Patent Publication Number: US-2017351331-A1

Title: Systems and Methods for Haptic Remote Control Gaming

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/967,499, filed Dec. 14, 2015, entitled “Systems and Methods for Haptic Remote Control Gaming” which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/826,391 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,245,428), filed Mar. 14, 2013, entitled “Systems and Methods for Haptic Remote Control Gaming” which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/678,908, filed Aug. 2, 2012, entitled “Method and Apparatus for a Haptic Cat,” and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/679,382, filed Aug. 3, 2012, entitled “Method and Apparatus for a Haptic Cat,” the entirety of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for haptic remote control gaming. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A remotely controllable device is typically connected with a remote control through a wireless connection so that an operator can stand in one place and remotely control the operation of the remotely controllable device using the remote control. Some remotely controllable devices include a camera and video data from the camera can be transmitted to the remote control through the wireless connection so that the operator can view the video data on a display associated with the remote control. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments provide systems and methods for haptic remote control gaming systems. For example, one disclosed method comprises receiving, by a portable multifunction device, information from a remotely controllable device, the portable multifunction device being operable as a remote control for the remotely controllable device; determining, by the portable multifunction device, a haptic effect based at least in part on the received information; generating, by the portable multifunction device, a signal configured to cause an actuator to output the haptic effect; and outputting, by the first portable multifunction device, the signal. In another embodiment, a computer readable medium comprises program code for causing a processor to perform such a method. 
     These illustrative embodiments are mentioned not to limit or define the invention, but rather to provide examples to aid understanding thereof. Illustrative embodiments are discussed in the Detailed Description, which provides further description of the invention. Advantages offered by various embodiments of this invention may be further understood by examining this specification. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more examples of embodiments and, together with the description of example embodiments, serve to explain the principles and implementations of the embodiments. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a system depicting a remotely controllable device and a remote control in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a remote control for haptic remote control gaming in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a remotely controllable device for haptic remote control gaming in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a system depicting illustrative devices for haptic remote control gaming in an illustrative computing environment in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a system depicting illustrative devices for haptic remote control gaming in an illustrative computing environment in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a flow chart directed to a method of generating haptic effects in accordance with an embodiment; and 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a flow chart directed to a method of generating haptic effects in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Example embodiments are described herein in the context of systems and methods for haptic remote control gaming. Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following description is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. Reference will now be made in detail to implementations of example embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same reference indicators will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or like items. 
     In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of the implementations described herein are shown and described. It will, of course, be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made in order to achieve the developer&#39;s specific goals, such as compliance with application-and business-related constraints, and that these specific goals will vary from one implementation to another and from one developer to another. 
     Illustrative System for Haptic Remote Control Gaming 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 1  shows an illustrative embodiment of a system  100  for haptic remote control gaming. This illustrative system includes a remote control  110  and a remotely controllable device  120 . The remote control  110  is configured to wirelessly control the remotely controllable device. In this embodiment, the remote control  110  is a smartphone that is running a remote control application and the remotely controllable device  120  is a remote-controlled car (or “RC” car). The smartphone displays a number of objects to allow the user to control the RC car, including a throttle, a simulated joystick to turn the car, and a brake pedal. To drive the RC car, the user can touch the throttle and drag it forward or backward to speed up or slow down the RC car. In addition, the user can drag the joystick left or right to turn the RC car, and can press the brake pedal to slow and stop the RC car. 
     In addition to being able to control the RC car, the smartphone can also receive information from the RC car. For example, in this embodiment, the RC car has multiple collision sensors on it to sense when it collides with an obstacle. It also has a sensor on its roof to sense when the car has rolled over and is no longer drivable. The RC car has a processor that receives signals from the sensors and then is able to use a transmitter also in the RC car to transmit the sensor information back to the smartphone. The smartphone receives the information from the RC car and can output haptic effects to indicate collisions or roll-overs to the user. Thus, the user experiences a more immersive experience when driving the car: the user can feel impacts with obstacles via haptic effects, and can be notified of error conditions, such as when the car has rolled over and needs to be flipped back onto its wheels. 
     This illustrative example is given to introduce the reader to the general subject matter discussed herein. The disclosure is not limited to this example. The following sections describe various additional non-limiting embodiments and examples of devices, systems, and methods for haptic remote control gaming. 
     Illustrative Remote Control 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 2  illustrates a remote control  200  for haptic remote control gaming in accordance with one embodiment. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the remote control  200  comprises a housing  205 , a processor  210 , a memory  220 , a touch-sensitive display  230 , a haptic output device  240 , a communication interface  250 , and a speaker  270 . In addition, the remote control  200  is in communication with haptic output device  260 , which may be optionally coupled to or incorporated into some embodiments. The processor  210  is in communication with the memory  220  and, in this embodiment, both the processor  210  and the memory  220  are disposed within the housing  205 . The touch-sensitive display  230 , which comprises or is in communication with a touch-sensitive surface, is partially disposed within the housing  205  such that at least a portion of the touch-sensitive display  230  is exposed to a user of the remote control  200 . In some embodiments, the touch-sensitive display  230  may not be disposed within the housing  205 . For example, the remote control  200  may be connected to or otherwise in communication with a touch-sensitive display  230  disposed within a separate housing. In some embodiment, the housing  205  may comprise two housings that may be slidably coupled to each other, pivotably coupled to each other or releasably coupled to each other. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the touch-sensitive display  230  is in communication with the processor  210  and is configured to provide signals to the processor  210  or the memory  220  and to receive signals from the processor  210  or memory  220 . The memory  220  is configured to store program code or data, or both, for use by the processor  210 , which is configured to execute program code stored in memory  220  and to transmit signals to and receive signals from the touch-sensitive display  230 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the processor  210  is also in communication with the communication interface  250  and is configured to receive signals from the communication interface  250  and to output signals to the communication interface  250  to communicate with other components or devices such as one or more remotely controllable devices. In addition, the processor  210  is in communication with haptic output device  240  and haptic output device  260 . and is further configured to output signals to cause haptic output device  240  or haptic output device  260 , or both, to output one or more haptic effects. Furthermore, the processor  210  is in communication with speaker  270  and is configured to output signals to cause speaker  270  to output sounds. In various embodiments, the remote control  200  may comprise or be in communication with fewer or additional components or devices. For example, other user input devices such as a mouse or a keyboard, or both, may be comprised within the remote control  200  or be in communication with the remote control  200 . As another example, remote control  200  may comprise and/or be in communication with one or more accelerometers, gyroscopes, digital compasses, and/or other sensors. A detailed description of the components of the remote control  200  shown in  FIG. 2  and components that may be in association with the remote control  200  are described herein. 
     The remote control  200  can be any device that is capable of receiving user input and communicating with a remotely controllable device. For example, the remote control  200  in  FIG. 2  includes a touch-sensitive display  230  that comprises a touch-sensitive surface. In some embodiments, a touch-sensitive surface may be overlaid on the touch-sensitive display  230 . In other embodiments, the remote control  200  may comprise or be in communication with a display and a separate touch-sensitive surface. In still other embodiments, the remote control  200  may comprise or be in communication with a display and may comprise or be in communication with other user input devices, such as a mouse, a keyboard, buttons, knobs, slider controls, switches, wheels, rollers, joysticks, other manipulanda, or a combination thereof. 
     In some embodiments, one or more touch-sensitive surfaces may be included on or disposed within one or more sides of the remote control  200 . For example, in one embodiment, a touch-sensitive surface is disposed within or comprises a rear surface of the remote control  200 . In another embodiment, a first touch-sensitive surface is disposed within or comprises a rear surface of the remote control  200  and a second touch-sensitive surface is disposed within or comprises a side surface of the remote control  200 . In some embodiments, the remote control device may comprise two or more housing components, such as in a clamshell arrangement or in a slideable arrangement. For example, one embodiment comprises a remote control device having a clamshell configuration with a touch-sensitive display disposed in each of the portions of the clamshell. Furthermore, in embodiments where the remote control  200  comprises at least one touch-sensitive surface on one or more sides of the remote control  200  or in embodiments where the remote control  200  is in communication with an external touch-sensitive surface, the display  230  may or may not comprise a touch-sensitive surface. In some embodiments, one or more touch-sensitive surfaces may have a flexible touch-sensitive surface. In other embodiments, one or more touch-sensitive surfaces may be rigid. In various embodiments, the remote control  200  may comprise both flexible and rigid touch-sensitive surfaces. 
     In various embodiments, the remote control  200  may comprise or be in communication with fewer or additional components than the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . For example, in one embodiment, the remote control  200  does not comprise a speaker  270 . In another embodiment, the remote control  200  does not comprise a touch-sensitive display  230 , but comprises a touch-sensitive surface and is in communication with a display. In other embodiments, the remote control  200  may not comprise or be in communication with a haptic output device  240 ,  260  at all. Thus, in various embodiments, the remote control  200  may comprise or be in communication with any number of components, such as in the various embodiments disclosed herein as well as variations that would be apparent to one of skill in the art. 
