combine a gas powered remote control car with a wireless network

[Funkatronic]

this Idea came to me one day

instead of using rc car frequencies, U turn rc cars into wireless network points

each car could have an ip adress...802.11a(I think) has about 20-54Mbps ...that would be enuff for a few extras: controls, temps, speed, mph...and maybe even video via a camara mounted on the car

what do ya think?

[Blacktooth]

Quit talking about it and do it! I might buy one from ya, especially with onboard video that would rule!

[Funkatronic]

Its a conceptual idea..

lol

I can see how it can be done...but I have no clue how to make it work

[SlartyB]

Originally posted by Funkatronic
this Idea came to me one day

instead of using rc car frequencies, U turn rc cars into wireless network points

each car could have an ip adress...802.11a(I think) has about 20-54Mbps ...that would be enuff for a few extras: controls, temps, speed, mph...and maybe even video via a camara mounted on the car

what do ya think?

OMG!! You idiot !! You could have patented that and become a millionaire !!!

Seriously, that is a really cool idea, I can see a whole bunch of other uses for that - like a remote controlled "robot" for all sorts of things. Damn, if only you hadn't blurted it out on the internet :(

Oh well ... you could still be a millionaire if you are first to market with a product. You'll have to be quick though .... ;)

[KegCanMan]

*PATENT PENDING*
lol. that is a killer
idea. make it work,
and you are rich.

[hobbes2112]

That would make "lan parties" more fun! You could drive around and hit your friends is real life while they tried to hit you in computer games.

No, but really....that could make a nice search and rescue platform also! Think about it, a team of rovers crawling through collapsed buildings after a disaster, a search pattern of miny hover drones that could cover many times the area of their human couterparts! This could be excellent.

[Adisharr]

Yeah I'm working on it now.. thanks :) seriously good idea though..

:cool: :D

[Funkatronic]

lol...
D'oh!!!

STUPID STUPID STUPID!!!!

hehe

its my idea!!! mine mine mine!!

[TechGodG82]

this doesnt seem too original... many colleges, rescue services and the government already have remote controled robots that have video and all that stuff....

but i do say that using a wireless lan does present the posibility for multiple robots and controlers to comunicate with each other over a simple network.

I have looked into wireless comunications for computers, particularly in the use of robotics. There are many companies that you can buy wireless transmitters and recievers that hook up to your computer and a remote system.

here is a link to my college's aerial robotics page, i think it uses a wireless com link thing to comunicate with some other robots and machines.
http://a-robotics.spsu.edu/

[SlartyB]

Originally posted by TechGodG82
this doesnt seem too original... many colleges, rescue services and the government already have remote controled robots that have video and all that stuff....

Yes - controlling robots via wireless communication is nothing new, but AFAIA they have never been connected up to the internet in this way. You could potentially go into any Inter Cafe anywhere in the world and "log-on" to the robot. Plus each robot could communicate with any web site in the world, or other robots. Someone has *got* to try this out ....

[Funkatronic]

It hasn't been done using wi-fi, yet....

yeah, it would be cool
U could use a standard pc racing wheel and pedals....and no limitations of frequency..it wouldn't matter at all...it would depend on ip adresses...

[Blacktooth]

I'm sad to say, I found a large drawback to this neat idea: Range.

Wireless networking doesnt have the range needed for cars to go anywhere meaningless, much less planes or copters.

[SlartyB]

Originally posted by Blacktooth
I'm sad to say, I found a large drawback to this neat idea: Range.

Wireless networking doesnt have the range needed for cars to go anywhere meaningless, much less planes or copters.

Who said anything about range ?

So long as you are within the range of the nearest transceiver, it'll be fine. You would have to either put "smarts" in the robot so that it doesn't go out of range, or limit it's range physically by being inside a building - but that's fine.

-OR-

You stick your web-enabled cell phone / PDA on your car and away you go.

Either way, it doesn't detract from the "coolness" of the idea. Think about having a robot that could roam your home at your command from anywhere in the world - you could go on holiday and keep an eye on the house, switch lights on and off - even record that favourite TV program you forgot to set the VCR for. You would be "virtually" at home. I think that would be really cool. Of course, there would be security issues (you wouldn't want someone to be able to hack into it and make it open the front door !!), but I am sure those could be worked out. A simple "robot proof" lock would do the trick. Makes you think though - doesn't it ? A whole new class of "house wrecker" hackers would emerge who derive pleasure from going beserk in someone's home just for the fun of it.

[Funkatronic]

range issue is easy: just use multiple wireless access points...if the pass-off is fast enuff, it could work

[SlartyB]

Originally posted by Funkatronic
range issue is easy: just use multiple wireless access points...if the pass-off is fast enuff, it could work

Yes - but I think Blacktooth was thinking about robots roaming outside, in which case, there is a very real limit to how far you could make them go. By it's very nature, wireless networks have relatively short ranges. Fine inside a building, useless outside.

[Blacktooth]

Yeah, thats exactly what I was thinking SlartyB. I was wanting to mount a cheap "X10 wonder-pop-up-cam-from-hell" on a RC plane or car. Then stream the video (scale speeds of ~$300 RC cars are mindblowing!). Possibly control other channels with it as well, ie for "battlebots". Basically replace the current PCM remotes with a 802.11 rig. The limited range wouldnt allow for this (except battlebots), and placing transceivers all over would take the "Remote" out of RC. I was also thinking of combining this idea with Lego Mindstorms as well, and I still may do that if I ever get the time (Lego should be working on this now if they want to make the big $$$).

As for your home robot idea: Wouldn't it be a lot easier to just hardwire wi-fi into your electronic components individually then control them from your webpage? It seems easy enough to do. I guess there isn't a demand for it yet or one of the big consumer electronics cos. would be doing it by now.

[shastamicnasty]

I saw that SMC has a Wi-Fi antenna, SMCANT-DI145, that is good for 9 miles. That is a pretty good range.