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Your kids can drive this electric, Android-equipped 'sports car'
Don't look now, but your kids may end up owning a better car than you do. Henes recently unveiled the Broon F8 series, a child-sized electric "supercar" that has features you probably wish you had in your own ride. Never mind the independent suspension, differential steering and adjustable driving modes -- this vehicle has its own 7-inch Android tablet that serves as both the dashboard and infotainment control deck (yes, there's a sound system). Junior doesn't even have to drive at all, since there's a Bluetooth-based remote control that lets you take the virtual wheel in a pinch.
AIR for Android app turns Nexus One into slot car controller (video)
AIR for Android, a Phidgets motor control, a slot car set, and a custom built LEGO housing for good measure -- if this project isn't meant for Engadget, we don't know what is! The premise is pretty straightforward: Grant Skinner uses his Nexus One to send accelerometer data to a desktop PC, which then sends it to a motor controller. In turn, the controller tells the cars how fast to go. Tilt forward a little bit, and the car accelerates a little bit. Lean forward a lot, and it picks up speed. Sure beats those cheesy plastic triggers we used as kids! For the interface (which is an SWF that's sent to the handset from the host PC) our man designed a gas pedal with a series of lights that tells you how fast you're going. Let's just say we wouldn't mind a setup like this for the Engadget game room. Video after the break.
Mattel rolls out foldable Stealth Rides R/C cars
We haven't seen too many notable R/C cars since Takara Tomy's wall-climbing AeroSpider RC turned our world upside down way back in late 2008, but it looks like Mattel thinks it might just have the next big thing with its new foldable Stealth Rides cars. Like a Transformer that turn into a box, these promise to spring into life at the push of a button, and should give you about 30 hours of playtime on a single charge. Naturally, Mattel also seems to have a number of licensing deals lined up, with a Batmobile Tumbler being one of the five models that will debut at next month's Toy Fair in New York. You'll have to wait until August to actually get your hands on them, however, when they'll run you $25 apiece.