     The housing  205  of the remote control  200  shown in  FIG. 2  provides protection for at least some of the components remote control  200 . For example, the housing  205  may be a plastic casing that protects the processor  210  and memory  220  from foreign articles such as rain. In some embodiments, the housing  205  protects the components in the housing  205  from damage if the remote control  200  is dropped by a user. The housing  205  can be made of any suitable material including but not limited to plastics, rubbers, or metals. Various embodiments may comprise different types of housings or a plurality of housings. For example, in some embodiments, the remote control  200  may be a portable device, handheld device, toy, gaming console, handheld video game system, gamepad, game controller, desktop computer, portable multifunction device such as a cell phone, smartphone, personal digital assistant (PDA), laptop, tablet computer, digital music player, etc. In other embodiments, the remote control  200  may be embedded in another device such as a wrist watch, other jewelry, gloves, etc. Thus, in embodiments, the remote control  200  is wearable. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the touch-sensitive display  230  provides a mechanism to allow a user to interact with the remote control  200 . For example, the touch-sensitive display  230  detects the location or pressure, or both, of a user&#39;s finger in response to a user hovering over, touching, or pressing the touch-sensitive display  230  (all of which may be referred to as a contact in this disclosure). In one embodiment, a contact can occur through the use of a camera. For example, a camera may be used to track a viewer&#39;s eye movements as the user views the content displayed on the display  230  of the remote control  200 , or the user&#39;s eye movements may be used to transmit commands to the remotely controlled device, such as to change direction or to aim a weapon at a target. In this embodiment, haptic effects may be triggered based at least in part on the viewer&#39;s eye movements. For example, a haptic effect may be output when a determination is made that the viewer is viewing content at a particular location of the display  230 . In some embodiments, the touch-sensitive display  230  may comprise, be connected with, or otherwise be in communication with one or more sensors that determine the location, pressure, a size of a contact patch, or any of these, of one or more contacts on the touch-sensitive display  230 . For example, in one embodiment, the touch-sensitive display  230  comprises or is in communication with a mutual capacitance system. In another embodiment, the touch-sensitive display  230  comprises or is in communication with an absolute capacitance system. In some embodiments, the touch-sensitive display  230  may comprise or be in communication with a resistive panel, a capacitive panel, infrared LEDs, photodetectors, image sensors, optical cameras, or a combination thereof. Thus, the touch-sensitive display  230  may incorporate any suitable technology to determine a contact on a touch-sensitive surface such as, for example, resistive, capacitive, infrared, optical, thermal, dispersive signal, or acoustic pulse technologies, or a combination thereof. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , haptic output devices  240  and  260  are in communication with the processor  210  and are configured to provide one or more haptic effects. For example, in one embodiment, when an actuation signal is provided to haptic output device  240 , haptic output device  260 , or both, by the processor  210 , the respective haptic output device(s)  240 ,  260  outputs a haptic effect based on the actuation signal. For example, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the processor  210  is configured to transmit a haptic output signal to haptic output device  240  comprising an analog drive signal. However, the processor  210  is configured to transmit a command to haptic output device  260 , wherein the command includes parameters to be used to generate an appropriate drive signal to cause the haptic output device  260  to output the haptic effect. In other embodiments, different signals and different signal types may be sent to each of one or more haptic output devices. For example, in some embodiments, a processor may transmit low-level drive signals to drive a haptic output device to output a haptic effect. Such a drive signal may be amplified by an amplifier or may be converted from a digital to an analog signal, or from an analog to a digital signal using suitable processors or circuitry to accommodate the particular haptic output device being driven. 
     A haptic output device, such as haptic output devices  240  or  260 , can be any component or collection of components that is capable of outputting one or more haptic effects. For example, a haptic output device can be one of various types including, but not limited to, an eccentric rotational mass (ERM) actuator, a linear resonant actuator (LRA), a piezoelectric actuator, a voice coil actuator, an electro-active polymer (EAP) actuator, a memory shape alloy, a pager, a DC motor, an AC motor, a moving magnet actuator, an E-core actuator, a smartgel, an electrostatic actuator, an electrotactile actuator, a deformable surface, an electrostatic friction (ESF) device, an ultrasonic friction (USF) device, or any other haptic output device or collection of components that perform the functions of a haptic output device or that are capable of outputting a haptic effect. Multiple haptic output devices or different-sized haptic output devices may be used to provide a range of vibrational frequencies, which may be actuated individually or simultaneously. Various embodiments may include a single or multiple haptic output devices and may have the same type or a combination of different types of haptic output devices. 
     In various embodiments, one or more haptic effects may be produced in any number of ways or in a combination of ways. For example, in one embodiment, one or more vibrations may be used to produce a haptic effect, such as by rotating an eccentric mass or by linearly oscillating a mass. In some such embodiments, the haptic effect may be configured to impart a vibration to the entire remote control or to only one surface or a limited part of the remote control. In another embodiment, friction between two or more components or friction between at least one component and at least one contact may be used to produce a haptic effect, such as by applying a brake to a moving component, such as to provide resistance to movement of a component or to provide a torque. In order to generate vibration effects, many devices utilize some type of actuator or haptic output device. Known haptic output devices used for this purpose include an electromagnetic actuator such as an Eccentric Rotating Mass (“ERM”) in which an eccentric mass is moved by a motor, a Linear Resonant Actuator (“LRA”) in which a mass attached to a spring is driven back and forth, or a “smart material” such as piezoelectric, electro-active polymers or shape memory alloys. 
     In other embodiments, deformation of one or more components can be used to produce a haptic effect. For example, one or more haptic effects may be output to change the shape of a surface or a coefficient of friction of a surface. In an embodiment, one or more haptic effects are produced by creating electrostatic forces and/or ultrasonic forces that are used to change friction on a surface. In other embodiments, an array of transparent deforming elements may be used to produce a haptic effect, such as one or more areas comprising a smartgel. Haptic output devices also broadly include non-mechanical or non-vibratory devices such as those that use electrostatic friction (ESF), ultrasonic surface friction (USF), or those that induce acoustic radiation pressure with an ultrasonic haptic transducer, or those that use a haptic substrate and a flexible or deformable surface, or those that provide projected haptic output such as a puff of air using an air jet, and so on. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/092,484 describes ways that one or more haptic effects can be produced and describes various haptic output devices. The entirety of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/092,484, filed Apr. 22, 2011, is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     In  FIG. 2 , the communication interface  250  is in communication with the processor  210  and provides wired or wireless communications, from the remote control  200  to other components or other devices. For example, the communication interface  250  may provide wireless communications between the remote control  200  and a remotely controllable device. In some embodiments, the communication interface  250  may provide communications to one or more other devices, such as another remote control  200  and/or one or more remotely controllable devices, to allow users to interact with each other at their respective devices. The communication interface  250  can be any component or collection of components that enables the remote control  200  to communicate with another component or device. For example, the communication interface  250  may comprise a PCI communication adapter, a USB network adapter, or an Ethernet adapter. The communication interface  250  may communicate using wireless Ethernet, including 802.11 a, g, b, or n standards. In one embodiment, the communication interface  250  can communicate using Radio Frequency (RF), Bluetooth, CDMA, TDMA, FDMA, GSM, WiFi, satellite, or other cellular or wireless technology. In other embodiments, the communication interface  250  may communicate through a wired connection and may be in communication with one or more networks, such as Ethernet, token ring, USB, FireWire 1394, fiber optic, etc. In some embodiments, remote control  200  comprises a single communication interface  250 . In other embodiments, remote control  200  comprises two, three, four, or more communication interfaces. Thus, in embodiments, remote control  200  can communicate with one or more remotely controllable devices through one or more communication interfaces and/or can communicate with one or more other remote controls through one or more communication interfaces. 
     Illustrative Remotely Controllable Device 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 3  illustrates a remotely controllable device  300  for haptic remote control gaming in accordance with one embodiment. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the remotely controllable device  300  comprises a housing  305 , a processor  310 , a battery  315 , a memory  320 , input and/or output devices  330 , a haptic output device  340 , and a communication interface  350 . In addition, the remotely controlled device  300  is in communication with haptic output device  360 , which may be optionally coupled to or incorporated into some embodiments. The processor  310  is in communication with the memory and, in this embodiment, both the processor  310  and the memory  320  are disposed within the housing  305 . The input and/or output device  330  shown in  FIG. 3  are disposed within the housing  305 . In some embodiments, one or more of input and/or output devices  330  may not be disposed within the housing  305 . For example, the remotely controllable device  300  may be connected to or otherwise in communication with one or more input and/or output devices  330  disposed within a separate housing. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the battery  315  provides power to various components of the remotely controllable device  300  such as processor  310 , memory  320 , I/O device(s)  330 , haptic output device  340 , communication interface  350 , haptic output device  360 , or a combination thereof. While one battery is shown in  FIG. 3 , one or more batteries may be employed. Further, in some embodiments, battery  315  may be disposed within the housing or may be otherwise connected to the remotely-controllable device. In embodiments, status information regarding one or more batteries of a remotely controllable device  300  is sent to at least one remote control and the remote control(s) can provide haptic, visual, and/or auditory cues to a user of a remote control indicating a status of a battery in the remotely controllable device  300 . For example, if a battery of a remotely controllable device  300  has a remaining power level below a specified threshold, then a remote control  200  that is in communication with remotely controllable device  300  may output a haptic effect configured to indicate that the remotely controllable device  300  needs to be charged and/or that the battery needs to be replaced. In another embodiment, a warning sound is played by the remote control  200  when the battery level of a remotely controllable device  300  is below a predetermined percentage level. In one embodiment, a percentage of remaining battery life of a remotely controllable device  300  is displayed on a display of a remote control  200 . Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the input and/or output device(s)  330  are in communication with the processor  310  and are configured to provide signals to the processor  310  or the memory  320 . The memory  320  stores program code or data, or both, for use by the processor  310  and the processor  310  executes program code stored in memory  320  and receives signals from the input and/or output devices  330 . An input and/or output device  330  can include any number of suitable devices such as a camera, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, digital compass, microphone, weapon, wind speed sensor, depth sensor, speed sensor, velocity sensor, temperature sensor, force sensor, collusion detection sensor, and/or other sensors. In various embodiments, one or more sensors can include an optical sensor, a mechanical contact sensor, a magnetic sensor, a potentiometer, and/or any other suitable sensor. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the processor  310  is in communication with the communication interface  350  and is configured to receive signals from the communication interface  350  and to output signals to the communication interface  350  to communicate with other components or devices. In addition, the processor  310  is in communication with haptic output device  340  and haptic output device  360  and is further configured to output signals to cause haptic output device  340  or haptic output device  360 , or both, to output one or more haptic effects. In various embodiments, the remotely controllable device  300  may comprise or be in communication with fewer or additional components or devices. For example, other input devices such as a camera or a microphone, or both, may be comprised within the remotely controllable device  300  or be in communication with the remotely controllable device  300 . A detailed description of the components of the remotely controllable device  300  shown in  FIG. 3  and components that may be in association with the remotely controllable device  300  are described herein. 
