through a connecting link (25), which is then uncoupled from the programmable toy. A switch (29) on the toy activates the control program. Also included in the system is a calibration template (200) for calibrating the programmable toy to turn accurately on a specific surface.