Autoblog

Sega arcade game cabinets turned into R/C car controllers

Zach Bowman — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Videos, Toys/Games

If you're one of those souls who prize vintage arcade cabinets, you may want to look away. A group has torn into a pair of classic Sega Rally games to create something a little more creative. Using the old steering wheel and pedal inputs, the team created a virtual racing game that controls real radio-control cars. The cool part is that the driver can choose from either an on-car camera or a top-down view as a shout out to the racing games of old.

According to our friends at Engadget, the project only ran into one real challenge, which was getting the feed to pump through the old CRT monitors in the cabinets. In the end, the guys had to scrap using the old tubes in favor of a more modern screen.

Sure, it breaks our hearts a little to see Sega Rally get cut on, but we'd be lying if we said we didn't want to spend an hour or two behind the wheel of this duo. You can check out the creation in the video below.

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Sega arcade game cabinets turned into R/C car controllers originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch The Greatest R/C Car Chase Ever

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Toys/Games

What's the recipe for a great automotive chase scene? Well, first you need to have cars - cool cars, fast cars or classic cars, preferably, along with some machines to actually... well, give chase. Police cars work well, naturally, and they better be fast enough to keep up.

Throw in some scenery that matches the mood of the chase, an appropriate sound track with realistic engine sounds and some suspense-building music, a litany of camera angles - a helicopter overhead couldn't hurt - and a script that includes virtually impossible stunts, crashes and explosions. Oh, don't forget the obligatory fruit stand.

What you don't need, apparently, are drivers in the cars. As you'll see in the video after the break, all of this movie-making magic can be done without putting a single stunt person in harm's way. How? Scroll down below to find out, and be sure to check out the bonus behind-the-scenes video for good measure.

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Watch The Greatest R/C Car Chase Ever originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here's Mini's R/C Cooper in action at the Olympics

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Mini

There were requests from all around to see video of the electric "Mini MINI" radio-controlled cars that are being used to retrieve javelins, hammers, shots and discus' (disci?) at the London Olympics, and here it is.

The Olympic-liveried electric Cooper hatchbacks in roughly 1/4-scale ply the infield grass. The couriers are loaded up by judges in the field, who slot the particular sporting implements into holders built into the roofs, then the cars are driven back to the judges near the throwing area for retrieval.

Based on how many comments on the Mini R/C cars we've seen that are some variation of "Do want," we wouldn't be surprised to see these again somewhere else. You can watch them work in the videos below.

Continue reading Here's Mini's R/C Cooper in action at the Olympics

Here's Mini's R/C Cooper in action at the Olympics originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Aug 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Olympics to use Mini Cooper R/C cars for javelin, discus retrieval

Chris Paukert — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 14:16:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Hatchback, Mini, UK, Humor, Specialty

We can't help but cringe at the notion of 'product integration' efforts most of the time, particularly when it comes to movies and sports. That's because as often as not, the placement efforts seem contrived. And while the notion of using a Mini Cooper to retrieve thrown javelins, hammers, shot and discuses at the London Olympics might not seem like the world's most natural pairing, we can't ignore the inherent cheek and charm in using radio-controlled cars for an otherwise unremarkable chore.

Dubbed "Mini MINI," these three electric R/C Cooper hatchbacks are rendered in about 1/4-scale - necessary to ensure adequate payload capacity for up to eight kilos (nearly 18 pounds). That's enough carrying capacity to lug around a hammer, a discus, a shot or a pair of javelins. The cars' large scale also helps them pack the larger battery arrays that Mini says are necessary to run them for 35 minutes (before being down for 80 minutes of charge time). The models are painted blue with orange Olympic livery and white roofs, and they even have working headlights.

The Mini MINI R/C cars will be used at both the Olympic and Paralympic games, and they join a fleet of 160 full-size BMW 1 Series Active E models and 40 Mini E hatchbacks as part of BMW's own all-electric Olympic team. While we're a little surprised Mini didn't choose to go with a Clubman or the load-lugging Countryman like we did in our recent giveaway, we think the marketing stunt fits in well with the brand's fun and funky spirit, and we're hoping that Mini publishes some video footage of their little helpers in action soon.