     The remotely controllable device  300  can be any device that is capable of communicating with a remote control such as remote control  200  shown in  FIG. 2 . In one embodiment, remotely controllable device  300  is a remotely controllable toy such as a remote control car or a remote control plane. In other embodiments, remotely controllable device  300  may be a drone, unmanned vehicle, unmanned aircraft, doll, robot, toy, and/or any other suitable device that can be controlled with a remote control, such as remote control  200  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     In various embodiments, the remotely controllable device  300  may comprise or be in communication with fewer or additional components than the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 . For example, in one embodiment, the remotely controllable device  300  does not comprise haptic output device  340 . In other embodiments, the remotely controllable device  300  may not comprise or be in communication with a haptic output device at all. Thus, in various embodiments, the remotely controllable device  300  may comprise or be in communication with any number of components, such as in the various embodiments disclosed herein as well as variations that would be apparent to one of skill in the art. 
     The housing  305  of the remotely controllable device  300  shown in  FIG. 3  provides protection for at least some of the components remotely controllable device  300 . For example, the housing  305  may be a plastic casing that protects the processor  310  and memory  320  from foreign articles such as rain. In some embodiments, the housing  305  protects the components in the housing  305  from damage if the remotely controllable device  300  is dropped by a user. The housing  305  can be made of any suitable material including but not limited to plastics, rubbers, or metals. Various embodiments may comprise different types of housings or a plurality of housings. For example, in some embodiments, the remotely controllable device  300  may be a drone, unmanned vehicle, unmanned aircraft, doll, robot, car plane, helicopter, boat, toy, and/or any other suitable device that can be controlled with a remote control, such as remote control  200  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the input and/or output devices  330  provides a mechanism for the remotely controllable device  300  to receive information. For example, if the remotely controllable device  300  comprises a temperature sensor, then the sensor can provide information such as the temperature of one or more components within the remotely controllable device  300  or the outside temperature or another temperature external to the remotely controllable device  300 . As another example, a remotely controllable device  300  that comprises a contact sensor  300  may be able to detect when a collision with an object such as a rock, other terrain, and/or other remotely controllable devices. In some embodiments, the input and/or output devices  330  may comprise, be connected with, or otherwise be in communication with one or more sensors that determine the location, pressure, a size of a contact patch, or any of these, of one or more contacts on the input and/or output devices  330 . For example, in one embodiment, the input and/or output devices  330  comprises or is in communication with a mutual capacitance system. In another embodiment, the input and/or output devices  330  comprises or is in communication with an absolute capacitance system. In some embodiments, the input and/or output devices  330  may comprise or be in communication with a resistive panel, a capacitive panel, infrared LEDs, photodetectors, image sensors, optical cameras, or a combination thereof. Thus, the input and/or output devices  330  may incorporate any suitable technology to determine a contact on a touch-sensitive surface such as, for example, resistive, capacitive, infrared, optical, thermal, dispersive signal, or acoustic pulse technologies, or a combination thereof. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , haptic output devices  340  and  360  are in communication with the processor  310  and are configured to provide one or more haptic effects. For example, in one embodiment, when an actuation signal is provided to haptic output device  340 , haptic output device  360 , or both, by the processor  310 , the respective haptic output device(s)  340 ,  360  outputs a haptic effect based on the actuation signal. For example, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the processor  310  is configured to transmit a haptic output signal to haptic output device  340  comprising an analog drive signal. However, the processor  310  is configured to transmit a command to haptic output device  360 , wherein the command includes parameters to be used to generate an appropriate drive signal to cause the haptic output device  360  to output the haptic effect. In other embodiments, different signals and different signal types may be sent to each of one or more haptic output devices. For example, in some embodiments, a processor may transmit low-level drive signals to drive a haptic output device to output a haptic effect. Such a drive signal may be amplified by an amplifier or may be converted from a digital to an analog signal, or from an analog to a digital signal using suitable processors or circuitry to accommodate the particular haptic output device being driven. A haptic output device, such as haptic output devices  340  or  360 , can be any component or collection of components that is capable of outputting one or more haptic effects. Numerous examples of haptic output devices are disclosed above and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     In one embodiment, haptic output device  340  and/or haptic output device  360  provides status information regarding the remotely controllable device  300 . For example, in one embodiment, the remotely controllable device  300  is a passenger vehicle and a haptic effect is output by haptic output device  340  and/or haptic output device  360  when the battery  315  of the vehicle is below a threshold level. As another example, in one embodiment, the remotely controllable device  300  comprises a stuffed animal, doll, or similar toy. In one such embodiment, a user of remote control  200  could send a hug and/or a kiss to a user of the stuffed animal. For example, a parent may be able to use a mobile phone to send a hug and/or a kiss to a child holding the stuffed animal. The stuffed animal can receive the hug and/or the kiss and output one or more haptic effects indicating that a hug and/or kiss has been received. In another embodiment, haptic output device  340  and/or haptic output device  360  provides cues from one or more remote controls. For example, if one remote control cedes control of the remotely controllable device to another remote control, then haptic output device  340  and/or haptic output device  360  can output a haptic effect configured to indicate to a passenger of the remotely controllable device  300  that a new remote control is now controlling the remotely controllable device  300 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , haptic output device  360  may be coupled to or otherwise in communication with the remotely controllable device  300 . In other embodiments, haptic output device  360  is inside the remotely controllable device  300 . In yet other embodiments, another haptic output device, such as haptic output device  260  shown in  FIG. 2 , is inside the remotely controllable device  300  and/or coupled to or otherwise in communication with remotely controllable device  300 . Numerous other embodiments are disclosed above and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     In  FIG. 3 , the communication interface  350  is in communication with the processor  310  and provides wired or wireless communications, from the remotely controllable device  300  to other components or other devices such as remote control  200  shown in  FIG. 2 . For example, the communication interface  350  may provide wireless communications between the remotely controllable device  300  and remote control  200 . In embodiments the communication interface  350  is capable of receiving commands from remote control  200  shown in  FIG. 2 . Numerous examples of suitable communication interfaces are described above and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     Illustrative Systems 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 4  illustrates a system  400  depicting a remotely controllable device  420  and remote controls  410 ,  415  in accordance with an embodiment. The system  400  shown in  FIG. 4  includes a remotely controllable device  420 , a first remote control  410 , and a second remote control  415 . A remote control, such as remote control  410  and/or remote control  415 , can be any suitable device such as remote control  200  discussed herein with respect to  FIG. 2 . A remotely controllable device, such as remotely controllable device  420 , may be any suitable device such as remotely controllable device  300  discussed herein with respect to  FIG. 3 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the first remote control  410  is in communication with remotely controllable device  420  and the second remote control  415  is in communication with remotely controllable device  420 . In some embodiments, the first remote control  410  may be in communication with the second remote control  415 . 
