Next big rc innovation?
 

I have been racing nearly twenty years now, and have been amazed at some of the technologies and improvements brougt out in the last few years! These include:

Scrc bombproof nicad cells
Esc's
Carbon monocoque tub chassis (e.g. Ttech predator)
Inboard suspension
Orion V2 brushed motors
Personal transponders
Sensored brushless technology
Lipo batteries
2.4 ghz transmitters
Moulded tub chassis (now very common in off-road)
Fluid filled gear diffs in electric cars!

What next big innovation will be on our cars? Personally tyres really havent changed in the last 10-15 years or so....so maybe this could be it???

Ideas please!

Hydrogen power? My Dads still convinced shock technology will explode in rc in the same way it did with motocross... There's a lot of technology in their shocks that could definitely filter through anyway....

What about tyres being properly sealed on rims then having air rather then inserts? Flat tyres would be common but it's something to think about?

Hydrogen Power! Good thinking, but I guess your talking about that tourer that was on tye gadget show :-)

Honestly no but i'd seen some stuff before about Hydrogen powering R/C cars so thought that surely has to come in eventually??

Is the Gadget show repeated?? Was it this weeks episode??

Amish's dad mentioned why dont we use air/??????? filled tyres like race cars. he could be onto something.
i think a nice programme where you can drive a car around the track slowly on the perfect line once and then it is programmed into the reciever. Save driving round then too!! hahaha

I don't race nitro but I am surprised nobody made some kind of self-adjusting carburator. It could monitor head temp, maybe RPM range, unburnt fuel, and adjust needles accordingly.
I raced nitro in the past and that was the big problem with voodoo style setting up, ever changing conditions, flaming outs etc.

That would sell like crazy!

I would also like to try moulded foams inside offroad 1/10th tyres.

you mean fuel injection?

core make moulded 10th off road inserts already and grp had them

No, self-adjusting carburator would be good enough. I remember reading that one top-level english driver from the 90s had a similar thing with a small servo connected to the needle screw and a temp sensor.
1/10th GRP is gone and their moulds were only good for their tyres (and maybe Minispike Schum). Didn't knew about Core, anyone tried them?

h20
 

check this
http://stuff.tv/review/Horizon-Hydrogen-fuel-cell-car/
also on here somewhere is a post by jonny nitro that has a vidio of a electricr c car driving on a hydrogen fuel cell . its a kit you can buy. mint

as for the next innovation i think shocks that mirror mx or car shocks more closely is coming .
and how about hydrolic drive like tractors and the big tractor pulling engines. massive power and torque smooth as silk. and less moving parts

hydrogen is time away, it's not even up and running for full scale autos yet.

LiFe is the next thing power wise, that will replace LiPo as it's more stable and user friendly, beyond that power cells seem to be the next logical step.

and i would'nt be surprised to see super conductor tech work its may into esc's keeping them super cool and efficient over the next few years.

on a more voyeuristic note, surely there will be a way in the near future to combine, VRC, Transponders and GPS tech so you could watch the race unfold on your pc in real time? The live stream is great, but useually seems to focus on one car or one section of track.
imagine being able to download an entire a-final and then follow which ever driver you want, even in car, sweet.:)

I'd like to see a 1 to 1 servo/transmitter interface so you can 'feel' the servo, like force feedback. It would make things more interesting if you can feel the grip the front wheels have.

Platform damped shocks like those found in MX and Mountain bikes for sure. The tech really isn't that complicated, but shrinking it in size is fiddly. the more to big bores means 1/8th is nearing a viable size. However they only work as a sealed unit so changing oil would mean sending it away to an expert!

I would say FPV is something that could take racing to a new level.
What the flight guys are doing and especially in military applications is amazing.

Imagine sitting in you room with a HUD display but actually controlling a car remotely from a drivers perspective.
you could have racers all over the world racing in real time with real models.

long walk to put your car down on the track though!:)

i think the next big thing should be a button on your hand set,conected to a boxing glove on a spring,when some one smelly stands next to you on the rostrum you can press the button and punch them in the side of the head knocking them out,but still carry on racing:thumbsup:

Errr very funny.

I just realised this is close to what is happening now with Dnano racing.
you can have your home cct linked up with a load of racers around the world all on the same track racing live against each other.

Yesterdays tommorow is here:woot:

That's awesome!! I've not heard of this Dnano racing but having had a quick look they look pretty good! Are they expensive??

