초록 ▼

A system and method for controlling toy vehicles has a plurality of pads coupled to a central station. Switches in the pads may be closed to select toy vehicles and the operation of motors for moving the vehicles forwardly, rearwardly, to the left and to the right and moving upwardly and downwardly

A system and method for controlling toy vehicles has a plurality of pads coupled to a central station. Switches in the pads may be closed to select toy vehicles and the operation of motors for moving the vehicles forwardly, rearwardly, to the left and to the right and moving upwardly and downwardly a receptacle or bin for holding transportable elements (e.g. marbles). The pads may be set in a mode to allow sharing of a vehicle by more than one pad. The pads are connected by wires to the central station, and may be interrogated selectively, sequentially or simultaneously by the central station. The central station forms packets of signals representative of the switch closures of the interrogated pads, and transmits the packets over a modulated carrier frequency to receivers in the vehicles. Each of the packets includes a binary signal addressing the vehicle selected by the pad whose switch closures are represented by the packet of data. The central station prioritizes the transmission of the packets to improve vehicle control. An accessory, or a second central station, may be coupled to a smart port of the first central station. When the pads are interrogated by the central station, the signals from the pads may be routed to the accessory or second central station for processing, then sent back to the first central station for transmission to the vehicles. The pads include a flashback feature that automatically selects a previously selected vehicle. The motors of the vehicles may be energized using pulse width modulation to control the speed of the motor. Signals received by the vehicle are asserted to the motors in the first part of a duty cycle. The vehicles monitor all packets, and decode packets addressed to the vehicle to execute the commands represented by signals contained within the packet. When a packet is determined to be invalid, the vehicle ignores the packet.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. In combination for use in a system including a plurality of vehicles each responsive to an individual address and to a plurality of commands for providing individual operations of such vehicles in accordance with such commands, a plurality of pads, each individual one of the

What is claimed is: 1. In combination for use in a system including a plurality of vehicles each responsive to an individual address and to a plurality of commands for providing individual operations of such vehicles in accordance with such commands, a plurality of pads, each individual one of the pads including a plurality of switches having first and second states of operation for providing an address to select any individual one of the vehicles and for providing commands to such individual one of the vehicles for operating such individual one of the vehicles in accordance with such commands, a central station responsive to the operation of the switches in each individual one of the pads in the second state for sending the address and the commands from the individual one of the pads to the individual one of the vehicles, there being an additional switch on each individual one of the pads with first and second states of operation, the additional switch in each individual one of the pads providing in the first state for the operation of the individual one of the vehicles only by such individual one of the pads and providing in the second state for the operation of the individual one of the vehicles by at least another one of the pads in addition to the individual one of the pads, and means in the central station for providing for the operation of the vehicle by the individual one of the pads and the at least additional one of the pads when the additional switch in the individual one of the pads is in the second state. 2. In a combination as set forth in claim 1, each of the pads including, in the plurality of switches, first switches for controlling the movements of the individual one of the vehicles and including, in the plurality of switches, second switches for controlling other operations of the vehicles than the movements of the vehicles, and means responsive in the central station to the operation of the first switches in the individual one of the pads for providing movements of the individual one of the vehicles and responsive in the central station to the operation of the second switches in the individual one of the pads for providing operations of the individual one of the vehicles other than the movements of such vehicle. 3. In a combination as set forth in claim 2, means responsive in the central station to the operation of the additional one of the switches in the individual one of the pads in the second state and to the operation of the first switches in the individual one of the pads and the at least additional one of the pads for providing movements of the individual one of the vehicles in accordance with the operation of the first switches in the individual one of the pads and the additional one of the pads and responsive in the central station to the operation of the second switches in the individual one of the pads and the additional one of the pads for providing operations of the individual one of the vehicles other than the movements of such vehicle in accordance with the operation of the second switches in the individual one of the pads and the additional one of the pads. 4. In combination in a central station for use with a plurality of pads and a plurality of vehicles wherein each of the pads includes a plurality of switches for controlling the operation of an individual one of the vehicles, first means responsive in the central station to an operation of first switches in the plurality in an individual one of the pads in a pattern for producing first signals providing an address identifying any individual one of the vehicles, second means responsive in the central station to an operation of second switches in the plurality in the individual one of the pads for producing second signals providing for an operation of the individual one of the vehicles in accordance with such switch operations, and third means responsive in the central station to the operation of a third switch in the plurality in the individual one of the pads for providing for an operation of the individual one of the vehicles by at least a second one of the pads simultaneously with the operation of the individual one of the vehicles by the individual one of the pads, the at least second one of the pads having first and second switches respectively corresponding to the first and second switches in the individual one of the pads, and fourth means in the central station for sending to the individual one of the vehicles the first signals providing, in the individual one of the pads and the at least second one of the pads, the address identifying the individual one of the vehicles and the second signals providing commands for obtaining the operation of the vehicle in accordance with the pattern of closure of the second switches in the individual one of the pads and in the at least additional one of the pads. 5. In a combination as set forth in claim 4, the first means being responsive in the central station to the operation of the first switches in the at least second one of the pads in the pattern for producing in the at least second one of the pads third signals providing an address identifying the individual one of the vehicles at substantially the same time that the first signals are provided in the individual one of the pads to provide the address identifying the individual one of the vehicles, the second means being responsive in the central station to the operation of the second switches in the at least additional one of the pads for producing fourth signals providing for the operation of the individual one of the vehicles in accordance with such switch operations, the fourth means being operative in the central station to send to the individual one of the vehicles from the at least additional one of the pads, at substantially the same time as the sending to the individual one of the vehicles from the individual one of the pads, the third signals providing the address identifying the individual one of the vehicles and the fourth signals providing commands for obtaining the operation of the vehicle in accordance with the pattern of operation of the second switches in the second one of the pads. 6. In combination for controlling the operation of an individual one of a plurality of vehicles, a first pad included in a plurality of pads and including a first switch operable in a pattern providing an address of the individual one of the plurality of vehicles and including a plurality of switches individually operable in a pattern providing for operations of the individual one of the vehicles in accordance with the pattern of operations of such switches, means in the first pad for providing a plurality of light indications each for a particular one of the vehicles in the plurality, means in the first pad for providing first light indications for the vehicles in the plurality when such first pad has not provided an address for any of the vehicles in the plurality, means in the first pad for providing a second illumination for the individual one of the vehicles when the first pad provides the address for such individual one of the vehicles, and the first pad including an additional switch having first and second states of operation and operative in the first state to provide for the operation of the individual one of the vehicles only by the first pad and operative in the second state to provide for the operation of the individual one of the vehicles only by another one of the pads in the plurality in addition to the first pad. 7. In a combination as set forth in claim 6, each of the pads, other than the first pads, including a switch corresponding to the first switch in the first pad and sequentially operative to select successive ones of the vehicles in the plurality, and means responsive in each of the pads to the sequential operations of the switch in the pad for skipping the addressing by the pad of a vehicle in the plurality which has already been addressed by another one of the pads in the plurality. 8. In a combination as set forth in claim 6, the first light indications constituting a sequential activation of the light indications in the plurality on a cyclic basis, and means in the first pad for discontinuing the sequential activation of the light indications in the first pad and for providing a continuous activation of an individual one of the light indications in such pad when such pad is operated to address the vehicle represented by such individual one of the light indications. 9. In combination for operating a vehicle in accordance with addresses and commands provided by a pair of pads and transmitted by a central station to the vehicle, means in the vehicle for receiving the addresses and commands provided by the pads and transmitted by the central station, means in the vehicle for identifying the addresses received from the pads as those of the vehicle, means responsive in the vehicle to the identification of the addresses received from the pads as those of the vehicle for executing the received commands from the the pads when the received commands from the pair of the pads are complementary, and means responsive in the vehicle to the identification of the addresses received from the pair of the pads as those of the vehicle for ignoring the commands received from the pads when the received commands are contradictory. 10. In a combination as set forth in claim 9, means responsive in the vehicle to the discontinuance of one of the pads in the pair in addressing the vehicle for continuing the response of the vehicle to the addresses and commands from the other one of the pads in the pair. 11. In combination for use in a system including a plurality of vehicles each responsive to an individual address and to a plurality of commands for providing individual operations of such vehicle in accordance with such commands, a plurality of pads each operative to provide an address for selecting any individual one of the vehicles and to provide commands to such individual one of the vehicles for operating such individual one of the vehicles in accordance with such commands, a central station connected to individual ones of the pads and responsive to the address and the commands from each of the connected pads for sending the address and the commands from such pad to the vehicle selected by such pad to obtain an operation of such vehicle in accordance with such commands, each of the pads including a switch having first and second states of operation and operative in the first state to provide an operation of an individual one of the vehicles in the plurality only by such pad and operative in the second state to provide for the operation of such individual one of the vehicles simultaneously by such pad and at least another one of the pads, and means in the central station for obtaining the interrogation at each instant of only the individual ones of the pads in the plurality that are connected to the central station. 