     One or more remote controls may control or otherwise operate a remotely controllable device. For example, in one embodiment, remote control  410  may control remotely controllable device  420 . In this embodiment, remote control  410  may cede control of the remotely controllable device  420  to remote control  415  in response to receiving a request from remote control  415  and/or remotely controllable device  420 . In some embodiments, remote control  410  cedes control to remote control  415  in response to an event. For example, if a particular round in a game being played for a user of remote control  410  ends, then remote control  410  may cede control of the remotely controllable device  420  to remote control  415  such that a user of remote control  415  can play the game. As another example, if remotely controllable device  420  receives too much damage while being controlled by remote control  410 , then control may be switched to remote control  415 . In other embodiments, if remotely controllable device  420  is involved in a predetermined number of crashes within a predetermined period of time while being controlled by remote control  410 , then remote control  410  cedes control of the remotely controllable device  420  to remote control  415 . Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     In embodiments, only one remote control controls the remotely controllable device  420  at a time, but at various times different remote controls can control the remotely controllable device  420 . In other embodiments, two or more remote controls may control a remotely controllable device  420  at the same time. For example, remote control  410  may control the direction (e.g., forward, backward, left, right, etc.) of the remotely controllable device  420  while remote control  415  may control the speed of the remotely controllable device  420 . As another example, remote control  410  may control the direction and speed of the remotely controllable device  420  while remote control  420  controls the use of a real or a simulated weapon associated with the remotely controllable device  420 . In yet another example, remote control  410  may control the driving of a remotely controllable device  420  while remote control  420  controls taking pictures with a camera of the remotely controllable device  420 . Thus, in embodiments, operation of a remotely controllable device  420  may be shared by two, three, four, or more remote controls. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , remotely controllable device  420  wirelessly communicates with remote control  410  and remote control  415  through direct wireless connections. In other embodiments, one or more remote controls and/or remotely controllable devices may be in communication through one or more networks. A network may be any suitable number or type of networks or links, including, but not limited to, a dial-in network, a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), public switched telephone network (PSTN), a cellular network, a WiFi network, a satellite network, the Internet, an intranet or any combination of hard-wired and/or wireless communication links. In one embodiment, the network is a single network. In other embodiments, the network may comprise two or more networks. For example, the remote control  410  may be connected to a first network and remote control  415  may be connected to a second network and remotely controllable device may be connected to the first network and the second network. In embodiments, remote controls, remotely controlled devices, and/or other devices may communicate with one or more networks over a wireless communications means using Radio Frequency (RF), Bluetooth, CDMA, TDMA, FDMA, GSM, WiFi, satellite, or other cellular or wireless technology. Numerous other network configurations would be obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
     In one embodiment, remotely controllable device  420  is a helicopter and comprises a camera. In this embodiment, remote control  410  controls the flying of the helicopter and remote control  415  controls the camera. For example, remote control  410  may be able to control the speed of a propeller of the helicopter and the direction that the helicopter is travelling. Remote control  415  can rotate the camera to view different locations from the helicopter and can take pictures with the camera. As a user of remote control  410  and/or a user of remote control  415  interacts with the remote control(s) to control the helicopter, remote control  410  and/or remote control  415  may output haptic effects to provide the user(s) cues regarding various events. For example, if the helicopter crashes, then remote control  410  and/or remote control  415  can output a haptic effect to indicate that a crash has occurred. As another example, if the speed of the propeller is below a predetermined threshold necessary to sustain lift, then remote control  410  and/or remote control  415  may output a haptic effect indicating that the speed of the propeller needs to be increased. In one embodiment, if the helicopter travels above a certain altitude, then remote control  410  and/or remote control  415  outputs a haptic effect indicating that the altitude of the helicopter needs to be lowered. In another embodiment, remote control  410  and/or remote control  415  outputs a haptic effect when the user of remote control  415  takes a picture with the camera. 
     In some embodiments, the helicopter is flown outside and various haptic effects, such as those discussed herein, are output in response to events within and/or interactions between the helicopter and the outside environment. For example, a haptic effect may be output when the helicopter is actually flown above a certain altitude outside. As another example, a haptic effect may be output if the helicopter physically crashes into the ground. In other embodiments, various haptic effects are output in response to events with and/or interactions between the helicopter and an augmented environment. For example, a haptic effect may be output when the helicopter is flown above a certain altitude within the augmented environment regardless of the actual physical altitude that the helicopter is actually flying. As another example, a haptic effect may be output when the helicopter crashes into a virtual mountain shown on a display of remote control  410  and/or remote control  415 , regardless of whether the helicopter physically crashes into an object in reality. As described herein, remote control  410 , remote control  415 , and/or remotely controllable device  420  can be used in a real environment, in a virtual reality environment, and/or in an augmented reality. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     In one embodiment, remotely controllable device  420  is a vehicle and comprises multiple gun turrets. In this embodiment, remote control  410  controls a first gun turret and remote control  420  controls a second gun turret. As a user of remote control  410  and/or a user of remote control  415  interacts with the remote control(s) to control their respective gun turret, remote control  410 , remote control  415 , and/or remotely controllable device  420  may output haptic effects to provide the user(s) and/or passenger(s) cues regarding various events. For example, the vehicle may output a haptic effect indicating that a gun has been fired when the first gun turret and/or the second gun turret is fired. As another example, remote control  410  can output a haptic effect when the first gun turret is fired and remote control  415  can output a haptic effect when the second gun turret is fired. In one embodiment, remote control  410  outputs a haptic effect when the second gun turret is fired and remote control  415  outputs a haptic effect when the first gun turret is fired. 
     In some embodiments, the vehicle is driven on a road or through terrain outside and various haptic effects, such as those discussed herein, are output in response to events within and/or interactions between the vehicle and the outside environment. For example, a haptic effect may be output when the vehicle is driven into an object, such as a rock. As another example, a haptic effect may be output may be output when the first gun turret and/or the second gun turret in the vehicle is actually, physically fired. In other embodiments, various haptic effects are output in response to sensed events with and/or sensed interactions between the vehicle and an augmented environment. For example, a haptic effect may be output when the vehicle is driven into a virtual rock shown on a display of remote control  410  and/or remote control  415 , regardless of whether the vehicle actually is driven into a physical rock. As another example, a haptic effect may be output when the first gun turret and/or the second gun turret is virtually fired in an augmented reality, regardless of whether the first gun turret and/or the second gun turret is actually fired in reality. As described herein, remote control  410 , remote control  415 , and/or remotely controllable device  420  can be used in a real environment, in a virtual reality environment, and/or in an augmented reality. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     In another embodiment, remotely controllable device  420  comprises a stuffed animal, doll, or similar toy. In one such embodiment, a user such as a parent can control a stuffed animal using remote control  415 . For example, a user may be able to use a smartphone to control the stuffed animal. In this embodiment, the user of the smartphone can send messages to a user of the stuffed animal which are output as haptic effects. For example, a parent using a smartphone or other suitable remote control  415  can send a hug or a kiss to a user (such as a child) holding or otherwise contacting the remotely controllable device  420 . Thus, if the remotely controllable device  420  is a stuffed animal, then the stuffed animal can receive the message from the smartphone and output a haptic effect configured to indicate that a message (such as a kiss or a hug) has been received. If the child is holding the stuffed animal, then the child may feel the haptic effects output by the stuffed animal and know that he or she has been sent a hug and/or a kiss. In some embodiments, the stuffed animal or other toy may also transmit haptic messages back to the remote control device, such as to indicate that the hug or kiss is being received. In other embodiments, the remotely controllable device may be a robotic toy or any other suitable remotely controllable device. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     As another example, remotely controllable device  420  may be a stuffed animal, such as a cat. In one embodiment, remote control  410  comprises an application having a graphical user interface including an image of an animal corresponding to the stuffed animal. For example, if the stuffed animal is a cat, then the graphical user interface on the remote control  410  may display an image of a cat. In one embodiment, as a user interacts with the image of the cat displayed on the remote control  410 , one or more haptic effects are output by the remotely controllable device  420 . For example, if the remote control  410  comprises a touchscreen display, and a user of the remote control  410  pets the image of the cat displayed on the touchscreen display, then the remotely controllable device  420  (e.g., cat) may output a haptic effect that feels like a purr. In some embodiments, the remote control  410  may output a haptic effect that feels like a purr when a user of the remote control  410  pets the image of the cat displayed on the touchscreen display. In another embodiment, one or more haptic effects may be output by remote control  410  when a user interacts with the remotely controllable device  420  (e.g., cat). For example, as a user pets the cat, remote control  410  may output a haptic effect that feels like a purr. In some embodiments, the remotely controllable device  420  may output a haptic effect that feels like a purr when a user of the remotely controllable device  420  pets the cat. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 5  illustrates a system  500  depicting remotely controllable devices  520 ,  525  and remote controls  510 ,  515  in accordance with an embodiment. The system  500  shown in  FIG. 5  includes a first remotely controllable device  520 , a second remotely controllable device  525 , a first remote control  510 , a second remote control  515 , and a computer  540 , though embodiments are not limited to only two remote controls and two remotely controllable devices. 
     A remote control, such as remote control  510  and/or remote control  515 , can be any suitable device such as remote control  200  discussed herein with respect to  FIG. 2 . A remotely controllable device, such as remotely controllable device  520  and/or remotely controllable device  525 , may be any suitable device such as remotely controllable device  300  discussed herein with respect to  FIG. 3 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the first remote control  510  is in communication with remotely controllable device  520  and the network  530 , and the second remote control  515  is in communication with remotely controllable device  525  and the network  530 . In some embodiments, the first remote control  510  is in communication with the second remote control  515 , the first remotely controllable device  520 , the second remotely controllable device  525 , and/or computer  540  directly, such as by direct wired or wireless communication, and/or through the network  530 . In some embodiments, the second remote control  515  is in communication with the first remote control  510 , the first remotely controllable device  520  and/or the second remotely controllable device  525  directly and/or through the network  530 . In other embodiments, remotely controllable device  520  is in communication with remotely controllable device  525  directly and/or through the network  530 . 
