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The RC Hobby
by Nikoli Funston
One of the booming hobbies these days is RC. So, just what does RC mean and what is it?
RC stands for remote control. It is a method of controlling a device by use of a second device that is separate from the first. The first successful example of remote control came in 1903 when Leonardo Torres Quevada presented a device called the Telekino at the Paris Academy of Science. Telekino was a little robot that executed certain commands transmitted by electromagnetic waves. One of the most common and well known uses for RC today is in the field of electronics. Most people are familiar with remote control devices designed to operate televisions and other home electronic devices.
These electronic remote controllers generally operate by transmitting an infrared light beam that is received by the target device causing it to perform various functions. Remote controllers can change channels, adjust volume, and even turn the device on and off. The infrared (IR) signal is restricted to some degree by the need to have a line of sight to the target device. It also has distance restrictions.
Toys are another major user of RC. Many of these use radio frequency waves (RF). The RF signals do not need a direct line of sight and can be effective at a greater distance. The basic RC device consists of four components. These are the transmitter, the receiver, the motor, and the power source. There is a wide variety of RC devices. These include RC cars, RC boats, and RC airplanes. Many smaller type devices such as table top race cars use IR waves for control, but the larger outdoor type mostly use RF waves.
The transmitter is separate from the toy itself, and is usually hand held. It emits a control signal usually using radio waves. The receiver receives the signal and uses it to operate a motor. The motor causes an action. This could be wheels turning on a car or flaps operating on an airplane. The power source is normally a rechargeable battery pack, but could also be regular batteries.
Many RC devices use combinations to provide motion and control. The combination might be a small gas motor like those used in model airplanes to turn the propeller combined with a remote controller that operates the flaps. The same idea is used in a toy car where a separate motor turns the wheels, and the remote control transmitter controls steering. Remote control devices have many more uses than keeping the television watcher glued to his couch. They have opened up a wide spread and interesting hobby and recreational activity. The world of Remote Control devices is expanding rapidly in complexity and variety.
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