Hasta La Gadget!

Have you ever wanted to race some RC cars, but just ended up crying because no one was there to play against you? Anki Drive, a new toy (and technological marvel) coming out on October 23rd, 2013, is going to change everything. Mini remote control cars that know how to drive themselves by using artificial intelligence? YES.

Think that this isn’t the greatest thing ever? What if I told you that Apple gave Anki the stage at one of their most high-profile tech keynotes of the year? Now that I have your attention, take a look at what is sure to be one of the most revolutionary toys ever brought to market.

Anki Drive allows you to, using your iOS device, race remote control cars against your friends. But, in addition to that, it lets you race remote control cars against cars driven entirely by artificial intelligence. The Anki Drive vehicles analyze their relative positions on the track 500 times per second, and make decisions accordingly.

What’s more, players can give AI cars different tasks: when commanded to, computer-controlled cars will attempt to block a certain car by getting in front of it. They can also be told to put the pedal to the metal, of course.

This product is honestly mind-blowing to me – you can upgrade and level-up your cars, just like in video games, and you can use the cars’ weapons: tractor beams, shields, and more! Send opponents’ cars reeling or pull them towards you so that you can get a better shot! If this does not end up being the top-selling toy of Christmas 2013, I’ll eat both of my shoes.

The Anki Drive app is available for download on the App Store as of right now, but the product will not be available until October 23rd – more information is on the Anki Drive website.

Want more remote control goodness? Check out the remote control cockroaches and the world’s fastest remote control car, if you dare.

[via Uncrate]