You have probably seen the ads on Saturday morning television proclaiming the amazing abilities of the "Super Ultra Road-rippin' Devastator" or some other radio controlled (RC) car. And you may have seen people at the park flying a model airplane or blimp, or controlling a miniature boat sailing serenely across a pond. In this article, you will learn all about radio control. You will find out what frequencies are used for RC toys, what the different components are and how they all work together. You will also learn what the difference between radio control and remote control is when talking about toys or models. Types of RC Toys

RC toys come in a large variety of models, including: · Cars · Trucks · Fantasy vehicles · Airplanes · Helicopters · Blimps · Sailboats · Motor boats · Submarines · Robots · Animals While the mechanics of how they operate can differ greatly between different toys, the basic principle is the same. All radio controlled toys have four main parts: · Transmitter - You hold the transmitter in your hands to control the toy. It sends Radio waves to the receiver. · Receiver - An antenna and circuit board inside the toy receives signals from the transmitter and activates motors inside the toy as commanded by the transmitter. · Motor(s) - Motors can turn wheels, steer the vehicle, operate propellers, etc. · Power source The transmitter sends a control signal to the receiver using radio waves (see How Radio Works for details), which then drives a motor, causing a specific action to occur. The motor in a car may cause the wheels to turn, while the motor in a plane may adjust the flaps. The power source is typically a rechargeable battery pack, but sometimes it's just normal batteries. In many of the RC toys, the radio controlled motor provides guidance while another source of power provides the locomotion. Here are some examples: · A model airplane often has a small gas-powered engine to turn the propeller; the RC motor controls the flaps. · A sailboat uses the wind for propulsion; the RC motor controls the rudder. · A blimp uses helium or hot air for lift; the RC motors control small propellers. Now let's take a closer look at each of the main components.

RC Toy Transmitter

RC toys typically have a small handheld device that includes some type of controls and the radio transmitter. The transmitter sends a signal over a frequency to the receiver in the toy. The transmitter has a power source, usually a 9-volt battery, that provides the power for the controls and transmission of the signal. The key difference between radio controlled and remote controlled toys is that remote controlled toys have a wire connecting the controller and the toy, while radio control is always wireless. Most RC toys operate at either 27 MHz or 49 MHz. This pair of frequencies has been allocated by the FCC for basic consumer items, such as garage door openers, walkie-talkies and RC toys. Advanced RC models, such as the more sophisticated RC airplanes, use 72-MHz or 75-MHz frequencies. The majority of RC toys are labeled with the frequency range they operate in. For example, the RC truck below has a label designating it as a 27-MHz Most RC toy manufacturers make versions of each model for both frequency ranges (27 MHz and 49 MHz). That way, you can operate two of the same model simultaneously, for racing or playing together, without having to deal with interference between the two transmitters. Some manufacturers also provide more specific information about the exact portion of the frequency band that the toy operates in. A good example is Nikko of America, who offers the option to create racing sets of up to six toys with each model tuned to a different part of the 27-MHz frequency range. Transmitters range from single-function simple controllers to full-function controllers with a wide range of options. An example of a single-function controller is one that makes the toy go forward when the trigger is pressed and backward when it is released. To stop the toy, you have to actually turn it off. Most full-function controllers have six controls: · Forward · Reverse · Forward and Left · Forward and Right · Reverse and Left · Reverse and Right In most full-function controllers, not pressing any buttons or turning any knobs causes the toy to stop and await further commands. Controllers for more advanced RC systems often use dual joysticks with several levels of response for precise control. About Jeff Tyson:

Jeff Tyson is a Microsoft-certified systems engineer with a degree in business administration from Southeastern Community College, where he was president of the local chapter of Phi Beta Lambda, the national honor society. In 1987, he won the Phi Beta Lambda state collegiate competition in computer technology and went on to take eighth place nationally. Jeff served as director of Education Future Now at the prestigious North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM), and as a system administrator for the U.S. Department of Defense, where he worked on a national initiative to develop "paperless recruiting."

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