RC – NerdBeach

Get your USB mini rad gaming on with Actiga

Actiga is offering cool controllers for computers that include built in games. The games, dubbed Mini-Motion, sell for $20, and come in versions like skateboarding, RC cars, baseball, and more. Each game has a USB controller that is suited for the game, and the price is not bad. The games are compatible with Mac and PC (so even those two guys on the PC/MAC commercials can play together.)

Personally I would like to see some really rad mini games, such as a wicked compiler button where the object of the game is to make the project build and link without upending, but I am not sure if many could handle the stress of such an intense game…

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iPhone control of RC car

Greg Chaffins

The iPhone, with its design that incorporates a touch screen and built in accelerometers, is really a good device from a control standpoint.

Especially considering what kind of ad-hoc controllers that I have built over the years to do simple functions. Yes, it is a very convenient device for control, as is almost any touch screen device on the market. Usually, though, I find that the Windows Mobile devices end up in the hands of the physical project hacking crowd. The new low price of the iPhone may be changing this, at least until Apple makes another attempt to lock it down.

But anyways, I digress. An inventive 18 year old named Josef Průša and his brother has put the iPhone to work controlling a small RC car, and the results look quite handy.

The app uses five buttons, with four of them being a standard control mechanism. Hit the fifth button, and the iPhone’s accelerometer becomes the controller. As the video shows, it makes driving the car with the iPhone a simple thing. More info at the project site.

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Flying RC Star Trek Enterprise Starship

Greg Chaffins

Have you ever had the desire to take control of the original Enterprise and take it for a spin? While that isn’t actually possible, it IS possible to drive the RC version, thanks to Tyco. Their flying Enterprise is controlled by, of all things Trek, a communicator (which really drives home the question for me – why couldn’t the communicator initiate the beam up, instead of always asking Scotty to do it? But I digress).

The flip open controller allows you to take the Enterprise to the skies, and features authentic sounds to get things going. The foam constructed Starship model charges up in only 15 minutes, and allows you to boldly go where Star Trek fans have not gone before. (Sorry, had to say it).

The Tyco Flying R/C Enterprise costs $80, and you can find it at Entertainment Earth.

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Remote Control Sweeper Project

Greg Chaffins

Evil Mad Scientist has a simple but entertaining DIY project that may help getting younger members (and spouses) of the family interested in helping with cleaning. The concept is a relatively inexpensive (cheap) RC car with a swiffer type dust mop attached to the front.

Simple in construction, but possibly big in payoffs from both an effective end result and a project satisfaction standpoint. The video shows the RC sweeper in action.

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