     In the system  500  shown in  FIG. 5 , the computer  540  is connected to the network  530 . In this embodiment, the computer  540  can perform coordination functions between remote control  510 , remote control  515 , remotely controllable device  520 , and/or remotely controllable device  525 . For example, the computer  540  may track the amount of damage that remotely controllable device  520  and/or remotely controllable device  525  has incurred. As another example, the computer  540  keep score of a game being played between a user of remote control  510  and a user of remote control  515 . In embodiments, the computer  540  can transmit the amount of damage, scores, and/or other information regarding gameplay events, user information, status information, historical information from previous gameplay, etc. to remote control  510 , remote control  515 , remotely controllable device  520 , and/or remotely controllable device  525 . Computer  540  may be a general purpose computer or a specifically designed electronic device, such as a web server. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , computer  540  is a single computer. In other embodiments, computer  540  may be in communication with a plurality of other devices, such as a plurality of servers. In some embodiments, computer  540  is part of or in communication with a content distribution network (CDN). In other embodiments, system  500  may not include a computer  540 . Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     In embodiments, computer  540  maintains a virtual and/or augmented reality for one or more of the remote controls and/or remotely controllable devices. For example, the computer  540  may maintain an augmented reality by stitching together or otherwise combining information from various remote controls and/or remotely controllable devices into a single environment. In this embodiment, absolute movements of each device at their own location are translated into relative movements in the augmented reality and the remote controls are provided with information about its own remotely controllable device as well as other devices within the augmented related. For example, at least a portion of the augmented reality can be displayed on a display of a remote control based at least in part on the information received from the computer  540 . In embodiments, users of the remote controls can interact with each other through am augmented environment and/or a virtual environment. For example, users may be able to have car races or mock helicopter battles in various augmented environments. As another example, in one embodiment, projectile movement of a weapon is simulated by computer  540  when a user on a remote control presses a trigger button indicating that a weapon should be fired. In this embodiment, the projectile movement simulated by computer  540  may be displayed on a display of one or more of the remote controls. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     One or more remote controls may control or otherwise operate at least a portion of one or more remotely controllable devices. For example, in one embodiment, remote control  510  may control at least a portion of remotely controllable device  520  and/or remotely controllable device  525 . In this embodiment, remote control  510  may cede control of at least a portion of one or more of the remotely controllable device  520 ,  525  to remote control  515 . Thus, in embodiments, one remote control controls at least a portion of remotely controllable device  520  and another remote control controls another portion of remotely controllable device  525 . In other embodiments, each remote control may control at least a portion of separate remotely controllable devices. For example, remote control  510  may control at least a portion of remotely controllable device  520  and remote control  515  may control at least a portion of remotely controllable device  525 . 
     One or more remote controls may control or otherwise operate at least a portion of one or more remotely controllable devices. For example, in one embodiment, remote control  510  may control at least a portion of remotely controllable device  520  and/or remotely controllable device  525 . In this embodiment, remote control  510  may cede control of at least a portion of one or more of the remotely controllable devices  520 ,  525  to remote control  515  in response to receiving a request from remote control  515 , remotely controllable device  520 , and/or remotely controllable device  525 . In some embodiments, remote control  510  cedes control to remote control  515  in response to an event. For example, if a particular round in a game being played for a user of remote control  510  ends, then remote control  510  may cede control of remotely controllable device  520  and/or remotely controllable device  525  to remote control  515  such that a user of remote control  515  can play the game. As another example, if remotely controllable device  520  receives too much damage while being controlled by remote control  510 , then control may be switched to remote control  515 . In other embodiments, if remotely controllable device  520  is involved in a predetermined number of crashes within a predetermined period of time while being controlled by remote control  510 , then remote control  510  cedes control of the remotely controllable device  520  to remote control  515 . In another embodiment remote control  510  initially controls remotely controllable device  520  and remotely controllable device  525  and control is ceded to remote control  515  if communication between remote control  510  and remotely controllable device  525  is lost. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     In embodiments, two or more remote controls may control one or more remotely controllable devices at the same time. For example, remote control  510  may control the direction (e.g., forward, backward, left, right, etc.) of the remotely controllable device  520  while remote control  515  may control the speed of the remotely controllable device  520 . As another example, remote control  510  may control the direction of the remotely controllable device  520  while remote control  515  controls the use of a real or a simulated weapon associated with the remotely controllable device  520 . In some embodiments, additional remote controls may be used to control portions of a remotely controllable device. For example, a third remote control (not shown) may be used to control a camera associated with remotely controllable device  520 . Thus, in embodiments, operation of one or more remotely controllable devices, such as remotely controllable device  520  and/or remotely controllable device  525 , may be shared by two, three, four, or more remote controls. 
     Various types of information can be sent and/or received between one or more remote controls and one or more remotely controllable devices. For example, sensor information from remotely controllable device  520  and/or remotely controllable device  525  can be sent to remote control  510  and/or remote control  515 . As another example, information such as a video and/or audio can be sent to remote control  510  and/or remote control  515 . In some embodiments, information can be sent to and/from a remote control to one or more other remote controls and/or one or more remotely controllable devices. For example, information regarding the location of one remotely controllable device may be sent from the remotely controllable device and/or a remote control in communication with the remotely controllable device to other remote controls and/or other remotely controllable devices. In some embodiments, where one or more remote controls comprise or are in communication with a display, information received from one or more remote controls and/or one or more remotely controllable devices may be displayed on the display. For example, a location, speed, direction, temperature, video, other sensor information, etc. may be displayed on the display of a remote control. 
     In some embodiments, one or more graphical images are overlaid with information received from another device. For example, referring to  FIG. 5 , remote control  510  may display a location of remotely controllable device  520  and a location of remotely controllable device  525  based on information received from remotely controllable device  520  and from information received from remote control  515  that is in communication with remotely controllable device  525 . In addition, video feeds from remotely controllable device  520  and/or remotely controllable device  525  may be sent to remote control  510  and/or remote control  515 . In this embodiment, one or more graphics may be overlaid on one or more of the video feeds. For example, if the remotely controllable devices  520 ,  525  are RC cars, then remote control  510  and/or remote control  515  may overlay graphics on one or more video feeds from the RC car(s) to simulate racing at a race track. Numerous other examples of information that can be sent to and/or from remote controls and/or remotely controllable devices are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , remotely controllable device  520  wirelessly communicates with remote control  510  through a direct wireless connection. In other embodiments, one or more remote controls and/or remotely controllable devices may be in communication through one or more networks, such as network  530 . Network  530  may be any suitable number or type of networks or links, including, but not limited to, a dial-in network, a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), public switched telephone network (PSTN), a cellular network, a WiFi network, a satellite network, the Internet, an intranet or any combination of hard-wired and/or wireless communication links. In one embodiment, the network is a single network. In other embodiments, the network  530  may comprise two or more networks. For example, the remote control  510  may be connected to a first network and remote control  515  may be connected to a second network and remotely controllable device  520  may be connected to the first network and the second network  525 . In embodiments, remote controls, remotely controlled devices, and/or other devices may communicate with one or more networks over a wireless communications means using Radio Frequency (RF), Bluetooth, CDMA, TDMA, FDMA, GSM, WiFi, satellite, or other cellular or wireless technology. Numerous other network configurations would be obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
     In one embodiment, remotely controllable device  520  and remotely controllable device  525  are each helicopters. In this embodiment, remote control  510  controls remotely controllable device  520  and remote control  515  controls remotely controllable device  525 . For example, remote control  510  may be able to control the driving of remotely controllable device  520  and remote control  515  can control the driving of remotely controllable device  525 . As a user of remote control  510  and/or a user of remote control  515  interacts their respective remote control to control the helicopters, remote control  510  and/or remote control  515  may output haptic effects to provide the user(s) with cues regarding various events. For example, if remotely controllable device  520  collides with remotely controllable device  525 , then remote control  510  and/or remote control  515  may output a haptic effect to indicate that a crash has occurred. As another example, if remotely controllable device  520  is approaching remotely controllable device  525 , then remote control  510  and/or remote control  515  may output a haptic effect to indicate that remotely controllable device  520  is approaching remotely controllable device  525 . 
     In some embodiments, remotely controllable device is physically in the same location as remotely controllable device  525 . For example, remotely controllable device  520  and remotely controllable device  525  may both be flown in the same park or in the same yard. In this embodiment, various haptic effects, such as those discussed herein, are output in response to events within and/or interactions between remotely controllable device  520 , remotely controllable device  525 , and/or the outside environment. For example, a haptic effect may be output when remotely controllable device  520  physically crashes into remotely controllable device  525 . As another example, a haptic effect may be output if both remotely controllable device  520  and remotely controllable device  525  physically are flown within a predetermined distance of each other. 
     In other embodiments, various haptic effects are output in response to events with and/or interactions between remotely controllable device  520 , remotely controllable device  525 , and/or an augmented environment. For example, a haptic effect may be output when remotely controllable device  520  and/or remotely controllable device  525  is flown above a certain altitude within the augmented environment regardless of the actual physical altitude that the remotely controllable device  520  and/or remotely controllable device  525  is actually flying. As another example, a haptic effect may be output when remotely controllable device  520  and remotely controllable device  525  crash into each other in the augmented environment regardless of whether an actual, physical crash between the devices  520 ,  525  occurs. In one embodiment, a haptic effect is output when remotely controllable device  520  crashes into a virtual object, such as a virtual rock, shown on a display of remote control  510  and/or remote control  515 , regardless of whether remotely controllable device  520  physically crashes into an object in reality. As described herein, remote control  510 , remote control  515 , remotely controllable device  520 , and/or remotely controllable device  525  can be used in a real environment, in a virtual reality environment, and/or in an augmented reality environment. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     In one embodiment, remotely controllable device  520  is a helicopter and comprises a gun and remotely controllable device  525  is a vehicle and comprises a gun. In this embodiment, remote control  510  controls the flying of the helicopter and another remote control (not shown) controls the gun of the helicopter. In addition, in this embodiment, remote control  515  controls the driving of the vehicle and another remote control (not shown) controls the gun of the vehicle. As users of the various remote controls interact with their respective remote control to control the helicopter, vehicle, and/or guns, haptic effects can be output by one or more of the remote controls to provide the user(s) cues regarding various events. For example, if a user of the remote control controlling the gun of the helicopter interacts with the remote control to fire the gun at the car, then a haptic effect may be output by remote control  510 , remote control  515 , and/or other remote controls to indicate that a shot has been fired. As another example, if the vehicle is hit by a bullet fired by the gun of the helicopter, then remote control  510 , remote control  515 , and/or other remote controls may output one or more haptic effects to indicate that the vehicle has been damaged. In one embodiment, if the helicopter is approaching the vehicle within a predetermined distance, then remote control  510 , remote control  515 , and/or other remote controls may output one or more haptic effects to indicate that the helicopter is approaching. 