12. In a combination as set forth in claim 11, means in the central station for transmitting the addresses and commands from the interrogated pads to the vehicles in the plurality to obtain the operation, in accordance with such commands, of the vehicles addressed by the central station. 13. In a combination as set forth in claim 12, the central station being operative to send to the vehicles only changes in the addresses and commands from the pads relative to the addresses and commands previously sent by the pads to the vehicles. 14. In combination, a plurality of vehicles, a plurality of pads, each individual one of the pads including a plurality of switches having first and second states of operation for providing an address to select any individual one of the vehicles and for providing commands to such individual one of the vehicles for operating such individual one of the vehicles in accordance with such commands, a central station responsive to the operation of the switches in the first state in such individual one of the pads for sending the commands to the individual one of the vehicles addressed by such individual one of the pads, first means including a memory in the central station for storing in the memory the identity of the individual one of the vehicles last addressed by such individual one of the pads, and an additional switch disposed in the individual one of the pads and having first and second states of operation for providing for the selection again, in the second state of operation of the additional switch, by such individual one of the pads of the individual one of the vehicles stored in the memory for such individual one of the pads after such individual one of the pads has selected any one of the vehicles other than the individual one of the vehicles or after the individual one of the pads has failed to provide a command to the individual one of the vehicles for a particular period of time. 15. In a combination as set forth in claim 14, each of the pads including a particular switch having first and second states of operation and operable to the second state on a repetitive basis for a particular number of times to select any individual one of the vehicles, each of the pads including further switches having first and second states and operable to the second state to provide the commands for operating the individual one of the vehicles, and second means responsive in the central station to the operation of the additional switch in the individual one of the pads in the second state and to the operation of any one of the further switches in the individual one of the pads to the second state, after such individual one of the pads has selected one of the vehicles other than the individual one of the vehicles or after the individual one of the pads has failed to provide a command to the individual one of the vehicles for a particular period of time, for providing for the addressing again by such individual one of the pads of such individual one of the vehicles. 16. In combination for use with a central station and a plurality of vehicles for selecting and operating individual ones of the vehicles in accordance with addresses and commands provided by the central station, a pad in a plurality of pads, a first switch in the pad, the first switch having first and second states and operable on a repetitive basis to the second state for a particular number of times to select an individual one of the vehicles to be addressed by the pad, a plurality of additional switches in the pad, the additional switches having first and second states and operable to the second state in a particular pattern to obtain the operation of the individual one of the vehicles in accordance with the pattern of operation of the additional switches in the second state, a plurality of light indications in the pad, each of the light indications being associated with a different one of the vehicles in the plurality, means for energizing the light indications in sequence in accordance with the sequential operations of the first switch in the pad to the second state to select the individual one of the vehicles in the plurality, means for continuously energizing the individual one of the light indications associated with the individual one of the vehicles when the first switch in the pad has been operated to the second state on the sequential basis for the particular number of times to select the individual one of the vehicles to be addressed by the central station, means for skipping the energizing of the light indications associated with the vehicles addressed by the pads in the plurality other than the pad when the first switch in the pad is operated on the repetitive basis to address the individual one of the vehicles, and means in the pad for providing for the addressing of the individual one of the vehicles by another one of the pads in the plurality in addition to the addressing of the individual one of the vehicles by the pad. 17. In a combination as set forth in claim 16, means for sending to the central station a first plurality of binary indications representing the repetitive operation of the first switch in the pad to the second state to provide an address by the central station for the individual one of the vehicles in the plurality and for sending to the central station a second plurality of binary indications representing the pattern of operation of the additional switches in the pad to the second state to provide the commands by the central station for operating the individual one of the vehicles. 18. In combination for use in a system including a plurality of vehicles each responsive to an individual address and to a plurality of commands for providing individual operations of the vehicles in accordance with such commands, a plurality of pads each operative to provide an address for selecting any individual one of the vehicles and to provide commands to such individual one of the vehicles for operating such individual one of the vehicles in accordance with such commands, a central station, the pads being connected to the central station, first means in the central station for interrogating the pads to determine the address and the commands provided by such pads, second means responsive in the central station to the interrogation provided by the first means in the central station concerning the address and the commands from each pad for sending the address and the commands from such pad to the vehicle addressed by such pad to obtain an operation of such vehicle in accordance with such commands, the first means in the central station being operative to interrogate any additional pad connected to the central station at the instant that such additional pad is connected to the central station, and the second means being responsive in the central station to the interrogation provided by the first means in the central station concerning the address and the commands from the pads in the plurality and from the additional pad for sending signals representing the address and the commands from each such pad to the vehicle addressed by such pad, instantaneously after the additional pad is connected to the central station, to obtain an operation of such vehicle in accordance with such commands without affecting the interrogation of the pads in the plurality by the central station. 19. In a combination as set forth in claim 18, third means in the central station for providing for the sending at each instant by the second means of only the commands from the pads which are providing changes in addresses or commands at that instant. 20. In a combination as set forth in claim 18, the first means being operative to eliminate from interrogation by the central station of any one of the pads disconnected in the plurality from the central station and to provide such elimination at the instant that the pad is disconnected from the central station and without affecting the interrogation of the other pads by the central station and to provide for the addressing by any of the pads other than the disconnected pad, of the vehicle previously addressed by the disconnected pad. 21. In combination for use in a system including a plurality of vehicles each responsive to an individual address and to a plurality of commands for providing individual operations of the vehicles in accordance with such commands, a plurality of pads each operative to provide an address for selecting any individual one of the vehicles and to provide commands to such individual one of the vehicles for operating such individual one of the vehicles in accordance with such commands, a central station, the pads being connected to the central station, first means in the central station for interrogating the pads to determine the address and the commands provided by such pads, second means responsive in the central station to the interrogation provided by the first means in the central station concerning the address and the commands from each pad for sending signals representing the address and the commands from such pad to the vehicle addressed by such pad to obtain an operation of such vehicle in accordance with such commands, the first means in the central station being operative to eliminate, from the interrogation, any one of the pads disconnected in the plurality from the central station and to provide such elimination at the instant that the pad is disconnected from the central station and to provide such elimination without affecting the interrogation of the other pads by the central station and to provide for an addressing by any pad. other than the disconnected pad, of the vehicle previously addressed by the disconnected pad, the second means being responsive in the central station to the interrogation provided by the first means in the central station concerning the address and the commands from each of the pads interrogated by the central station for sending the signals representing the address and the commands from each such pad to the vehicle addressed by such pad to obtain an operation of such vehicle in accordance with such commands. 22. In a combination as set forth in claim 21, third means in the central station for providing for the transmission at each instant by the second means only of the commands from the pads which are providing changes in addresses or commands at that instant. 23. In combination for use in a system including a plurality of vehicles each responsive to an individual address and to a plurality of commands for providing individual operations of the vehicles in accordance with such commands, a plurality of pads each including a first switch having first and second states and operative to provide an address to any individual one of the vehicles dependent upon the number of the operations of such switch in the second state and including second switches each having first and second states and operative in the second state to provide a particular operation of the individual one of the vehicles, a central station responsive to the operation of the first switch in each of the pads in the second state for providing an address to any individual one of the vehicles dependent upon the number of operations of such first switch in such pad in the second state and responsive to the operations of the second switches in such pad in the second state for providing signals representing operations to be performed by such individual one of the vehicles, and means responsive in the central station to the operations in the second state of the second switches providing in a pair of the pads contradictory commands to the individual one of the vehicles for converting such contradictory commands to signals providing specialized commands different from the commands provided by the operation of the different ones of the second switches in such pads. 24. In a combination as set forth in claim 23, means in the central station for providing at each instant only the commands from the pads which are providing changes in addresses or commands at that instant, and means in the central station for sending to the vehicles in the plurality the commands provided by the last mentioned means in the central station. 25. In combination for use with a plurality of pads each operable to provide signals representing addresses and commands, a central station responsive to the addresses and commands from the pads for providing for each of the pads a first plurality of signals representing the address of any individual one of the vehicles and a second plurality of signals representing the commands for operating such individual one of the vehicles, the first and second pluralities of signals provided at the central station for each of the pads occurring at a particular rate selected in a particular range of rates, the central station also providing a plurality of start signals at the particular rate, a plurality of vehicles each having an individual address and each including first means responsive to the signals representing the individual address for such vehicle and responsive to the second signals providing the commands for such vehicle for operating such vehicle in accordance with such commands, and means responsive in each of the vehicles to the start signals from the central station for determining the particular rate of occurrence of the start signals and for providing for the response of the first means in the vehicle, at the particular rate of occurrence of the start signals, to the first signals representing the individual address of the vehicle and to the second signals providing the commands for such vehicle. 