Windows CE R/C Transmitter

Si24601 writes "Futaba has released details of a new radio transmitter, the 14MZ, that incorporates a 640x240 colour touch screen, runs Window CE and uses a Compact Flash card. As someone in the midst of building a semi-autonomous model yacht, this screams to be used for telemetry feedback. Fly RC Magazine has a review of the 14MZ."

Comments

All new meaning to system "crash"

[SnowDeath]

Well, not really because it has two processors: one fore Windows CE and non-critical processes. The other is made by Futaba and controls flying the plane.

Cost

[MrRee]

TowerHobbies (www.towerhobbies.com) had this listed yesterday for a little over $2k. A little pricey for me. As a long time rc pilot, I love the features. Give it 5 years and every computer radio will have this kind of technology.

Re:Hunh?

[spudchucker]

The author is building a model boat. She likes the idea that data (direction, fuel level) can be sent from the model boat to the remote control device.

Re:Sorry, no telemetry ...

[C. Alan]

If you are looking for good cheap on-board telemetry for your RC aircraft, check out

http://www.eagletreesystems.com/

For the price, you can't beat the data you get.

No return channel - it's a transmitter only.

[Ungrounded Lightning]

My only question is can I stick a digicam on my gas powered R/C plane, and get the live video feed from it right there on the R/C controller?

As I read it this is strictly a transmitter. There's no receive channel. The whole second processor/WinCE/display business is just control-panel candy, utterly useless for any feedback (though perhaps handy for giving you information on reconfiguring the controls or what they're INTENDED to do on the craft you're currently controlling.)

So no remote-vision. No "semi-autonomous yacht" either, unless you are willing to run it with no feedback from it.

It may make it easier to operate the controls, automate some standard complex functions (i.e. "pull out of spin" button), or synthesize controls that do coordinated operations on multiple control surfaces. But that's about it.

If it DID have a return channel - especially a TV image from a forward-looking camera - that would be a quantum leap. (Such a channel could carry a lot of telemetry back, too, and could easily be augmented to do just about anything you wanted.)