Remote Entry Vehical (R/C tank)
 

I was doing a search through the forums when I came across some posts from a few years ago about using R/C tanks with cameras for games. I'm curious if anyone has continued playing with that idea?

I toyed with the idea of putting a finger sized camcorder on a miniRC. They camera was about teh size of a pack of bubblegum (200 bucks online) and the mini rc's were about 50-80. Use it as a portable UAV so spot locations and then I could grab the sdv card and put it in my cellphone to review the footage and map out the area.

A good idea, but I personally don't think it would be worth it unless you can view the footage in real time on a monitor.

A teamate is currently toying with the concept of a RC helicopter with a camera. Its more of an outdoor thing, where we play an RC car or tank would do no good.

However, if you play in a 1 story building where the floor is nice and doesnt have alot of obsticles, and no stairs to encounter it would kinda be handy. Strap a Wireless remote claymore to the the front for added dirty bastardness. That would only work if you had a real time feed though.

Edit: Although it would be funny to drive one of those little RC airsoft tanks into a room and get a kill with it.

my R/C truck can go damn near anywhere and has a range of 1/2 a mile. and you could mount a claymore in the windsheild.

Well if it came in shooting, I'd either shoot back or step on it, same with the helicopter. Kthx

How would it call a hit though? Some sort of pressure sensor?

It'd be in pieces all over the floor.

Curious, but do you treat the rest of people's equipment with the same contempt?

Regardless, I'd assume that if someone was going to use one of the R/C tanks as a base that perhaps they'd want to make a new body for it to house the camera and protect it better than thin model plastic can.

I've been playing with a similar idea for a few years, not for airsoft but for restricted space reconnaissance. What I have is one of those tiny wireless security cameras, a portable power pack to run the receiver, and a head-mounted display. The theory is that one gets a vehicle's eye view of life... the idea works, but I was having some trouble with the interface between the HMD and the receiver. It seems that the brand of HMD that I have is somewhat particular about it's video signal. The result was that the image tended to drop out when the vehicle got more than ten feet away from the reciever. (Tests with a standard monitor revealed that it was not an issue with the signal strength from the camera, as the monitor gave a good image out to at least 40 ft: not sure I tested it further than that.) I have a few fixes in mind, but haven't got back to the project to test them. In any case, there are more HMD's available now than there were a few years ago: perhaps the new ones aren't as picky.
On an aligned topic: does anyone know where one can buy bulk tread (or even replacement treads) for a tracked vehicle?
Louis

I've been thinking of a UAV blimp, not much need for refueling and can loiter over the battlefield for a long time. Only problems are wind and people shooting it <if you fly it low enough>

If you made the blimp out of clear plastic, and properly shaded all components, you could likely make one that is rather hard to spot.

I think I've found a project to work on while working on saving up enough for my airsoft gear.

My thought of the RC helicopter UAV is for locations where you don't know your terrain and assuming its not dead in the middle of a dense forest. You fly thing up high get a general lay out of land and move accordingly, kind of like a make shift gps map (unless u have a cellphone with gps). Real time I don't think its benefits would outweigh the cost and time to put it together...unless u mounted a gun on it or attached a tornado grenade underneath it and remote set it off.

Future shop, or somewhere else... had a remote control car with camera behind front windshield, and your remote had the screen... wasnt too pricey...

I am working at making 2 vehicules... the only thing that lacks is money.

First is a CQB recon vehicule, similar to the ones currently used.

Flat design, about 30" square, with tank tread on both sides and all equipment fitted inside the body, so it can be reversed and still work.
With a movable front end, can't give details right now, but it will allow to move up stairs.

Second one is an electric jet plane, built around a Multiplex twister. Basically a R/C plane, mounted with camera, optical zoom, GPS and probably a radio relay to extend the range of communications.
That plane achieves speeds around 80kph at crusing speed. With the help of the GPS and camera, it would be quite simple to fly around in circles.
Plus, with the right battery, we are talking about a 2h fly time.

Radio (as remote) range can be over 2 miles with the right system (using a Futaba 7ch plus FASST technology)