26. In a combination as set forth in claim 25, the central station being operative in a first mode to provide for the addressing of each individual one of the vehicles by only one of the pads in the plurality and being operative in a second mode to provide for the addressing of each individual one of the vehicles by at least two (2) of the pads in the plurality. 27. In combination, a plurality of vehicles, a plurality of pads each including a first switch having first and second states and operable in the second state to address any individual one of the vehicles dependent upon the number of operations of the first switch in the second state and each including a plurality of second switches each having first and second states, the second switches for each of the pads being operable in the second state in a pattern providing an operation of the selected vehicle dependent upon such switch operations in the second state, a central station, first means in the central station for interrogating the pads in the plurality to determine the number of operations of the first switch in the second state for each of the pads and the pattern of operations of the second switches in the second state for each of the pads, second means in the central station for providing, for each of the pads, a first plurality of signals providing an address of any one of the vehicles dependent upon the number of operations of the first switch in such pad in the second state and a second plurality of signals providing commands dependent upon the pattern of operation of the second switches in such pad in the second state, the first and second signals for each of the pads occurring at a particular rate, third means in the central station for providing a plurality of start signals at the particular rate, fourth means responsive in each of the vehicles to the start signals at the particular rate for operating upon the first plurality of signals in each of the pad's at the particular rate to identify the address individual to such vehicle and for operating upon the second plurality of signals at the particular rate to identify the commands related to the address individual to such vehicle, and fifth means for operating each vehicle in accordance with the commands provided for such vehicle. 28. In a combination as set forth in claim 27, sixth means associated in the central station with the second means for providing for the transmittal to the vehicles by the second means at each instant only of the signals representing changes in addresses or commands from the pads at that instant. 29. In a combination as set forth in claim 27, each of the pads including an additional switch having first and second states of operation and providing in the first state of operation for the addressing by such pad of one of the vehicles not addressed at that time by any of the other pads and providing in the second state of operation for the addressing of the one of the vehicles by the pad and by at least another one of the pads. 30. In combination for use with a plurality of vehicles, a plurality of pads each operative to address any individual one of the vehicles and to provide a plurality of binary indications providing commands for operating the addressed vehicle, a central station, first means operatively coupled in the central station to the pads in the plurality for providing packets of signals identifying for each pad the individual one of the vehicles addressed by such pad and the commands for operating the individual one of the vehicles, and second means responsive in each vehicle to the same identity of the signals providing the commands in two (2) successive packets addressed to such vehicle by the first means in the central station for operating such vehicle in accordance with the pattern of the signals in such packets. 31. In a combination as set forth in claim 30, means in the central station for interrogating the pads on a cyclic basis to obtain binary indications from each of the pads, on the cyclic basis with the other pads, of the individual one of the vehicles addressed by such pad and the binary indications providing commands for operating the individual one of the vehicles addressed by such pad. 32. In a combination as set forth in claim 30, means in the central station for transmitting to the vehicles at each instant only the binary indications from the pads which are providing changes in addresses or commands at that instant. 33. In a combination as set forth in claim 32, means in the central station for simultaneously interrogating the pads to obtain simultaneous binary indications from the pads of the individual ones of the vehicles addressed by such pads and the binary indications providing the commands for operating the individual ones of the vehicles. 34. In combination for use in a vehicle for moving the vehicle in accordance with commands which are provided by a pad to control the movements of the vehicle and which are converted by a central station to commands addressed by the central station to the vehicle to obtain the movements of the vehicle, a pair of left wheels in the vehicle, the left wheels being spaced from each other in a longitudinal direction, a pair of right wheels in the vehicle, the right wheels having the same spacing in the vehicle in the longitudinal direction as the left wheels, first means in the vehicle for receiving the commands addressed to the vehicle from the central station, a first motor in the vehicle for moving the left wheels in the vehicle in the longitudinal direction, a second motor in the vehicle for moving the right wheels in the vehicle in the longitudinal direction, the commands addressed to the vehicle from the central station including first signals for operating the first motor and second signals for operating the second motor, second means responsive in the vehicle to the first and second signals received by the vehicle from the central station for accelerating the first and second motors in progressive increments to the speeds commanded by the central station to such motors for movement of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction, and third means responsive in the vehicle to the first and second signals received by the vehicle from the central station for operating the first and second motors at the same speed, without any progressive increments in speed, for movement of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction when one of the motors has been previously operated at a different speed than the other motor, the same speed constituting the higher of the speeds provided by the first and second motors. 35. In a combination as recited in claim 34, fourth means responsive in the vehicle to the first and second signals received by the vehicle from the central station for converting the first and second signals to pulse width modulations in progressive periods of time, the pulse width modulations for each of the first and second motors at each instant having duty cycles dependent upon the speed at which such motor is to be operated at that instant, the operation of the second and third means at each instant being dependent upon such pulse width modulations at that instant and the duty cycles of such pulse width modulations at that instant. 36. In a combination as set forth in claim 34, fourth means responsive in the vehicle to the failure of the vehicle to receive the first and second signals for a particular period of time for maintaining the same operation of the first and second motors for such particular period of time as the operation of such motors upon the last reception by the vehicle of the first and second signals from the central station. 37. In combination for use in a vehicle for moving the vehicle in accordance with commands which are provided by a pad to control the movements of the vehicle and which are converted by a central station to commands addressed by the central station to the vehicle to obtain the movements of the vehicle, a pair of left wheels in the vehicle, the left wheels being spaced from each other in a longitudinal direction, a pair of right wheels in the vehicle, the right wheels having the same spacing in the longitudinal direction as the left wheels, a first motor in the vehicle for moving the left wheels in the vehicle in the longitudinal direction, a second motor in the vehicle for moving the right wheels in the vehicle in the longitudinal direction, the commands addressed to the vehicle from the central station including first signals for operating the first motor and second signals for operating the second motor, first means in the vehicle for receiving the commands addressed to the vehicle from the central station, second means responsive in the vehicle to the first and second signals received by the vehicle from the central station for operating the first and second motors in accordance with such signals, and third means responsive in the vehicle to the failure of the vehicle to receive the first and second signals for a particular period of time for maintaining the same operation of the first and second motors for such particular period of time as the operation of the motors upon the last reception by the vehicle of the first and second signals from the central station. 38. In a combination as set forth in claim 37, fourth means responsive in the vehicle to the first and second signals received by the vehicle from the central station for accelerating the first and second motors in progressive increments to the speeds commanded by the central station to such motors for movement of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction. 39. In combination for use in a vehicle for moving the vehicle in accordance with commands which are provided by a pad to control the movements of the vehicle and which are converted by a central station to commands addressed by the central station to the vehicle to obtain the movements of the vehicle, a pair of left wheels in the vehicle, the left wheels being spaced from each other in a longitudinal direction, a pair of right wheels in the vehicle, the right wheels having the same spacing in the longitudinal direction as the left wheels, a first motor in the vehicle for moving the left wheels in the vehicle in the longitudinal direction, a second motor in the vehicle for moving the light wheels in the vehicle in the longitudinal direction, the commands addressed to the vehicle from the central station including first signals for operating the first motor and second signals for operating the second motor, first means in the vehicle for receiving the commands addressed to the vehicle from the central station, second means responsive in the vehicle to the first and second signals received by the vehicle from the central station for operating the first and second motors in accordance with such signals, the vehicle being operative in a powered and active state and in a powered and inactive state, third means responsive in the vehicle to the failure of the vehicle in the powered and active state to receive the first and second signals for a particular period of time for maintaining the same operation of the first and second motors for such particular period of time as the operation of the motors upon the last reception by the vehicle of the first and second signals from the central station, fourth means operative at the end of the particular time period for converting the operation of the vehicle from a powered and active state to a powered but inactive state when the vehicle fails to receive the first and second signals during the particular time period, and fifth means responsive in the vehicle to the first and second signals received by the vehicle from the central station for operating the first and second motors in accordance with such first and second signals only when the first means has received the same first and second signals from the central station a plurality of successive times. 