Olympics to use Mini Cooper R/C cars for javelin, discus retrieval originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Aug 2012 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ken Block's latest Gymkhana vid goes small scale

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Toys/Games

If you've been waiting for someone to combine R/C cars and Ken Block's brand of gymkhana, you'll want to pay a visit to Hot Wheels. The toy maker has produced a replica of Block's rallying Ford Fiesta, and after you load the required eight AA batteries you'll be drifting it around corners WRC-style in much less time than it took Block to learn his craft.

We won't mention the center-mounted wheel under the car that makes it all a bit easier. Instead, you can scroll down to see a video of Ken Block writ small for yourself.

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Ken Block's latest Gymkhana vid goes small scale originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Traxxas now makes an R/C funny car. Enjoy [w/video]

Zach Bowman — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:13:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Toys/Games

Traxxas has done a smart job of establishing itself as a toymaker for grownups. With radio-controlled iterations of Ken Block's Ford Fiesta gymkhana car and Vaughn Gittin Jr's Ford Mustang drift machine, the company has something for everyone.

Or at least it does now. Traxxas is now producing R/C funny cars for straight-line antics. The cars are capable of over 70 miles per hour, come with an adjustable wheelie bar and a TQi 2.4GHz controller with all sorts of fun modes. Launch control, race, burnout and staging modes are all part of the programming. A 1/8th scale Christmas tree is also available.

So far, there are only four funny car models. Buyers may choose between Courtney Force's Ford Mustang, John Force's Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, Mike Neff's Castrol GTX Ford Mustang or Robert Hight's AAA Auto Club Ford Mustang. Scroll down to see a quick video of the cars in action.

Continue reading Traxxas now makes an R/C funny car. Enjoy [w/video]

Traxxas now makes an R/C funny car. Enjoy [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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R/C flying DeLorean drone doesn't need roads

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Toys/Games, Russia

The mantra of the builder of this R/C DeLorean replica from Back to the Future is: "куда мы идем, нам не нужны дороги." According to Google Translate, that's Russian for, "Where we're going, we don't need roads." Appropriate, eh?

With a painted foamcore body and blue LEDs, this Mr. Fusion-equipped DMC-12 sits on a quadrotor platform and is powered by a distinctly non-nuclear lithium-polymer battery juicing four motors, a speed controller and stabilizer. While no plutonium is required, this homebuilt's cool is practically radioactive. Check it out after the jump.

Continue reading R/C flying DeLorean drone doesn't need roads

R/C flying DeLorean drone doesn't need roads originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canadian takes over seven years to dig out basement using R/C construction equipment

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Toys/Games, Humor

Radio-controlled cars and trucks truly are a labor of love. An expensive hobby no matter which way you slice it, the costs get exponentially higher the more scale accurate you try to make your machines. And when you're talking R/C construction equipment, we'd wager that hundreds of dollars quickly turn into thousands of dollars.

Now that we've established that R/C machinery is an expensive hobby, let's talk about its impact as a time-sucking activity. After all, not only must you completely assemble and perfect your radio-controlled creations, you're certainly going to get them out to play with them. Or, if you're a particular Joe from Saskatchewan, you're going to do real-life work with them.

According to a massive 50-plus-page thread on scale4x4rc.org, every morning Joe gets to work by loading his scale R/C excavator onto the back of a specially made R/C semi truck, then pilots the not-so-heavy equipment into his basement construction site. And by every morning, we mean every morning since June of 2005. Now that's dedication to the hobby. At the end of each day, all the newly excavated dirt and rubble is driven up a spiraling ramp and out the basement window.

Fortunately, Joe has documented his small-scale R/C basement construction project, so we can all gawk and gander at a full suite of photographs and videos showing how it's all been done. Check out the attached image gallery and the videos after the break to see for yourself. We see only one problem... this leaves no way to eventually win the heart of a girl.

