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Chinese Automaker Launches Remote-Control Family Car

Posted by timothy on from the drug-resistant-featuritus dept.

cylonlover writes "When we think of remote control cars, we generally think of scaled-down vehicles that can easily get caught up underfoot. Not so Chinese automaker BYD, which has upsized the remote control car with the release of its Su Rui model in China. The mid-size family saloon that seats five includes Remote Driving Control technology that allows the driver to get out of the car and drive it using the included remote control 'key.'"

14 of 130 comments (clear)

  1. Saloon? by arun84h · · Score: 2

    Does it come with a spittoon and those rickety, swinging wooden doors?

    1. Re:Saloon? by afgam28 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Saloon also means sedan (car) in Britain and Australia.

      Just Britain. No one says "saloon" in Australia; Australians say "sedan".

  2. thinking of bumping someone off? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    So no more need for a brick on the accelerator

  3. Legality? by Balthisar · · Score: 2

    I wonder if this is legal in the USA. I suppose that's not an issue, since it's presumably only available in China.

    I live in China. These guys are already the worst drivers in the world. I wonder how many people they'll injure with remote controlled cars?

    On the other hand, they are truly horrendous drivers (as mentioned), and they don't know how to back up (that's a gross generalization, but it's mostly true). Chinese drivers regularly make backing into a parking space a 10 point maneuver. Just maybe this thing can make them better (quicker) at parking at the Ikea or Metro.

    --
    --Jim (me)
    1. Re:Legality? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      we know how to back up, we back up on the highway all the time whenever we miss an exit.

    2. Re:Legality? by petsounds · · Score: 2

      Just maybe this thing can make them better (quicker) at parking at the Ikea or Metro.

      I kind of doubt that. Controlling a vehicle by remote control requires the brain to continuously transpose one three-dimensional perspective onto another one. If anything, they'll misjudge their turns and distances more often. And that keyfob looks too small to house a video camera, so I'm not sure how they'll avoid smashing into stuff behind or in front of them...whether that be a pole or a little kid.

  4. Sedan by tepples · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Saloon" is a term used in some English-speaking countries for what people in other English-speaking countries call a "sedan": a passenger automobile with four doors.

    1. Re:Sedan by Grayhand · · Score: 4, Funny

      "Saloon" is a term used in some English-speaking countries for what people in other English-speaking countries call a "sedan": a passenger automobile with four doors.

      Those of us in the United States don't consider the English "English Speaking". Saloon is where you go to toss back a few after a hard day of work. Confusing a car with a place to get hammered after work may explain why the English drive on the wrong side of the road.

    2. Re:Sedan by subreality · · Score: 2

      Traditionally, it was the wagon used to get people to and from a train station. Brits call it an estate; this is probably similarly linked to their driving problem.

      Also, a 2-door station wagon is called a "shooting brake" for similar historical reasons: a brake was a light wagon used to break in horses; a shooting brake was a variant used to go hunting.

  5. Video? Yep by TopSpin · · Score: 4, Informative

    Not sure why the 'gizmag' photos-only link is offered when you can watch video of it over here.

    The think actually springs a leak in the video. I'd like to see the longer version were it catches fire. :)

    --
    Lurking at the bottom of the gravity well, getting old
  6. Might be useful if combined with parking assist by Animats · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If the vehicle had the sensors for parking assist, this could be useful. It's a relatively large car, and with this, you could put it into a compact car space. Parking spaces in major Chinese cities are very expensive and hard to obtain, so there's real value in being able to use a smaller one.

  7. What could possibly go wrong here? by dutchwhizzman · · Score: 2

    Nobody thought this could be turned into a guided missile, have they? It won't take more than a few weeks before some robber will drive it through the front of some store to get inside.

    --
    I was promised a flying car. Where is my flying car?
  8. affordable by swell · · Score: 2

    No comments on the $10k price? After all it is something of a luxury car.

    Is it due to cheap labor? Substandard parts? Government subsidies?

    Or is it because of an appalling shortage of lawyers?

    --
    ...omphaloskepsis often...
  9. Designed for terrorists by E-Prime · · Score: 2

    This is great news for terrorists - remote controlled car bombs. Now, why didn't someone else think of this any sooner...