40. In combination, a plurality of pads, a plurality of vehicles, each of the pads providing first binary indications representing an address of any individual one of the vehicles and second binary indications representing individual operations to be provided by such vehicle, a central station responsive to the first and second binary indications from the different pads for producing for each of the pads first signals providing an individual address for the individual one of the vehicles addressed by such pad and second signals providing commands for moving such vehicle in a particular direction and for operating such vehicle, means responsive in each of the vehicles to the first signals addressing such vehicle from the central station and to the second signals from the central station for such vehicle for moving such vehicle and operating such vehicle in accordance with the commands provided by the central station to such vehicle, means operative in each of the vehicles for continuing to provide a movement of such vehicle for a particular period of time in accordance with the last commands addressed to such vehicle by the central station when the vehicle fails to receive any commands addressed to such vehicle during such particular period of time, and means in the central station for providing for the transmittal to the vehicles from the central station only of changes in the address or commands in each of the pads from the address or commands previously provided in the pad. 41. In a combination as set forth in claim 40, means in each of the vehicles for converting the vehicle to an inactive but powered state when the vehicle fails to receive any commands from the central station for the particular period of time, and means in each of the vehicles for providing for a change in such vehicle from the inactive but powered state to a depowered state at the end of a second particular period of time when such vehicle fails to receive any commands addressed to such vehicle from the central station for any of the pads during such second particular period of time. 42. In a combination as set forth in claim 40, means responsive in each of the vehicles to the commands addressed to the vehicle relating to movements of the vehicle at a particular speed for accelerating the vehicle in progressive increments to the particular speed. 43. In combination, a plurality of pads, a plurality of vehicles, each of the pads providing first binary indications representing a selection of any individual one of the vehicles and second binary indications representing individual operations to be provided by such vehicle, a central station responsive to the first and second binary indications from the different pads for producing for each of the pads first signals providing an individual address for any individual one of the vehicles selected by such pad, the pads being connected to the central station, each of the vehicles including a pair of left wheels spaced from each other in a longitudinal direction and a pair of right wheels spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction and including a first motor for moving the left wheels and a second motor for moving the right wheels, the commands addressed to the vehicle from the central station including second signals for operating the first motor and third signals for operating the second motor, first means in each of the vehicles for receiving the first, second and third signals addressed to such vehicle from the central station, second means responsive in each of the vehicles to the second and third signals received by the vehicle from the central station for accelerating the first and second motors in progressive increments to the speeds commanded by the central station to such motors for movement of such vehicle in the longitudinal direction, and third means responsive in each of the vehicles to the second and third signals received by such vehicle from the central station for operating the first and second motors at the same speed without any increment in speed when one of the motors in such vehicle has been previously operated at a different speed then the other motor in such vehicle, the same speed constituting the higher of the speeds provided by the first and second motors in such vehicle. 44. In a combination as recited in claim 43, third means responsive in each of the vehicles to the second and third signals received by such vehicle from the central station for movement of such vehicle in the longitudinal direction for operating the first and second motors at the same speed, without any progressive increments in speed, when one of the motors in such vehicle has been previously operated at a different speed than the other motor in such vehicle, the same speed constituting the higher of the speeds provided by the first and second motors in such vehicle. 45. In a combination as set forth in claim 44, means operative in each of the vehicles for continuing to operate the first and second motors for a particular period of time in accordance with the last ones of the second and third signals received by such vehicle from the central station when such vehicle fails to receive the second and third signals addressed to such vehicle during such particular period of time. 46. In combination, a plurality of pads, a plurality of vehicles, each of the pads providing first binary indications representing a selection of any individual one of the vehicles and second binary indications representing individual operations to be provided by such vehicles, a central station responsive to the first and second binary indications from the different pads for producing for each of the pads first signals providing an individual address for any individual one of the vehicles selected by such pad and second signals providing commands for moving such vehicle in a particular direction and for operating such vehicle, first means in each of the vehicles for receiving the first and second signals from each of the pads, second means responsive in each of the vehicles to the second signals addressed to such vehicle for determining whether successive ones of the second signals addressed to such vehicle are identical, and third means in each of the vehicles for operating such vehicle in accordance with the second signals addressed to such vehicle when the second means in such vehicle determines that the successive ones of the second signals addressed to such vehicle are identical. 47. In a combination as set forth in claim 46, the third means in each of the vehicles being operative to operate such vehicle in accordance with the second signals addressed to such vehicle in the second of the successive ones of the second signals addressed to such vehicle when the second means in such vehicle determines that the successive ones of the second signals addressed to such vehicle are identical. 48. In a combination as set forth in claim 46, the first and second signals for each of the vehicles being in the form of successive packets each having a first particular number of the first signals and a second particular number of the second signals, fourth means for determining whether at least a particular percentage of the packets addressed to each of the vehicles has the first particular number of the first signals and the second particular number of the second signals in such packets during a particular period of time, and fifth means for operating each of the vehicles in accordance with the second signals in the packets addressed to such vehicle when the fourth means in such vehicle determines that at least the particular percentage of the packets addressed to such vehicle during the particular period of time has the first particular number of the first signals and the second particular number of the second signals in the packets. 49. In combination, a plurality of pads, a plurality of vehicles, each of the pads providing first binary indications representing an addressing of any individual one of the vehicles and second binary indications representing individual operations to be provided by such addressed vehicle, a central station responsive to the first and second binary indications from the different pads for producing for each of the pads first signals providing an individual address for any individual one of the vehicles selected by such pad and second signals providing commands for moving such vehicle in a particular direction and for operating such vehicle, first means in each of the vehicles for receiving the first and second signals from each of the pads, the first and second signals for each of the vehicles being in the form of packets each having a first particular number of the first signals and a second particular number of the second signals, second means for determining whether at least a particular percentage of the successive packets addressed to each of the vehicles during a particular period of time has the first particular number of the second signals in each packet, and third means for operating each of the vehicles in accordance with the second signals in the successive packets addressed to such vehicle when the second means in each vehicle determines that at least the particular percentage of the packets addressed to such vehicle during the particular period of time has the second particular number of the second signals in the packets. 50. In a combination as set forth in claim 49, the central station being operative to interrogate each of the pads to determine the first and second binary indications from such pad, and means in the central station for sending to the vehicles at each instant only the binary indications representing changes in the addresses or commands from the pads at that instant. 51. In combination in a vehicle for use with a central station operative to receive, from a plurality of pads, first binary indications representing the address of the vehicle and second binary indications representing operations to be performed by the vehicle and operative to send to the vehicle first signals in accordance with the first binary indications and second signals in accordance with the second binary indications, first means in the vehicle for receiving the first and second signals from the central station for each of the pads, second means in the vehicle for determining whether successive ones of the second signals addressed to such vehicle are identical, and third means in each of the vehicles for operating such vehicle in accordance with the second signals addressed to such vehicle when the second means in such vehicle determines that the successive ones of the second signals addressed to such vehicle on the cyclic basis are identical. 52. In a combination as set forth in claim 51 wherein the successive ones of the second signals are addressed to the vehicle on a cyclic basis and wherein the third means in each of the vehicles is operative to operate such vehicle in accordance with the second ones of the second signals addressed to such vehicle when the second means in such vehicle determines that the successive ones of the second signals addressed to such vehicle are identical. 53. In a combination as set forth in claims including, fourth means responsive to first ones of the second signals addressed to such vehicle for moving the vehicle, and fifth means responsive to second ones of the second signals addressed to such vehicle for providing operations of the vehicle other than moving the vehicle. 54. In a combination as set forth in claim 51. the first and second signals for the vehicle being in the form of packets each having a first particular number of the first signals and a second particular number of the second signals, sixth means for determining whether at least a particular percentage of the packets addressed to the vehicle during a particular period of time has the second particular number of the second signals in such packets, and seventh means for operating the vehicle in accordance with the second signals in the packets addressed to such vehicle when the sixth means in such vehicle determines that at least the particular percentage of the packets addressed to such vehicle during the particular period of time has the second particular number of the second signals in the packets. 55. In combination in a vehicle for use with a central station operative to receive, from a plurality of pads, first binary indications representing the address of the vehicle and second binary indications representing operations to be performed by the vehicle and for sending first signals in accordance with the first binary indications and second signals in accordance with the second binary indications, first means in the vehicle for receiving the first and second signals from the central station in representation of the binary indications from each of the pads, the first and second signals for the vehicle being in the form of packets each having a first particular number of the first signals and a second particular number of the second signals, second means in the vehicle for determining whether at least a particular percentage of the packets addressed to the vehicle during a particular period of time has the second particular number of the second signals in such packets, and third means in the vehicle for operating the vehicle in accordance with the second signals in the packets addressed to such vehicle when the second means in such vehicle determines that at least the particular percentage of the packets addressed to such vehicle during the particular period of time has the second particular number of the second signals in the packets. 56. In a combination as set forth in claim 55, the vehicle including wheels and motors for rotating the wheels and including at least one member movable on the vehicle to perform selective functions, the third means being responsive in the vehicle to the second signals for rotating the wheels in the vehicle to obtain a movement of the vehicle in accordance with such wheel rotations and for moving the member to perform the selective functions. 