Continue reading Canadian takes over seven years to dig out basement using R/C construction equipment

Canadian takes over seven years to dig out basement using R/C construction equipment originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pulse jet plus truck from Radio Shack equals comically overpowered R/C fun [UPDATE]

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Toys/Games, Humor

Radio-controlled cars and trucks can be tons of fun, as anyone who grew up piloting the little toys will surely tell you. Judging by our own experience, there's no youngster that doesn't think of what great projects could be completed if he or she were only an adult with a nearly unlimited budget. Thing is, most of us never actually pursue such ideas when we reach adulthood.

Thankfully, there are a select few that really do follow through with their childhood aspirations of radio-controlled lunacy. Like the man in the video after the break, who mounted a pulse jet engine to the chassis of a relatively cheap radio controlled truck purchased from Radio Shack (which apparently sponsored the project for PopSci). Four pounds of thrust may not sound like a whole heck of a lot, but it's plenty sufficient to get this truck moving at ludicrous speed.

Best of all, the project was all captured on video, including some on-car footage from a GoPro mounted at the nose. See for yourself after the break, and if you want to replicate the good times, a complete parts list is included at Popular Science, as well.

*UPDATE: We heard from the builder (Thanks, Vin!), who sent us a link to a slightly longer video, which we've pasted after the break.

Continue reading Pulse jet plus truck from Radio Shack equals comically overpowered R/C fun [UPDATE]

Pulse jet plus truck from Radio Shack equals comically overpowered R/C fun [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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R/C car takes hydroplaning to a new level

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Toys/Games

"I can remember when my grandfather taught me how to skip stones. You know what he told me?"

"Always make sure the stone is flat..."

Yes, we all remember the classic scene from Speed Zone (also known as Cannonball Run 3 or Cannonball Fever) where the old man is out at the lake teaching his little grandson to skip stones. Just as he's instructing on how to throw the stone at the correct angle, the training session is interrupted by a red Lamborghini Countach that flies off a short pier, skips across the water and ends up safely on the other side.

No, it's not that easy in real life. Unless, of course, you do happen to have a vehicle with a relatively flat bottom along with the proper tires and lots and lots of power. Or at least the radio-controlled equivalent. Need proof? We suggest you see how it's done in the video after the break.

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R/C car takes hydroplaning to a new level originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Radio-controlled motorcycles take to the track

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 02 May 2009 11:35:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Toys/Games, Motorcycle

Click above to watch video after the jump

Having grown up in the era of the Team Associated RC10, Tamiya Clod Buster and Team Losi JRX-2, we'll always have a soft spot for radio-controlled vehicles of all sorts. In fact, a few of the Autoblog staff still spend the occasional late-night tinkering on the kinds of small-scale projects that we couldn't afford to tackle in the real world. Therefore, we were naturally entranced by racing footage from Britain of some 1:5 scale RC motorcycles zipping around a makeshift race track.

The footage you see in the video was captured during the 2007 season, so you can bet that the action has only intensified since this was filmed. We only wish we were this adept racing with two wheels, be it on a real bike or with an RC controller grasped firmly in our digits.

[Source: British Radio Car Association via The Biker Gene]

Continue reading VIDEO: Radio-controlled motorcycles take to the track

VIDEO: Radio-controlled motorcycles take to the track originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 02 May 2009 11:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mini V12 RC car engine produces not-mini power

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: I.C.E., Videos, Toys/Games

Click above to watch a video of the mini V12 engine in action

Today we've seen something quite small and extremely awesome: a small-scale V12 engine designed for model radio controlled vehicles. This is an entirely functional model and features twin camshafts and overhead valves. It's air-cooled to simplify things by ridding itself of the need for complex water jackets, radiators and the associated plumbing, though the crankshaft is made from multiple pieces. The lilliputian engine displaces just 87-cubic centimeters, but produces between 6 and 8 horsepower running on a mixture of methanol and nitro methane. The best thing of all is the builders say they will be making kits available soon so enterprising craftsmen can power their RC cars, planes and boats with a real V12. To truly get an idea of just how awe inspiring this little machine is, click past the break for a video of the mini V12 in action.