     In some embodiments, the helicopter and the vehicle are both physically in the same location. For example, the helicopter and the vehicle may both physically be in the same park or in the same yard. In this embodiment, various haptic effects, such as those discussed herein, are output in response to events within and/or interactions between the helicopter, vehicle, and/or physical environment. For example, a haptic effect may be output if the helicopter crashes into the ground or if the vehicle overturns. As another example, a haptic effect can be output if the helicopter crashes into the vehicle. In one embodiment, a haptic effect is output if the helicopter and the vehicle come within a predetermined distance of each other. As another example, a haptic effect may be output if a bullet fired by a gun of the helicopter physically hits the vehicle. 
     In other embodiments, various haptic effects are output in response to events with and/or interactions between the helicopter, the vehicle, and/or an augmented environment. For example, the helicopter and the vehicle may be physically operated in the same or in different locations. Information from these devices can be received by remote control  510 , remote control  515  and/or other remote controls and combined or otherwise incorporated into a virtual environment to create an augmented environment. For example, movements of the helicopter and/or the vehicle can be received by the remote controls and incorporated into an augmented environment. Thus, if a remote control is operated to fly the helicopter to the right in a physical environment, then the helicopter can flown to the right in an augmented environment by updating a display of a remote control to reflect that the helicopter is moving to the right in the augmented environment. 
     Various haptic effects, such as those discussed herein, may be output in response to events within and/or interactions between the helicopter, vehicle, physical environment, and/or augmented environment. For example, a haptic effect may be output if the helicopter crashes into the ground in the augmented environment regardless of whether the helicopter physically crashes into the ground in the physical environment. In one embodiment, a haptic effect is output if the helicopter physically crashes into an object in the physical environment regardless of whether the helicopter crashes into an object in the augmented environment. As another example, a haptic effect can be output if the helicopter and the vehicle come within a predetermined distance of each other in the augmented environment regardless of the actual physical distance between the helicopter and the vehicle in reality. In one embodiment, a haptic effect is output if a virtual or real bullet fired by the helicopter hits the vehicle in an augmented reality environment. As described herein, remote control  510 , remote control  515 , remotely controllable device  520 , remotely controllable device  525 , other remote control(s), other remotely controllable device(s), other devices, or a combination thereof, can be used in a real environment, in a virtual environment, and/or in an augmented reality environment. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     In embodiments, remotely controllable device  520  and remotely controllable device  525  are in a same location, such as in a same building, in a same park, on the same road, etc. In other embodiments, remotely controllable device  520  and remotely controllable device  525  are in different physical locations. For example, remotely controllable device  520  may be located indoors and remotely controllable device  525  may be located outdoors. As another example, remotely controllable device  520  may be located in one city and remotely controllable device  520  may be located in another city. In some embodiments, remote control  510  and remote control  515  are in a same location, such as in a same building, in a same park, etc. In other embodiments, remote control  510  and remote control  515  are in different physical locations. For example, remote control  510  may be located indoors and remotely control  515  may be located outdoors. As another example, remote control  510  may be located in one city and remote control  515  may be located in another city. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     Illustrative Method of Generating Haptic Effects 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , this figure illustrates a flow chart directed to a method  600  of generating haptic effects in accordance with an embodiment. The method  600  shown in  FIG. 6  will be described with respect to the remote control  200  shown in  FIG. 2  and the remotely controllable device  300  shown in  FIG. 3 . In embodiments, the method  600  can be performed by one or more of the devices shown in system  100  in  FIG. 1 , system  400  in  FIG. 4 , and/or system  500  in  FIG. 5 . However, the method  600  shown in  FIG. 6  will be described with respect to system  500  shown in  FIG. 5 . In addition, aspects of method  600  will be described with respect to remote control  200  shown in  FIG. 2 ; however, other devices such as remotely controllable device  300  shown in  FIG. 3  may perform these functions in various embodiments. 
     The method  600  begins in block  610  when a remote control and/or a remotely controllable device receives information from another remote control and/or another remotely controllable device. In one embodiment, referring to  FIG. 5 , remote control  510  receives sensor information indicating a speed and direction of remotely controllable device  520  from remotely controllable device  520 . Information may be sent to remote control  510  in response to a request for the information sent by remote control  510  to remotely controllable device  520 . In another embodiment, the information may be pushed from remotely controllable device  520  to remote control  510 . For example, remotely controllable device  520  may send information to remote control  510  without remote control  510  requesting the information. In other embodiments, remote control  510  may receive information directly or through one or more networks, such as network  530 , from remote control  515 , remotely controllable device  525 , other remote controls, other remotely controllable devices, other electronic devices, or a combination thereof. 
     The information received by a remote control  200  and/or a remotely controllable device  300  can include information associated with one or more accelerometers, gyroscopes, digital compasses, sensors usable to determine location, pressure, speed, wind speed, temperature, force and/or size, resistive panels, capacitive panels, infrared LEDs, photodetectors, image sensors, optical cameras, other cameras, microphones, speakers. The information can be received by an application, an applet, a plug-in, or a script being executed by a processor on remote control  200  and/or remotely controllable device  300 . Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     Referring back to method  600 , once the remote control and/or remotely controllable device has received the information  610 , the method  600  proceeds to block  620 . In block  620 , the remote control and/or the remotely controllable device determines one or more haptic effects  620 . For example, in an embodiment, remote control  510  receives sensor information indicating a speed and direction of remotely controllable device  520  from remotely controllable device  520 . In this embodiment, remote control  510  determines a haptic effect based at least in part on the received speed and/or the direction. For example, remote control  510  may determine based at least in part on the speed and direction that the remotely controllable device  520  is approaching an object. In this embodiment, the remote control  510  determines a haptic effect configured to warn a user of the remote control that the remotely controllable device  520  is approaching an object. 
     One or more haptic effects may be determined by a remote control  200  and/or a remotely controllable device  300  in any number of ways. In one embodiment, one or more haptic effects are determined by a remote control  200  based at least in part on information received from a remotely controllable device  300 . For example, remote control  200  may determine a haptic effect when sensor information received from a remotely controllable device  300  indicates that the remotely controllable device  300  is approaching an object. As another example, remote control  200  may determine a haptic effect when sensor information received from a remotely controllable device  300  indicates that the remotely controllable device  300  has collided with another object. In some embodiments, remote control  200  determines a haptic effect based at least in part on state information associated with a remotely controllable device  300 . For example, if the remote control  200  receives information from the remotely controllable device  300  that indicates that an engine associated with the remotely controllable device  300  has stalled, then the remote control  200  may determine a haptic effect configured to indicate to a user of the remote control  200  that the engine of the remotely controllable device  300  has stalled. In embodiments, a haptic effect may be determined by remote control  200  based at least in part on augmented reality. For example, if the remotely controllable device  300  is a remote control car, then the remote control  200  may display a virtual race track and the remote control car on a display associated with the remote control  200 . In this embodiment, if the remote control car collides with a virtual car in the augmented reality environment, then the remote control  200  determines a haptic effect configured to indicate that a collision has occurred. As another example, the remote control  200  may determine a haptic effect as the remote control car approaches a virtual car on the race track. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     In some embodiments, one or more haptic effects are determined based at least in part on information from another remote control. For example, a first remote control  200  may control the driving a remotely controllable device  300  and a second remote control  200  may control a camera associated with the remotely controllable device  300 . Thus, in embodiments, operational control of a remotely controllable device  300  may be shared between two, three, four, or more remote controls. In this embodiment, one or more haptic effects may be determined by the first remote control based at least in part on the second remote control. For example, the first remote control may receive a request from the second remote control and/or the remotely controllable device  300  to cede control of at least a portion of the operation to the second remote control. In this embodiment, the first remote control may determine a haptic effect indicating that at least partial control of the remotely controllable device  300  is being ceded to the second remote control. For example, in one embodiment, a first controller cedes control to a second controller based on the remotely controllable device being out of range of the first controller but still in range of the second controller. As another example, a first controller may cede control to a second controller in response to a user selecting a button to switch controllers. In one embodiment, the second remote control may determine a haptic effect configured to indicate a collision when a user of the first remote control drives the remotely controllable device  300  into a real or virtual object. 