57. In combination for use in a system including a central station and a plurality of vehicles and a plurality of pads each operable to provide first binary indications providing an address to any individual one of the vehicles and second binary indications providing commands for operating the individual one of the vehicles and each operable to provide the first and second binary indications to the central station for the transmission by the central station to the vehicles of signals indicating the first and second binary indications from each of the pads, a microcontroller in the central station, a first line extending between the microcontroller and the pads in the plurality to provide an interrogation by the central station of such pads with respect to the first and second binary indications from such pads, a second plurality of lines each extending between the microcontroller and an individual one of the pads for providing clock signals from the central station to the individual one of the pads for controlling the time of the interrogation of such individual one of the pads by the central station, and a third plurality of lines each extending between the microcontroller and an individual one of the pads for providing the first and second binary indications from the individual one of the pads to the central station in response to the interrogation by the central station to the individual one of the pads. 58. In a combination as set forth in claim 57, the lines in the second plurality introducing the clock signals in sequence to the different ones of the pads on a cyclic basis to obtain an interrogation of the pads by the central station when the pads receive the clock signals, and the lines in the third plurality providing the first and second binary indications from the pads to the central station when the pads are interrogated by the central station. 59. In a combination as set forth in claim 57, the lines in the second plurality introducing the clock signals simultaneously to the different ones of the pads to obtain a simultaneous interrogation of the different pads by the central station, and the lines in the third plurality providing the first and second binary indications from the pads when the pads are interrogated by the central station. 60. In a combination as set forth in claim 57, the clock signals having first and second polarities, the interrogation of the pads in the plurality by the central station occurring when the clock signals on the lines in the second plurality have a particular one of the first and second polarities. 61. In combination for use in a system including a central station and a plurality of vehicles and a plurality of pads each operable to provide first binary indications providing an address to any individual one of the vehicles and second binary indications providing commands for operating the individual one of the vehicles and each operable to provide the first and second binary indications to the central station for the transmission by the central station to the vehicles of the first and second binary indications from each of the pads, a first line extending between the central station and the pads in the plurality to provide an interrogation of such pads by the central station of the first and second binary indications from such pads, a second plurality of lines each extending between the central station and an individual one of the pads for providing clock signals from the central station to the individual one of the pads for controlling the time of the interrogation of such individual one of the pads by the central station, and a third plurality of lines each extending between the central station and an individual one of the pads for providing the first and second binary indications from the individual one of the pads to the central station in response to the interrogation by the central station to the individual one of the pads, the lines in the third plurality also providing binary indications from the central station to each individual one of the pads in the plurality, after the provision of the first and second binary indications from such individual one of the pads to the central station, of the particular one of the vehicles addressed by each individual one of the pads. 62. In a combination as set forth in claim 61, the lines in the second plurality introducing the clock signals in sequence to the different ones of the pads on a cyclic basis to obtain an interrogation of the pads by the central station when the pads receive the clock signals, and the lines in the third plurality providing the first and second binary indications from the pads to the central station when the pads are interrogated by the central station, each of the pads having a plurality of lights each indicating a different one of the vehicles, and means for illuminating a particular one of the lights on each of the pads in accordance with the particular one of the vehicles addressed by such pad. 63. In a combination as set forth in claim 61, the lines in the second plurality introducing the clock signals simultaneously to the different ones of the pads to obtain a simultaneous interrogation of the different pads by the central station, and the lines in the third plurality providing the first and second binary indications from the pads when the pads are interrogated by the central station, each of the pads having a plurality of lights each indicating a different one of the vehicles, and means for illuminating a particular one of the lights on each of the pads in accordance with the particular one of the vehicles addressed by such pad. 64. In a combination as set forth in claim 63, the clock signals having first and second polarities, the interrogation of the pads in the plurality by the central station occurring when the clock signals on the lines in the second plurality have a particular one of the first and second polarities, the illumination of the particular one of the lights on each of the pads by the indications from the central station to such pad through the line in the third plurality for such pad in representation of the particular one of the vehicles addressed by such pad occurring when the clock signals on the lines in the second plurality have the other one of the first and second polarities. 65. In combination for use in a system including a central station and a plurality of vehicles and a plurality of pads each operable to provide first binary indications providing an address to any individual one of the vehicles and second binary indications providing commands for operating the individual one of the vehicles and each operable to provide the first and second binary indications to the central station for the transmission by the central station to the vehicles of signals representing the first and second binary indications from each of the pads, a first line extending between the central station and the pads in the plurality to provide an interrogation by the central station of such pads with respect to the first and second binary indications from such pads, a plurality of second lines each extending between the central station and an individual one of the pads for providing clock signals from the central station to the individual one of the pads for controlling the time of interrogation of the individual one of the pads by the central station, and a plurality of third lines each providing an indication from the central station to the individual one of the pads of the vehicle addressed by such individual one of the pads. 66. In a combination as set forth in claim 65, the clock signals having first and second polarities, each of the third lines providing the first and second binary indications in an individual one of the pads to the central station in the first polarity of the clock signals and each providing an indication from the central station to the individual one of the pads, in the second polarity of the clock signals, of the vehicle addressed by such individual one of the pads. 67. In a combination as set forth in claim 66, the second lines introducing the clock signals in sequence to the different ones of the pads on a cyclic basis to obtain an interrogation of the pads by the central station when the pads receive the clock signals, and the third lines providing in sequence the indications from the central station to the individual ones of the pads of the vehicles addressed by such individual ones of the pads when the pads are interrogated by the central station. 68. In a combination as set forth in claim 65, a plurality of lights in each of the pads, each of such lights providing an indication, when illuminated, of an individual one of the vehicles, and means for illuminating an individual one of the lights in each of the pads in accordance with the indication from the central station to such pad of the vehicle addressed by such pad. 69. In a combination as set forth in claim 66, the second lines introducing the clock signals simultaneously to the different ones of the pads to obtain a simultaneous interrogation of the different pads by the central station, and the third lines providing the first and second binary indications simultaneously from the central station to the individual ones of the pads of the vehicles addressed by such individual ones of the pads when the pads are interrogated by the central station. 70. In combination for use in a system including a central station and a plurality of vehicles and a plurality of pads each operable to provide first binary indications providing an address to any individual one of the vehicles and second binary indications providing commands for operating the individual one of the vehicles and each operable to provide the first and second binary indications to the central station for the transmission by the central station to the vehicles of signals representing the first and second binary indications from each of the pads, a first line extending between the central station and the pads in the plurality to provide an interrogation of such pads of the first and second binary indications from such pads, a plurality of second lines each extending between the central station and an individual one of the pads for providing clock signals to the individual one of the pads for controlling the time of the interrogation of such individual one of the pads by the central station, and a plurality of third lines each extending between the central station and an individual one of the pads for providing the first and second binary indications from the individual one of the pads to the central station in response to the interrogation by the central station to the individual one of the pads, the extension of the third lines between the central station and the pads providing for the decoupling of any one of the pads from the central station without affecting the provision of the first and second binary indications from the other ones of the pads to the central station. 71. In a combination as set forth in claim 70, each of the third lines providing an indication from the central station to the individual one of the pads of the vehicle addressed by such individual one of the pads, the extension of the third lines between the central station and the pads providing for a decoupling of any one of the pads from the central station and for an elimination of the indication in the pad of the vehicle addressed by the pad without affecting the provision of the indications from the central station to the other pads of the vehicles addressed by such other ones of the pads and providing for the addressing of the vehicle by any of the other pads. 72. In a combination as set forth in claim 70, the extensions of the third lines between the central station and the pads providing for the extensions of additional third lines between additional pads and the central station to provide first and second binary indications from each of such additional pads to the central station in response to interrogations by the central station to the individual ones of such additional pads without affecting the provision of the first and second binary indications from the pads in the plurality to the central station and without affecting the provision of the indications from the central station to the pads in the plurality of the vehicles addressed by such pads in the plurality and to provide such binary indications at the instant that such extensions of the additional third lines are provided between the additional pads and the central station. 73. In a combination as set forth in claim 71, the extensions of the third lines between the central station and the pads providing for the extensions of additional third lines between additional pads and the central station to provide first and second binary indications from each of such additional pads to the central station in response to interrogations by the central station to the individual ones of such additional pads without affecting the provision of the first and second binary indications from the pads in the plurality to the central station and without affecting the provision of the indications from the central station to the pads in the plurality of the vehicles addressed by such pads in the plurality and to provide such binary indications at the instant that such extensions of the additional third lines are provided between the additional pads and the central station. 