[Source: Wawu via Carscoop]

Continue reading Mini V12 RC car engine produces not-mini power

Mini V12 RC car engine produces not-mini power originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First-person R/C car puts you in the driver's seat

Alex Nunez — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Toys/Games

A company called Fat Shark offers one of the coolest R/C cars we've ever seen. How so? Its system has a camera mounted in the car's driver's seat. It transmits its signal wirelessly to VR-style goggles that give the operator a first-person view of the terrain ahead of the car itself. That alone would be neat, but the camera has pan and tilt functionality that the driver controls by simply moving his or her head to "look" in each direction. The video pasted after the jump gives you a taste of what what you'd see if the glasses were strapped to your noggin. Granted, you'll look like a dork with the antenna-festooned goggles on, but at least you'll be having fun. Fat Shark also sells the camera and components separately, so you can use them on model airplanes, too. Thanks for the tip, David!

[Source: Fat Shark]

Continue reading First-person R/C car puts you in the driver's seat

First-person R/C car puts you in the driver's seat originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paris Motor Show: Skoda floats in the Roomster

Eric Bryant — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 15:37:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Paris Motor Show, Crossover

We wandered into Skoda's booth at the Paris Auto Show expecting to catch our first up-close look at the much-lauded Roomster. What we didn't expect was that we'd spot it in dirigible form, silently gliding 15 feet over our heads.

Apparently floated as a trial balloon for a new series of lighter-than-air people movers, the Czech manufacturer lofted a helium-filled representation of its new crossover vehicle, replete with a radio control system that steers the vehicle via a pair of props mounted on swiveling gimbals. You've seen the future of transportation here first, folks!

Continue reading Paris Motor Show: Skoda floats in the Roomster

Paris Motor Show: Skoda floats in the Roomster originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Sep 2006 15:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Time waster of the day: Stupid-fast RC car

Eric Bryant — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology

For those of you who haven't kept up with radio-controlled car technology since the days of the original RC10 and Tamiya Grasshopper, well, things have changed just a bit. Thanks to lithium-polymer (LiPo) batteries and inexpensive brushless DC motors, RC enthusiasts now have access to more power than we could dream about just a few years ago.

The above video shows a Team Losi Mini-T 1:18-scale RC truck ripping around on a sand dune. With the stock motor, this would be less entertaining than watching paint dry, but there's nothing like increasing the power output by an order of magnitude to increase the fun factor. While something like this is by no means the fastest RC car in the world (despite the claim of the video's editor, that record belongs to Nic Case at over 160 MPH), it's probably capable of 60+ MPH like this author's Castle Creations-powered RC18T.

Why should automotive enthusiasts care? Well, for one, playing with RC cars will put a grin on nearly anyone's face, and provides a pleasant distraction when things aren't going well in the 1:1 world. But more importantly, the same sort of technology that gives us insanely fast toys can also be expected to brighten gearheads' days if the internal combustion engine gives way to electric motors as the power source of choice for future vehicles.

[Source: Transport Trends]

Time waster of the day: Stupid-fast RC car originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Aug 2006 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Volvo's RC mini-XC90

John Neff — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 15:04:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Etc., Volvo

click image above to play video

Volvo has created four 1:5 scale mini XC90 SUVs for a very specific task. These true baby utes were built for the European Athletics Championship in Gothemnburg and will be used to transport javelins, hammers and discusses from wherever they land on the field back to the throwers. Each one was hand built by Volvo and feautres an open roof through which discusses and hammers can be placed inside and a special javelin rack up top that is unlikely to see produciton on full-scale XC90s. The radio-controlled Volvos are powered by 2 hp electric motors and can ferry four discusses, three javelins or two hammers back to competitors. Though Volvo has no plans to produce them, we're sure some Volvo engineers will have some fun lunch hours after these RC XC90s finish their tour of duty.

[Source: Volvo]

VIDEO: Volvo's RC mini-XC90 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Aug 2006 15:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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