YES:thumbdown:

there is already a hydraulic system made for the 1/5th hormann ht2 to convert it to a 4wd car (i have pics somewhere) was only a prototype though (fluid is pushed form the clutch bell through hoses to the front hubs then back to the clutch bell/pump).

we already have ecu's for the petrol cars (advances the ignition advance and runs of the power created by the electronic ignitor modules and allows you to alter the timing advance to suit) i cant see nitro being a viable option for to much longer, im surpised no one has made a mini 2 stroke multi port petrol engine yet with its own ignition system like the zenoah/cy, would save most if not all the fueling issues and running issues with them.

Lipo to life is just a tiny step.

The technology exists to transmit the "electricity" from a large module (which could be mounted in the middle of the track) and send the power to each car that's racing.
That's impressive stuff.

"naked trophy girls" :thumbsup:

mmm ttech didnt invent the tub chassis as it was out several years before. Still i agree they did take the design and update it to a rather tasty design.

Shocks, well i thought that someone had brought out some new designs with an extra bottle to the side of the shock body but didnt really hit it off.

I think that aero dynamics will be a big leap as none of the buggies, including the pred are not that aerodynamic. Most front towers equate to having a brick wall on the front of the car even with the hole in the middle of the tower and the tires must aid to the problem.

Off road cars don't really need to have any other aero features besides a Wing though, they're off the ground most of the time or at least high off the ground so you're not trying to create drag like on a circuit car - Plus the power to weight ratio stops speed or acceleration being an issue anyway as the buggies will never suffer any of that due to not being aerodynamic....

WRONG !

Ain't you been watching TOP GEAR??

rather than the car,maybe its the controller that will be next.i am no expert but there may be a way to fit a driving aid(electronic or hydraulic)into the controller,which will assist u when driving helping speed up ur reactions.in theory u cud maybe brake later,turn later,or give u a smoother driving style.just an idea!!!:blush:

Of course one thing to remember is that innovation has to work within the rulebook, or be so overwhelmingly worthwhile the rules get changed.

For example - back in the early '90s several companies were working on cars with proper traction control (with wheels sensors like in a real car) and even active suspension. They were promptly banned and haven't been seen since. The reason is clear - if allowed they will be frighteningly expensive and create a climate of haves and have nots.

Lipo and Brushless only got permitted because, after the initial outlay, they actually make racing cheaper, and looking after the car easier.

Whilst there are all sorts of clever ideas, those bodies that govern racing will only permit those that genuinely improve the racing experience - which is how it should be.

I second this one :thumbsup:

wrong!


yes, i've been watching the gear, and although it's technically possible and has been done, i think we can see that it's not practical for mass consumption yet.


h-cell car was released @ Ihobby this week, not taking direct power but used as a battery life extension system, if i can find the link i'll post it.

whilst its not a step forward, this is a pretty sweet gimick:
http://www.bigsquidrc.com/speed-pass...ble-by-iphone/

If I can find a SP ESC small enough to replace my RS's I'll be getting one as soon as I can once this app is out.

Sorry and what do you make of the FTX Clarity? It works and is available in California. You top it up like an LPG car... Now if THAT is not practical I don't know what is?

Mat said "practical for mass consumption". While I'm sure the FCX is a great car, it requires hydrogen filling stations, of which it seems there are currently not very many. I thought that LPG was going to be good because it was cheaper than regular fuel, but in reality it required you to have your car converted, and not many petrol stations (in my area at least) had LPG pumps, meaning although it was great for practicality, it wasn't any good for mass consumption.

Wikipedia says "Honda believes it could start mass producing vehicles based on the FCX Clarity by the year 2018.". how long until there is at least 1 petrol station in every town in the uk that has hydrogen filling ability? When that happens, IMO the car will be practical for mass consumption, until then, i'll stick to petrol.

Anyway that's massively off topic...

You can do that anyway cant you :eh?:

A

Aerodynamics play a huge part not only in the way the car runs on the ground, but over rough terrain and when in flight, and the entire design is a factor, the body itself in many cases designed for positive aerodynamic influence.

Swapping out bodies can immediately alter the way a car handles in many different areas......

LiFe won't replace Lipo untill it can win races, which pretty much won't happen unless the rules are changed to favour liFe, which won't happen....

Bicycles have been running tubeless tyres nows. Surprised no-one has came upmwith tubes or tubeless tyres/wheels.

I know a few people trying LiFe and certainly in off road it seems very viable indeed ... in fact it is my intention to run LiFe next season, drop one wind on the motor and play with the gearing and speedo and all is good .. dare I say nicer than LiPo ;)