74. In combination for use in a system including a central station and a plurality of vehicles and a plurality of pads each operable to provide first binary indications providing an address to any individual one of the vehicles and second binary indications providing commands for operating the individual one of the vehicles and each operable to provide the first and second binary indications to the central station for the transmission by the central station to the vehicles of signals representing the first and second binary indications from each of the pads, a first line extending between the central station and the pads in the plurality to provide an interrogation of such pads of the first and second binary indications from such pads, a plurality of second lines each extending between the central station and an individual one of the pads for providing clock signals to the individual one of the pads for controlling the time of the interrogation of such individual one of the pads by the central station, and a plurality of third lines each extending between the central station and an individual one of the pads for providing the first and second binary indications from the individual one of the pads to the central station in response to the interrogation by the central station to the individual one of the pads, the extensions of the third lines between the central station and the pads providing for the extensions of additional third lines between additional pads and the central station to provide first and second binary indications from each of such additional pads to the central station in response to interrogations by the central station to the individual ones of such additional pads without affecting the provision of the first and second binary indications from the pads in the plurality to the central station and without affecting the provision of the indications from the central station to the pads in the plurality of the vehicles addressed by such pads in the plurality and to provide such binary indications at the instant that such extensions of the additional third lines are provided between the additional pads and the central station. 75. In combination for use in a system including a central station and a plurality of vehicles and a pad operable to provide first binary indications providing an address to any individual one of the vehicles and second binary indications providing commands for operating the individual one of the vehicles and operable to provide the first and second indications to the central station for the transmission by the central station to the vehicles of signals representing the first and second binary indications from the pad, a first line extending between the central station and the pad to provide an interrogation by the central station of such pad with respect to the first and second binary indications in such pad, a second line extending between the central station and the pad for providing clock signals to the individual one of the pads from the central station for controlling the time of the interrogation of such pad by the central station, a third line extending between the central station and the pad for providing the first and second binary indications from the pad to the central station in response to the interrogation by the central station to the pad, first means for storing the first and second binary indications in the pad, and second means associated with the second and third lines for providing a transfer of the binary indications in the first means to the third line in synchronism with the clock signals on the second line when an interrogation of such pad is provided on the first line. 76. In a combination as set forth in claim 75 wherein the first means stores the first and second binary indications in the pad in a parallel form and the second means transfers the binary indications in the first means to the third line in a serial form. 77. In a combination as set forth in claim 75 wherein the first line provides a first voltage to provide an interrogation of the first and second binary indications in such pad in synchronism with the clock signals on the second line and wherein the central station provides through the first line to the pad signals identifying the vehicle selected by the pad and wherein the central station provides such identifying signals to the pad in synchronism with the clock signals on the second line during the time that a second voltage different from the first voltage is produced on the first line. 78. In combination as set forth in claim 77, the pad providing a plurality of lights each indicating, when illuminated, the addressing of an individual one of the vehicles by the pad and wherein means are provided for illuminating a particular one of the lights in accordance with the signals passing through the third line from the central station to the pad. 79. In combination for use in a system including a central station and a plurality of vehicles and a pad manually operable to provide first binary indications providing an address to any individual one of the vehicles and second binary indications providing commands for operating the individual one of the vehicles and operable to provide the first and second binary indications to the central station for the transmission by the central station to the vehicles of the first and second binary indications from the pad, a first line extending between the central station and the pad and having a first voltage at first particular times and having a second voltage at second particular times different from the first particular times, a second line extending between the central station and the pad to provide a transfer of information between the central station and the pad, first means for interrogating the pad to determine the pattern of the first and second binary indications in the pad when the first line has the first voltage, second means operative during the production of the first voltage on the first line for passing the first and second binary indications in the pad to the central station for the transmission to the vehicles by the central station of signals representing such first and second binary indications, and third means operative during the production of the second voltage on the first line for transmitting to the pad through the second line from the central station signals identifying an individual one of the vehicles addressed by the first binary indications from the pad. 80. In a combination as set forth in claim 79, there being in the pad a plurality of lights each indicating, when illuminated, an individual one of the vehicles addressed by the pad, and means responsive to the signals passing through the second line from the central station to the pad during the production of the second voltage on the first line for illuminating the light identifying the individual one of the vehicles addressed by the first binary indications from the pad. 81. In combination for use with a plurality of vehicles each having an individual address and each operable when receiving the individual address, a central station, a plurality of pads each operable to address any individual one of the vehicles and each providing commands to operate the individual one the vehicles, each of the pads being connected to the central station for receiving power from the central station to provide first binary indications addressing any individual one of the vehicles and second binary indications providing commands for operating the vehicles, first means in the central station for interrogating each of the pads, separately from the interrogations of the other pads, to determine the first and second binary indications from the pad, second means in the pads for transmitting the first and second binary indications from the pads to the central station upon the interrogation of the pads by the central station, third means in the central station for transmitting to the vehicles the first and second binary indications determined from each of the pads, the central station and the pads being constructed to provide for a disconnection of any particular one of the pads from the central station and to provide for an addressing by any of the pads other than the disconnected pad of the vehicle previously being addressed by the disconnected pad, the first means being operative to interrogate the other pads, without any interrogation of the particular one of the pads, instantaneously after the disconnection of the particular one of the pads from the central station, the second means in the pads being operative to transmit the first and second binary indications from the other pads to the central station, without any transmission of any indications from the particular one of the pads to the central station, instantaneously after the disconnection of the particular one of the pads from the central station, the third means in the central station being operative to transmit the first and second binary indications from the other pads to the vehicles, without any transmission by the third means of binary indications from the particular one of the pads to the vehicles, instantaneously after the disconnection of the particular one of the pads from the central station, and fourth means responsive in the central station instantaneously to the disconnection of the particular one of the pads from the central station for freeing the vehicle addressed by the particular one of the pads to receive from the central station first binary indications provided by any one of the pads other than the disconnected pad and representing the address of such vehicle and second binary indications provided by such one of the pads and representing commands to such vehicle and for freeing the vehicle to be operated in accordance with such second binary indications. 82. In a combination as set forth in claim 81, the first means being operative to interrogate the pads in the plurality on a cyclic basis before the disconnection of the particular one of the pads from the central station and to interrogate the pads in the plurality, other than the particular one of the pads, on the cyclic basis instantaneously after the disconnection of the particular one of the pads from the central station. 83. In a combination as set forth in claim 81, the first means being operative to interrogate the pads in the plurality simultaneously before the disconnection of the particular one of the pads from the central station and to interrogate the pads in the plurality, other than the particular one of the pads, simultaneously and instantaneously after the disconnection of the particular one of the pads from the central station. 84. In a combination as set forth in claim 81, fifth means in each of the pads for providing for an illuminated indication in such pad of the individual one of the vehicles addressed by such pad, and sixth means in each of the vehicles for providing in such vehicle an illumination indicating the addressing of such vehicle, seventh means in the central station for discontinuing the illumination of vehicle addressed by the particular one of the pads when the particular one of the pads is disconnected from the central station, and eighth means in the central station for discontinuing the illuminated indication in the particular one of the pads of the vehicle addressed by the particular one of the pads when the particular one of the pads is disconnected from the central station. 85. In combination for use with a plurality of vehicles each having an individual address and each operable when receiving the individual address, a central station, a plurality of pads each operable to address any individual one of the vehicles and each providing commands to operate the individual one of the vehicles, each of the pads being connected to the central station for receiving power from the central station to provide first binary indications addressing any individual one of the vehicles and second binary indications providing commands for operating the individual one of the vehicles, first means in the central station for interrogating each of the pads, separately from the interrogations of the other pads, to determine the first and second binary indications from such pad, second means in the pads for transmitting the first and second binary indications from the pads to the central station upon the interrogation of the pads by the central station, third means in the central station for transmitting to the vehicles signals representing the first and second binary indications determined from each of the pads, the central station and the pads being constructed to provide for the connection of an additional pad to the central station, the first means in the central station being operative to interrogate the pads in the plurality and the additional pad instantaneously after the connection of the additional pad to the central station, the second means in the pads being operative to transmit the first and second binary indications from the pads in the plurality and the additional pad to the central station instantaneously after the connection of the additional pad to the central station, and the third means in the central station being operative to transmit signals representing the first and second binary indications from the pads in the plurality and the additional pad to the vehicles in the plurality instantaneously after the connection of the additional pad to the central station. 