     In some embodiments, one or more haptic effects are determined based at least in part on interactions between two or more remote controls and/or two or more remotely controllable devices. For example, referring to  FIG. 5 , a first remote control  510  may operate remotely controllable device  520  in a first location and a second remote control  515  may operate remotely controllable device  525  in a second location. The second location may be remote from the first location. In this embodiment, communication between remote control  510  and remotely controllable device  520  may occur directly while communication between remote control  510  and remote control  515  occurs through network  530 . In this embodiment, remote control  510  may determine one or more haptic effects based at least in part on information from remotely controllable device  520  and/or remotely controllable device  525 . For example, remote control  510  may determine a haptic effect indicating a collision when remotely controllable device  520  collides with remotely controllable device  525  in an augmented reality view displayed on a display of the remote control  510 . As another example, remote control  510  may determine a haptic effect configured to indicate that a weapon has been fired when a user of remote control  520  provides input to remote control  520  indicating that a weapon of remotely controllable device  525  should be fired. Numerous other embodiments of when and how haptic effects may be determined are disclosed herein, such as with respect to system  100 , system  400 , and/or system  500 , and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     In embodiments, one or more haptic effects may be based at least in part on information received from a remote control  200 , such as the various information described above with respect to  FIG. 2 , and/or information received from a remotely controllable device  300 , such as the various information described herein with respect to  FIG. 3 . Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     Referring back to method  600 , once the remote control and/or the remotely controllable device determines one or more haptic effects  620 , the method  600  proceeds to block  630 . In block  630 , a signal is generated. For example, in an embodiment where an event involves a collision between a remotely controllable device and another object—such as the ground, a rock, a building, another remotely controllable device, etc.—then a signal may be generated when the collision between the remotely controllable device and the object occurs. In one embodiment, a collision physically occurs. For example, a remotely controllable device may physically contact a rock on the ground. As another example, a remotely controllable device may physically contact another remotely controllable device. In some embodiments, a collision occurs in augmented reality. For example, a collision may occur when a remotely controllable device contacts an augmented rock being displayed on a display of the remote control. As another example, a collision may occur when a remotely controllable device virtually contacts another remotely controllable device. In one embodiment, a remotely controllable device is struck by a gunshot from another remotely controlled device. The gunshot may be from a real, physical bullet or from a virtual bullet. In this embodiment, haptic effect may be determined and a signal generated to indicate that a remotely controllable device has been hit. Thus, in various embodiments, interactions between multiple remotely controllable devices can be detected by a remotely controllable device. The interactions can be reported to one or more remote controls by a remotely controllable device. 
     A remotely controllable device may be in communication with one, two, three, or more remote controls. In such embodiments, a remotely controllable device may be controlled by one, two, three, or more remote controls. In some embodiments, one or more haptic effects are determined based at least in part on environmental feedback from one or more of the remotely controllable toys, gameplay events from one or more remote controls, gameplay events from one or more interactions between one or more of the remotely controllable devices, or a combination thereof. Any determined haptic effect(s) may be output to any number of remote controls, remotely controllable devices, other devices, or a combination thereof. 
     Multiple remotely controllable devices and/or remote controls may be in communication with each other over one or more networks. In such embodiments, one or more haptic effects may be determined based at least in part on multiplayer interactions between the remotely controllable devices and/or the remote controls. For example, if sensor information received from one remotely controllable device indicates that a collision has occurred, then one or more of remote controls may output a haptic effect configured to indicate that a collision has occurred. 
     In one embodiment, a remote control comprises a display and a remotely controllable device comprises a camera. In such an embodiment, the remote control can display information from one or more of the remotely controllable devices. For example, at least a portion of one or more video feeds from one or more remotely controllable devices may be displayed on a display of a remote control. A video feed from one or more remotely controllable devices can be overlaid with other graphical images and displayed on the display of the remote control. Thus, in embodiments, an augmented reality using information received from one or more remotely controllable devices and/or one or more remote controls is displayed on a display of a remote control. In addition, haptic effects can be determined based at least in part on the augmented reality, environmental feedback, gameplay events, state information of one or more devices, other information, or a combination thereof. Any determined haptic effect(s) may be output to any number of remote controls, remotely controllable devices, other devices, or a combination thereof. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     In an embodiment, a signal is generated the first time an event occurs. For example, if the event comprises a collision between a remotely controllable device and an object, then the first time that a collision between the remotely controllable device and the object occurs, the processor  210  generates a signal. In one embodiment, if a subsequent collision occurs and/or if a subsequent collision occurs within a predetermined period of time between the remotely controllable device and the object, then another signal is not generated. In other embodiments, if a subsequent collision occurs between the remotely controllable device and the object, then the processor  210  generates a signal based on the subsequent collision. 
     In one embodiment, a signal is generated each time an event occurs. Thus, referring to the example above, each time a collision occurs between the remotely controllable device and the object, the processor  210  generates a signal. Therefore, if the remotely controllable device collides with a rock and then collides again with the rock for a second time, then the processor  210  would generate a signal twice. In another embodiment, a signal is generated only the first time the event occurs. 
     In embodiments, one or more signals are generated at any number of times based at least in part on information received from a remotely controllable device, a remote control, user input, other devices, or a combination thereof. The information can include environmental information such as a temperature, wind speed, terrain conditions (e.g., water, mud, dry land, mountains, hills, etc.), information regarding the state of a device, information regarding the proximity of a device to another device, information regarding events of one or more users of one or more remote controls, information regarding events initiated by a user&#39;s own interaction with a remote control, information regarding events received from another remote control being operated by a second user, other suitable information, or a combination thereof Information can be information corresponding to real life conditions such as an actual temperature and/or information corresponding to virtual conditions such as a remotely controllable device colliding with a virtual rock. In one embodiment, one or more signals are generated when an event occurs. In some embodiments, one or more signals are generated prior to an event occurring. In other embodiments, one or more signals are generated after an event occurs. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     In some embodiments, the processor  210  generates a single signal when the event occurs. For example, in one embodiment, the processor  210  generates a signal configured to cause a haptic output device, such as haptic output device  240  or haptic output device  260 , to output a haptic effect. The haptic effect may indicate that an object is currently displayed on the display  230 , that an object is about to be displayed on the display  230 , that an object is approaching, that an event has occurred, that an event is about to occur, or a combination thereof. 
     In other embodiments, the processor  210  generates two, three, or more signals. For example, in one embodiment, the processor  210  generates a first signal configured to cause a first haptic effect and a second signal configured to cause a second haptic effect. In some embodiments, the processor  210  generates a different signal for each event that occurs. In various embodiments, the processor  210  generates one or more signals configured to cause the touch-sensitive display  230 , the communication interface  250 , the haptic output device  240 , the haptic output device  260 , the speaker  270 , other components of the device  200 , other components of devices in communication with the device  200 , or a combination thereof to output one or more of the generated signals, such as a video signal, audio signal, haptic output signal, and/or a communication signal. For example, in one embodiment, the processor  210  generates a signal when the event occurs where the signal is configured to cause a haptic output device in another device to cause a haptic effect. In one embodiment, the processor  210  sends the signal to the other device through the communication interface  250 . 
     In one embodiment, a generated signal includes a command for a device or component to perform a specified function, such as to output a haptic effect or transmit a message to a remote device. In another embodiment, a generated signal includes parameters which are used by a device or component receiving the command to determine a response or some aspect of a response. Parameters may include various data related to, for example, magnitudes, frequencies, durations, or other parameters that a haptic output device can use to determine a haptic effect, output a haptic effect, or both. For example, in one embodiment, the processor  210  generates a signal configured to cause haptic output device  240  to output a haptic effect. In such an embodiment, the signal may include a pressure parameter that the haptic output device  240  uses to determine the intensity of the haptic effect to output. For example, according to one embodiment, the larger the pressure parameter the haptic output device  240  receives, the more intense the haptic effect that is output. 
     In one embodiment, an intensity parameter is used by a haptic output device to determine the intensity of a haptic effect. In this embodiment, the greater the intensity parameter, the more intense the haptic effect that is output. In one embodiment, the intensity parameter is based at least in part on sensor information, such as speed, direction, etc., of a remotely controllable device when an event occurs. Thus, according to one embodiment, a larger intensity parameter is sent to a haptic output device when an event occurs while the remotely controllable device is travelling at a faster speed than when an event occurs while the remotely controllable device is travelling at a slower speed. A signal may include data that is configured to be processed by a haptic output device, display, communication interface, speaker, or other components of a device or in communication with a device in order to determine an aspect of a particular response. 
     It will be recognized that any type of input synthesis method may be used to generate the interaction parameter for one or more haptic effect signals including, but not limited to, the method of synthesis examples listed in TABLE 1 below. A drive signal may be applied to a haptic actuator according to the interaction parameter. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 6 , once a signal has been generated as specified in block  630 , the next step of method  600  is to output the signal as shown in block  640 . For example, in one embodiment, the processor  210  generated a first signal configured to cause haptic output device  240  to output a haptic effect. In such an embodiment, the processor  210  outputs the signal to haptic output device  240 . As another example, in an embodiment, the processor  210  generated a first haptic output signal configured to cause haptic output device  240  to output a first haptic effect and generated a second haptic output signal configured to cause haptic output device  260  to output a second haptic effect. In this embodiment, the processor  210  outputs the first haptic output signal to haptic output device  240  and the second haptic output signal to haptic output device  260 . 
