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Radio-Controlled Microcar Review
An anonymous reader writes "ExtremeTech test drives the latest in techy toys: a new wave of tiny radio-controlled cars from Asia. The site's RC car showdown pits the MicroSizer against the ZipZap. ExtremeTech tested the stock version of each car, but also added a faster engine to the ZipZap to see if it would boost speed."
Pocket-sized radio controlled cars, available for $20 or less with controller -- and infinitely customizable -- are now taking the New World by storm
These things are only $20? For a radio controller and car, that's a pretty good price. Hot wheels sets can cost $10-$20, you get more cars but they don't actually do anything.
The next trick will for somebody on slashdot to post a page where they've made a *car mod* for their laptop/etc to interface with the RC
Back in the late 60's / early 60's Mattel struggled and then succeeded in developing a quick-charging small electric toy car. Although you couldn't steer these (ie - not remote controlled / ran on Hot Wheels track), Sizzlers were the first in the "quick charge run for a few minutes on battery power" category of small toy cars.
Loomis
"The television is the retina of the mind's eye" - Videodrome
These cars are fun, but do not try to do many stunts with them, or else they will not work that well. They do work wonders on a flat surface.
IIRC there are several channels within the 49Mhz band. Otherwise it would be impossible to have RC airplane rallys.
I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
Ok, so how do I hook the controller up to my Linux box?
At this tiny size and the relative speed they're going, steering is a real issue. You have to pulse the steering button really quickly for small turns and still end up with pretty sizeable direction changes. They would be a lot more driveable if they had proportional steering, but that might be too much asked at this size and price point.
With their tiny size and relative lack of any bleeding edge R/C car tech all these really are is just toys.
If you are serious about R/C and being competive take a look at 1:12 and 1:10 scale "hobby quality" Electric R/C cars. My car runs 40+mph on an indoor track no bigger than 40x100ft. If I let it rip outside with the proper gearing it will climb to over 60mph.
If you get really into them you could also look at nitro R/C 'argueably' not as fast as electric, nothing can beat the sound of a nitro motor screaming by at 35,000 rpms.
a few of these cool toys. One's from a Taiwanese manufacturer called Auldey, another is from a Chinese manufacturer called Pun Si, which doesn't seem to have a web site.
I modified the car a bit so that it runs on a 9 volt battery (the boxy type) instead of the standard twin 1.5v AA size batteries. It just involves simple wiring and soldering, nothing rocket-scientist-material about it. Needless to say, it sure goes VERY fast! Careful tho, if you use a 4WD based chasis, it might make your car a little easy to overturn on sharp corners.
I found a cool tin-car (it's what its called in Asia) modification website here for those of you who are interested in more advanced mods of this cool toy... Enjoy!
Welley Corporation - SLM Scammers
Japenese company makes similar-scale r/c helicopters
You not going to beleive this: they already do!
Miniature Japanese R/C Helicopter
www.japan-direct.com can also has them.
Moneyed corporations, non-working 'poor' and criminal prisoners are turning productive citizens into tax-slaves.
At work, we have a bitchar-g racing table made from three small ikea square tables and some duplo blocks. It's a nice compact race area, but anything faster than the 1.0 motors (10,000 RPM) tend to spin out around the curves.
does anyone know if the steering and accelleration is preportional? or just on and off?