86. In a combination as set forth in claim 85, the first means being operative to interrogate the pads in the plurality on a cyclic basis before the connection of the additional pad to the central station and to interrogate the pads in the plurality and the additional pad on the cyclic basis instantaneously after the connection of the additional pad to the central station. 87. In a combination as set forth in claim 85, the first means being operative to interrogate the pads in the plurality simultaneously before the connection of the additional pad to the central station and to interrogate simultaneously the pads in the plurality and the additional pad instantaneously after the connection of the additional pad to the central station. 88. In a combination as set forth in claim 85, fourth means in each of the pads for providing for an illuminated indication in such pad of any individual one of the vehicles addressed by such pad, fifth means in the central station for providing in such pad an illumination indicating any individual one of the vehicles addressed by such pad, the fifth means in the central station being operative to continue the illumination of the vehicles addressed by the pads in the plurality and to provide an illumination of the vehicle addressed by the additional pad instantaneously after the additional pad is connected to the central station. 89. In a combination as set forth in claim 1, the pads in the plurality being connected to the central station, and means in the central station for discontinuing the operation of the vehicle by the individual one of the pads instantaneously after the individual one of the pads is disconnected from the central station and for providing for the addressing of the vehicle by any one of the pads still connected to the central station. 90. In a combination as set forth in claim 5, the pads in the plurality being connected to the central station, and means in the central station for providing for the operation of the individual one of the vehicles by any one of the pads still connected to the central station instantaneously after the individual one of the pads is disconnected from the central station. 91. In a combination as set forth in claim 60, the central station providing indications, through the third line for each of the pads, to such pad of the individual one of the vehicles addressed by such pad, and means in each of the pads for indicating the individual one of the vehicles addressed by such pad in accordance with the indications provided by the central station to such pad through the third line for such pad. 92. In a combination as set forth in claim 69, a plurality of lights in each of the pads, each of such lights providing an indication, when illuminated, of an individual one of the vehicles addressed by the pad, and means for illuminating an individual one of the lights in each of the pads in accordance with the indication from the central station to such pad of the vehicle addressed by such pad. 93. In combination for use with a plurality of vehicles, a plurality of pads each operative to provide a first plurality of binary indications addressing any individual one of the vehicles and to provide a second plurality of binary indications providing commands to such individual one of the vehicles for operating such vehicle, a central station, the pads in the plurality being connected to the central station, first means in the central station for interrogating the pads to determine the first and second binary indications from such pads, second means in the pads for transmitting the first and second binary indications from the pads to the central station, and third means responsive in the central station to the identities of the first binary indications in successive transmissions of the first and second binary indications from each individual one of the pads to the central station for transmitting to the vehicles signals representing the first and second binary indications for such pad, fourth means in the central station for providing a transmittal by the second means at each instant only of the second binary indications from the pads which are providing changes in address or commands at that instant. 94. In a combination as set forth in claim 93, an additional pad being connected to the central station, and fifth means in the central station for providing for an addressing by the additional pad of any of the vehicles not being addressed by the pads in the plurality and for providing for a transmission by the third means of the signals representing the first and second binary indications for the additional pad to the vehicles in the plurality instantaneously after the additional pad is connected to the central station. 95. In a combination as set forth in claim 93, the first means in the central station being operative to interrogate the pads on a cyclic basis to obtain the binary indications from each of the pads, on the cyclic basis with the other pads, of the individual one of the vehicles addressed by such pad and the binary indications for providing commands for operating the individual one of the vehicles. 96. In a combination as set forth in claim 93, the first means in the central station being operative to simultaneously interrogate the pads to obtain simultaneously from the pads the first binary indications providing the addresses for the individual ones of the vehicles and the second binary indications providing the commands for operating the individual ones of the vehicles. 97. In combination for operating a vehicle in accordance with addresses and commands provided by a plurality of pads and transmitted by a central station to the vehicle, first means in the vehicle for receiving the addresses and commands provided by the pads and transmitted by the central station, second means in the vehicle for identifying the received addresses as those of the vehicle, third means responsive in the central station to the identification of the addresses received from the pads as those of the vehicle for providing for an execution of the received commands by the vehicle in accordance with such commands when the identified commands are complementary, and fourth means responsive in the central station to the identification of the addresses received from the pads as those of the vehicle for providing for an execution by the vehicle of commands different from the commands provided by the pads when the commands are contradictory. 98. In a combination as set forth in claim 97, fifth means responsive in the vehicle to the discontinuance of one of the pads in the plurality in addressing the vehicle for continuing the response of the vehicle to the addresses and commands from the pads still addressing the vehicle. 99. In a combination as set forth in claim 18, the first means being operative to interrogate the pads in the plurality and the additional pad on a cyclic basis, the second means being responsive on the cyclic basis to the interrogation provided by the first means of the pads in the plurality and the additional pad for sending the addresses and commands to the addressed vehicles to obtain an operation of such vehicles in accordance with such commands. 100. In a combination as provided in claim 18, the first means being operative to interrogate the pads in the plurality and the additional pad simultaneously, the second means being responsive to the simultaneous interrogation provided by the first means of the pads in the plurality and the additional pad for sending the addresses and commands to the addressed vehicles to obtain an operation of such vehicles in accordance with such commands. 101. In combination for use in a system including a plurality of vehicles each responsive to an individual address and to a plurality of commands for providing individual operations of vehicles in accordance with such commands, a plurality of pads each operative to provide an address for selecting any individual one of the vehicles and to provide commands to such individual one of the vehicles for operating such individual one of the vehicles in accordance with such commands, a central station the pads being connected to the central station, first means in the central station for interrogating the pads to determine the address and the commands provided by such pads, second means responsive in the central station to the interrogation provided by the first means in the central station concerning the address and the commands from each pad for receiving the address and the commands from such pad and for transmitting to the vehicles signals representing the address and the commands from such pad, and third means responsive in the central station to any change in the address or commands from an individual one of the pads for transmitting the address and the commands from such pad to the vehicles in the plurality on a priority basis relative to the address and commands from the other pads in the plurality. 102. In a combination as set forth in claim 101 wherein the central station discontinues an interrogation of any pad which is disconnected from the central station instantaneously after the pad is disconnected from the central station and wherein the central station provides for the addressing by any of the pads still connected to the central station of the vehicle previously addressed by the disconnected pad. 103. In a combination as set forth in claim 101 wherein the central station transmits the address and commands from the individual one of the pads in the plurality to the vehicles in the plurality only when the central station has completed the transmission to the vehicles in the plurality of the address and commands of the pad whose address and commands the central station has been transmitting at the time that the central station receives the change in the address and the commands from the individual one of the pads in the plurality. 104. In combination for use in a system including a plurality of vehicles each responsive to an individual address and to a plurality of commands for providing individual operations of vehicles in accordance with such commands, a plurality of pads each operative to provide an address for selecting any individual one of the vehicles and to provide commands to such individual one of the vehicles for operating such individual one of the vehicles in accordance with such commands, a central station the pads being-connected to the central station, first means in the central station for interrogating the pads to determine the address and the commands provided by such pads, second means responsive in the central station to the interrogation provided by the first means in the central station concerning the address and the commands from such pads for receiving the address and the commands from such pads and for transmitting the address and the commands from such pads to the vehicles in the plurality, and third means responsive in the central station to the connection of an additional pad, other than the pads in the plurality, to the central station and to the reception by the central station of the address and commands from such additional pad for initially transmitting such address and commands from such additional pad on a priority basis relative to the transmission of the address and commands from the pads in the plurality. 105. In a combination as set forth in claim 104 wherein the central station is operative to transmit to the vehicles at each instant only the addresses and commands from the pads which are providing changes in addresses or commands at that instant. 106. In a combination as set forth in claim 104 wherein the central station transmits the address and commands from the additional pad to the vehicles in the plurality only when the central station has completed the transmission to the vehicles in the plurality of the address and commands of the pad in the plurality whose address and commands the central station has been transmitting to the vehicles at the time that the central station receives the address and the commands from the additional pad. 107. In combination for use in a system including a plurality of vehicles each responsive to an individual address and to a plurality of commands for providing individual operations of the vehicles in accordance with such commands, a plurality of pads each operative to provide an address for selecting any individual one of the vehicles and to provide commands to such individual one of the vehicles for operating such individual one of the vehicles in accordance with such commands, a central station, the pads being connected to the central station, first means in the central station for interrogating the pads to determine the address and the commands provided by such pads, second means responsive in the pads to the interrogation by the central station for transmitting the address and the commands from the pads to the central station, third means in the central station for receiving the addresses and the commands transmitted by the pads to the central station, and fourth means in the central station for transmitting to the vehicles in the plurality only the address and commands transmitted from each pad to the central station that are different from the immediately preceding address or commands transmitted from such pad to the central station. 108. In a combination as set forth in the claim 107, the first means in the central station being operative to interrogate the pads simultaneously and the pads being operative to transmit the addresses and the commands from such pads to the central station when interrogated. 