     In various embodiments, the processor  210  may output one or more generated signals to any number of devices. For example, the processor  210  may output one signal to the communication interface  250 . In one embodiment, the processor  210  may output one generated signal to the touch-sensitive display  230 , another generated signal to the communication interface  250 , and another generated signal to the haptic output device  260 . In other embodiments, the processor  210  may output a single generated signal to multiple components or devices. For example, in one embodiment, the processor  210  outputs one generated signal to both haptic output device  240  and haptic output device  260 . In another embodiment, the processor  210  outputs one generated signal to haptic output device  240 , haptic output device  260 , and communication interface  250 . In still another embodiment, the processor  210  outputs one generated signal to both haptic output device  240  and haptic output device  260  and outputs a second generated signal to the touch-sensitive display  230 . 
     As discussed above, the processor  210  may output one or more signals to the communication interface  250 . For example, the processor  210  may output a signal to the communication interface  250  instructing the communication interface  250  to send data to another component or device in communication with the device  200 . In such an embodiment, the communication interface  250  may send data to the other device and the other device may perform a function such as updating a display associated with the other device or the other device may output a haptic effect. Thus, in embodiments, a second device may output a haptic effect based at least in part upon an interaction with a first device in communication with the second device. In other embodiments, a second device may perform any number of functions such as, for example, updating a display associated with the second device or outputting a sound to a speaker associated with the second device based at least in part on an interaction with a first remote control  200 . 
     In various embodiments, after the processor  210  outputs a signal to a component, the component may send the processor  210  a confirmation indicating that the component received the signal. For example, in one embodiment, haptic output device  260  may receive a command from the processor  210  to output a haptic effect. Once haptic output device  260  receives the command, the haptic output device  260  may send a confirmation response to the processor  210  that the command was received by the haptic output device  260 . In another embodiment, the processor  210  may receive completion data indicating that a component not only received an instruction but that the component has performed a response. For example, in one embodiment, haptic output device  240  may receive various parameters from the processor  210 . Based on these parameters haptic output device  240  may output a haptic effect and send the processor  210  completion data indicating that haptic output device  240  received the parameters and outputted a haptic effect. 
     It will be recognized that any type of input synthesis method may be used to generate the interaction parameter for one or more haptic effect signals including, but not limited to, the method of synthesis examples listed in TABLE 1 below. A drive signal may be applied to a haptic actuator according to the interaction parameter. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     TABLE 1—Methods of Synthesis 
     
         
         Additive synthesis—combining inputs, typically of varying amplitudes 
         Subtractive synthesis—filtering of complex signals or multiple signal inputs 
         Frequency modulation synthesis—modulating a carrier wave signal with one or more operators 
         Sampling—using recorded inputs as input sources subject to modification 
         Composite synthesis—using artificial and sampled inputs to establish a resultant “new” input 
         Phase distortion—altering the speed of waveforms stored in wavetables during playback 
         Waveshaping—intentional distortion of a signal to produce a modified result 
         Resynthesis—modification of digitally sampled inputs before playback 
         Granular synthesis—combining of several small input segments into a new input 
         Linear predictive coding—similar technique as used for speech synthesis 
         Direct digital synthesis—computer modification of generated waveforms 
         Wave sequencing—linear combinations of several small segments to create a new input 
         Vector synthesis—technique for fading between any number of different input sources 
         Physical modeling—mathematical equations of the physical characteristics of virtual motion 
       
    
     Illustrative Method of Generating Haptic Effects 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , this figure illustrates a flow chart directed to a method  700  of generating haptic effects in accordance with an embodiment. The method  700  shown in  FIG. 6  will be described with respect to the remote control  200  shown in  FIG. 2  and the remotely controllable device  300  shown in  FIG. 3 . In embodiments, the method  700  can be performed by one or more of the devices shown in system  100  in  FIG. 1 , system  400  in  FIG. 4 , and/or system  500  in  FIG. 5 . However, the method  700  shown in  FIG. 7  will be described with respect to system  500  shown in  FIG. 5 . In addition, aspects of method  700  will be described with respect to remote control  200  shown in  FIG. 2 ; however, other devices such as remotely controllable device  300  shown in  FIG. 3  may perform these functions in various embodiments. 
     The method  700  begins in block  710  when information is received from a first remote control. For example, referring to  FIG. 5 , computer  540  may receive information from remote control  510  through network  530 . In one embodiment, a user operates remote control  510  in a manner that causes an action to occur in remotely controllable device  520 . For example, the user may press a button on the remote control  510  to fire a weapon on remotely controllable device  520 . As another example, the user may use the remote control  510  to drive remotely controllable device  520 . In embodiments, an action may occur, for example, when remotely controllable device moves, approaches another object, collides with another object, an input and/or output device of the remotely controllable device is moved or fired. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     In embodiments, when an action occurs in remotely controllable device  520 , remote control  510  sends information to computer  540  directly and/or through network  530 . For example, remote control  510  can send information regarding the action to computer  540 . Thus, in one embodiment, as remotely controllable device  520  is driven or otherwise operated by a user using remote control  510 , the remote control  510  sends information regarding the movements to computer  540 . Remote control  510  can send sensor information received from remotely controllable device  520  to computer  540 . For example, remote control  510  may receive sensor information from remotely controllable device  520  indicating that the remotely controllable device has collided with another object and at least a portion of the sensor information may be sent by remote control  510  to computer  540 . In embodiments, computer  540  receives the sensor information and/or action information from remote control  510  through network  530 . Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     Referring back to method  700 , once the information has been received from the first remote control  710 , the method proceeds to block  720 . In block  720 , an environment is updated. For example, referring to  FIG. 5 , if computer  540  receives information from remote control  510  through network  530 , then computer  540  may update an environment based at least in part on the received information. In one embodiment, the environment is an augmented reality environment maintained by computer  540 . For example, computer  540  may maintain an augmented reality by stitching together or otherwise combining information receiving from various remote controls, such as remote control  510  and remote control  515 , to create a single environment. In embodiments, at least a portion of the information received from the various remote controls is overlaid with one or more graphical objects, videos, or other virtual environment to create a single, augmented environment. Thus, in an embodiment, as actions and/or sensor information from remote control  510  and/or remote control  515  is received by computer  540 , the augmented reality environment maintained by computer  540  is updated. For example, as a user interacts with remote control  510  to control absolute movements of remotely controllable device  520 , action information and/or sensor information can be sent to computer  540  and used by computer  540  to update the augmented reality environment by translating the absolute movements into relative movements in the augmented reality environment. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     Referring back to method  700 , once the environment has been updated  720 , the method  700  proceeds to block  730 . In block  730 , information is sent to a second remote control. For example, referring to  FIG. 5 , computer  540  may send information to remote control  515  through network  530 . In one embodiment, the information sent by computer  540  to remote control  515  is sensor information and/or action information that the computer  540  received from remote control  510 . In another embodiment, the information sent by computer  540  to remote control  515  is information usable to update a display associated with remote control  515  so that it reflects at least a portion of the updated augmented reality of the computer  540 . For example, if computer  540  receives information from remote control  510  indicating a wheel of remotely controllable device  520  has come off, then computer  540  may update the augmented reality environment to indicate that the wheel of remotely controllable device  520  has come off and computer  540  can send information to remote control  515  can be used to update a display of remote control  515  to show a user that remotely controllable device  520  no longer has a wheel. 
     As another example, if computer  540  receives information from remote control  510  indicating that a gun or other weapon is disabled, then computer  540  may update the augmented reality environment to reflect that the gun has been disabled and computer  540  may send status information to remote control  515  indicating that the gun has been disabled. In this embodiment, a display of remote control  515  may be updated to reflect that the gun has been disabled. For example, an “X” may be overlaid over the gun that has been disabled and displayed on the display. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed herein and variations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     General 
     While the methods and systems herein are described in terms of software executing on various machines, the methods and systems may also be implemented as specifically-configured hardware, such as field-programmable gate array (FPGA) specifically to execute the various methods. For example, embodiments can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in a combination thereof. In one embodiment, a device may comprise a processor or processors. The processor comprises a computer-readable medium, such as a random access memory (RAM) coupled to the processor. The processor executes computer-executable program instructions stored in memory, such as executing one or more computer programs for editing an image. Such processors may comprise a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and state machines. Such processors may further comprise programmable electronic devices such as PLCs, programmable interrupt controllers (PICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), programmable read-only memories (PROMs), electronically programmable read-only memories (EPROMs or EEPROMs), or other similar devices. 
     Such processors may comprise, or may be in communication with, media, for example computer-readable media, that may store instructions that, when executed by the processor, can cause the processor to perform the steps described herein as carried out, or assisted, by a processor. Embodiments of computer-readable media may comprise, but are not limited to, an electronic, optical, magnetic, or other storage device capable of providing a processor, such as the processor in a web server, with computer-readable instructions. Other examples of media comprise, but are not limited to, a floppy disk, CD-ROM, magnetic disk, memory chip, ROM, RAM, ASIC, configured processor, all optical media, all magnetic tape or other magnetic media, or any other medium from which a computer processor can read. The processor, and the processing, described may be in one or more structures, and may be dispersed through one or more structures. The processor may comprise code for carrying out one or more of the methods (or parts of methods) described herein. 
     The foregoing description of some embodiments of the invention has been presented only for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Numerous modifications and adaptations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     Reference herein to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, operation, or other characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one implementation of the invention. The invention is not restricted to the particular embodiments described as such. The appearance of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Any particular feature, structure, operation, or other characteristic described in this specification in relation to “one embodiment” may be combined with other features, structures, operations, or other characteristics described in respect of any other embodiment.