109. In combination for use in a system including a plurality of vehicles each responsive to an individual address and to a plurality of commands for providing individual operations of the vehicles in accordance with such commands, a plurality of pads each operative to provide an address for selecting any individual one of the vehicles and to provide commands to such individual one of the vehicles for operating such individual one of the vehicles in accordance with such commands, a central station, the pads being connected to the central station, a plurality of first switches each included in an individual one of the pads and having first and second states of operation and operative in the first state a successive number of times to address any individual one of the vehicles, each of the pads including a plurality of lights each indicating an individual one of the vehicles when illuminated, first means in the central station for remembering at each instant the individual ones of the vehicles being addressed by the pads at that instant, a plurality of second switches each having first and second operative relationships and each disposed in an individual one of the pads and each operative in the first relationship to provide for the addressing of only one of the vehicles by such individual one of the pads and operative in the second relationship to provide for the addressing by any other one of the pads of the vehicle simultaneously being addressed by such individual one of the pads, second means responsive in each of the pads to the operation of the first means in the central station and to the operation of the second switch in each pad in the first relationship for skipping over the lights representing in such pad the vehicles being addressed by the other pads when the first switch in such pad receives successive actuations to the first state of operation, and third means responsive in the other one of the pads to the operation of the first means in the central station and to the operation of the second switch in the individual one of the pads in the second relationship for including, in the sequence of lights in such other one of the pads, the light in the vehicle addressed by such individual in the pads in the second state of operation of the second switch in such individual one of the pads even when such vehicle is simultaneously being addressed by another one of the pads. 110. In a combination as set forth in claim 109, means in the central station for transmitting the address and commands from the individual one of the pads and the other one of the pads to the vehicle addressed by such individual one of the pads when the second switch in the individual one of the pads is in the second state of operation. 111. In combination, a plurality of vehicles each having an individual address, a plurality of pads each operative to provide an address for selecting any individual one of the vehicles and to provide commands to such individual one of the vehicles for operating such individual one of the vehicles in accordance with such commands, a central station, the pads being connected to the central station, each of the pads being operative to transmit the address and the commands from such pad to the central station for transmission by the central station to the vehicles, each individual one of the vehicles having a light for illumination when such vehicle is addressed and commanded by the central station as a result of the address and commands from an individual one of the pads, first means in the central station for storing the addressing by each individual one of the pads of the individual one of the vehicles, second means in the central station for communicating a command to the individual one of the vehicles to extinguish the light in such vehicle instantaneously after the individual one of the pads providing the address and the commands to such individual one of the vehicles becomes disconnected from the central station, and third means in each individual one of the vehicles for extinguishing the light in such individual one of the vehicles in accordance with the communication from the central station. 112. In a combination as set forth in claim 111, fourth means in the central station for eliminating the storage of the addressing by each individual one of the pads of the individual one of the vehicles instantaneously after such individual one of the pads becomes disconnected from the central station. 113. In a combination as set forth in claim 112 fifth means in the central station for interrogating the pads connected to the central station to determine the address and the commands from such pad to the vehicles, sixth means for receiving in the vehicles from the central station the address and the commands provided by each of the pads upon the interrogation of such pad by the central station, and seventh means in the central station for eliminating one of the pads from the interrogation by the central station instantaneously after such pad becomes disconnected from the central station, without affecting the interrogation of the other pads by the central station and for providing for the addressing by any of the other pads of the vehicle previously addressed by the disconnected pad. 114. In combination for use with a plurality of pads each operative to provide an address and commands and a central station for transmitting at a particular frequency a carrier signal modulated with the addresses and commands from the pads, a vehicle, means in the vehicle for receiving from the central station the carrier signals modulated with the address individual to such vehicle, means for powering the vehicle in accordance with the reception by such vehicle of the modulated carrier signals individual to such vehicle, means in the vehicle for demodulating the modulated carrier signals to recover the commands individual to such vehicle, the vehicle including wheels for moving the vehicle and including motors for rotating the wheels, means in the receiving means for providing pulse width modulations for energizing the motors in the vehicle to move the vehicle, successive ones of the pulse width modulations providing progressive increments of time in the pulse widths for energizing the motors to accelerate the vehicle, and means in the receiving means for energizing the motors with the successive ones of the pulse width modulations for the progressive increments of time in the pulse widths to accelerate the motors. 115. In a combination as set forth in claim 114, the widths of the pulse widths being progressively incremented for the progressive increments of time from a zero time in the pulse widths to accelerate the motors in the vehicle. 116. In combination, a plurality of vehicles each responsive to an individual address provided to such vehicle and each operative in accordance with commands provided to such vehicle after the reception by such vehicle of such individual address, a plurality of pads each operative to provide addresses individual to any one of such vehicles and to provide commands for operating such vehicle, a central station operatively coupled to the pads for receiving the addresses and the commands from the pads and for transmitting to the vehicles addresses and commands in packets each composed of a plurality of binary indications representing the address and the commands for any individual one of the vehicles and each having start bits at the beginning of the packet and having the address and commands following the start bits with no time separation between successive ones of the packets, means in the central station for transmitting the packets of the binary indications to the vehicles, means in the vehicles for receiving the packets of the binary indications transmitted by the central station, means responsive in each of the vehicles to the address individual to such vehicle for operating the vehicle in accordance with the commands following such address, and means in the central station for regulating the rate of transmitting the bits in the packets to the vehicles in accordance with the time between the start bits in the successive packets of the binary information. 117. In a combination as set forth in claim 116, each of the vehicles having wheels, each of the vehicles having an operating member different from the wheels, and each of the packets including first commands for providing for a rotation of the wheels in an individual one of the vehicles in accordance with the binary indications representing in such packet such individual one of the vehicles and including second commands for providing an operation of the member in such individual one of the packets, means in each of the vehicles for rotating the wheels in such vehicle in accordance with the first commands in the packets addressed to such vehicle, and means in each of the vehicles for operating the operating member in such vehicle in accordance with the second commands in the packets addressed to such vehicle. 118. In a combination as set forth in claim 60, the third lines providing the first and second binary indications when the clock signals on the third lines have the other one of the first and second polarities. 119. In a combination as set forth in claim 97, a memory in the vehicle for storing the contradictory commands and for storing a special command to be executed by the vehicle when the commands provided by the pads are contradictory, and means responsive in the vehicle to the special command in the memory for providing an execution by the vehicle of the special command when the commands in the vehicle are contradictory. 120. In a combination as set forth in claim 101 wherein the central station initiates an interrogation of any pad which is connected to the central station, instantaneously after the pad is connected to the central station, to determine if the pad has addressed any one of the vehicles not then being addressed by any of the other pads. 121. In combination for use in a system including a plurality of vehicles each responsive to an individual address and to a plurality of commands for providing individual operations of such vehicles in accordance with such commands, a plurality of pads, each individual one of the pads including a plurality of switches having first and second states of operation for providing an address to select any individual one of the vehicles and for providing commands to such individual one of the vehicles for operating such individual one of the vehicles in accordance with such commands, a central station, the pads being connected to the central station for interrogation simultaneously by the central station concerning the states of operation of the switches in the pads, first means responsive in the pads to the simultaneous interrogation by the central station of the states of operation of the switches in the pads for transmitting to the central station binary indications of such states of operation, and second means responsive in the central station to the binary indications of the states of operation of the switches in the pads for transmitting to the vehicles signals representing such binary indications. 122. In a combination as set forth in claim 121, the first means being responsive in the pads to the simultaneous interrogations by the central station of the states of operation of the switches in the pads for simultaneously transmitting to the central station the binary indications of the states of operation of the switches in the pads in the plurality. 123. In a combination as set forth in claim 121, the second means being responsive in the central station to the simultaneous transmission to the central station of the binary indications of the states of operation of the switches in the pads in the plurality for transmitting to the vehicles in sequence the signals representing such binary indications for the different pads in the plurality. 124. In combination at a central station for controlling the operation of a plurality of vehicles in accordance with the addressing of the vehicles by pads in a plurality and in accordance with the operation in the pads of controls to obtain the performance of functions in the vehicles, first means for simultaneously interrogating the pads in the plurality to determine from the pads the addressing of the vehicles and the functions to be performed in the addressed vehicles, second means for receiving from the pads binary indications of the vehicles addressed by the pads and the functions to be performed in the addressed vehicles, third means responsive to the binary indications from the pads for providing signals representing the binary indications, and fourth means for transmitting to the vehicles the signals representing the binary indications from the pads. 125. In a combination as set forth in claim 124, the third means being simultaneously responsive to the binary indications from the pads in the plurality to simultaneously provide the signals representing the binary indications. 126. In a combination as set forth in claim 125, the fourth means being operative to transmit in sequence to the vehicles in the plurality the signals representing the binary indications from each individual one of the pads.