The mechanics and techniques behind remote-controlled cars

Introduction

Remote controlled cars are used widely all over the world, by not just children but adults to. The very first time this invention hit the market, was in the 1960s and since then, they have been rapidly used for multiple pleasure purposes, by various individuals across the borders.

However, most of the essential materials that are used to build up remote controlled cars, have been available since the 1940s and various humans had started experimenting with them by then. In 1966 an Italian company finally decided to manufacture a model of a remote controlled car which was a Ferrari 250LM. This model was imported within the countries of Europe and this is where by remote controlled cars gained their fame and recognition.

The difference between radio controlled and remote controlled cars.

Remote-controlled cars and radio-controlled cars tend to be confused a lot by people, and are sometimes considered not to be the same thing. However, this is just a matter of just choosing which word you mostly feel comfortable in referring to these cars as.

Often remote controlled cars mean that they are controlled using a remote and they give people a basic idea of how these cars actually function. This is also the same for radio cars but in this case it gives people the idea that these cars work using radio waves, hence they are called radio-controlled cars.

Both these carsmainly contain substances that come in the form of wirewhere radios are sent from one point to another, transporting information. One wire is connected to the controller and the inside of the car. This is done so that information between the two points can be exchanged.The reason why the one substance could be consider as the transmitter, is because this substance is usually connected to the controller/remote of the car and that is where the controller gets to send signals to through a series of radio waves to the car, which contains the substance that receives the information, from the controller hence the substance within the car is called a receiver. This then enables the car to be able to move back and forth.

So what is the difference between radio-controlled cars and remote-controlled cars? There is no difference what so ever and these cars are built up with the same components and in a very similar way.

Main focus: the mechanics and techniques of remote controlled cars.

This research is mainly focused on the mechanics and techniques of remote controlled cars andthey will be looked at, in depth. Remote controlled cars are mainly made up of four components being a transmitter, receiver, power-source and motors. However the four components can sometimes be considered as the antenna, circuit board, two motors and a battery slot this is because the antenna and the circuit board fall under one component being the receiver and in this case they have been divided up into their own sections and components because of the different functions they have to offer. With these four components in place, a basic principle of transmitting and receiving information is used, which was mentioned above.

Types of Remote-controlled cars

There are two different types of remote controlled cars, being gas and electric remote-controlled cars. Gas remote-controlled cars usually function with nitro hobby fuel and this fuel enhances its ability to last for a long time and to also have a higher and faster speed. Electric remote controlled cars usually run and function on a certain electric source mainly being a battery cell/cells. However, these electric remote controlled cars are quite easy to maintain and more environmentally efficient.

Interior: The four main components of remote controlled cars:

Transmitter

To be able to move a remote controlled car, a transmitter is needed. This usually comes in the form of a controller/ remote. Here the transmitter gives off signals and indications on how and where the car should move to, by sending off radio waves.

Transmitters that are mainly used for remote controlled cars are called Radio Frequency controls. This is because their way of signalling is by sending radio waves. However there are two types of transmitters being an Infrared and a Radio frequency remote control. An infrared control functions by sending “pulses or infrared light to a device” whilst radio frequency remote controls use radio waves as signals to a specific device.

For a transmitter to be able to send off information to the receiver it uses frequency and the normal frequency a remote controlled car uses is 27MHz or 49MHz. Frequency is usually found in radio waves as it is the one that helps carry signals from point A to point B. Frequency is measured

But what does a transmitter do exactly? Basically what a transmitter does is convert electrical signals to radio waves so that information from the transmitter is sent back and forth. These radio waves are then sent off to the receiver and this is how the receiver knows how to move.

Receiver

The receiver is placed within the car so that the information received from the controller is reflected upon within it. The receiver is where the circuit board and the antenna are usually placed. The circuit board usually contains wires that are connected to the circuit and that connect various stations and parts of the car, in order for the car to function: as each station and part is required to do something that contributes into the functioning and the movement of the car. However transmitters also contain these circuit boards. This is because the wires connected to the circuit board also connect to the various areas where controlling of the remote to enable the car to move is required. The wires are soldered onto the various parts of the circuit board, using a soldering iron. The circuit board is basically like the brain of the transmitter and the receiver to, as the information needed is stored within there and signals for the remote controlled car are therefore given from there.

Two motors

These two motors that are placed in the radio car help the wheels of the car to move, basically for them to be able to turn, in order for the car to move from one side to the other. In simpler terms, these motors help move the car.

The two motors are not placed right next to each other, but one is rather placed in front (by the front wheels) and the other at the back (by the back wheels). These two motors are connected to wires which are then soldered onto the circuit board.

Power source/battery slot

The battery slot is also known as the power source of the remote controlled car. This is where the car gains it energy to move from. However there are two power sources one being in the transmitter itself and the other in the remote controlled car. The power source of a car usually comes in the form of batteries. These batteries and their sizes can vary according to how much voltage power is needed to power up the transmitter and the car itself.

Exterior mechanics of remote-controlled cars

The body and wheels of the remote controlled car

The exterior parts of a remote-controlled car are the body and the wheels of the car.

The body is usually made ofLexan, which is a polycarbonate plastic. This polycarbonate plastic is then moulded into the specific shape or car design of your choice. What happens is that a sheet of polycarbonate plastic is melted to a point where by it is malleable. It is then placed over a mould, of a specific shape or design, that you would like the melted polycarbonate plastic, to take the form of. Using a vacuum, it is then forced against the mould, leading to a polycarbonate plastic version of the mould being formed, after the process has been complete and when the polycarbonate plastic, has dropped to room temperature.

The wheels are usually made of rubber, which also usually consist of rims (the inner part of the tyre) that are made of plastic. The tyre is made by using a mould injections and therefore moulding rubber into the form of a tyre. Tyres are made of rubber for grip purposes and the fact that rubber tyres don’t tear quite easily, as they are quite sustainable.

Masking and painting of remote controlled car

Firstly the body of the car is cleaned thoroughly to insure that there is no dirt or residue left behind on the car itself, from when the car was actually being built.

So the first thing that is done, is wiping the body with a “lint-free cloth” and then proceeding to washing the car thoroughly with dish washing liquid, clean warm water and a soft cloth that won’t leave or case the body of the remote controlled car to have scratches on it whilst being washed. After a few washes, the car is then wiped dry with a soft “lint free cloth” because it isn’t wiped properly, this could hinder with the painting job of the car. The car is then sanded lightly with sand paper on the inside of it, excluded any parts that will remain transparent.

Designing of the body of the car is often called masking. This process involves materials such as masking tape and spray paint. Often, various designs and signs that are wanted on the car are lightly drawn with a pen. Once that has been done various techniques such as covering certain sections of the car that you don’t want to contain paint are implemented. These sections are usually covered with masking tape.

When masking a body of a remote controlled car, two types of masking tapes are usually recommended (being wide and pinstripe tape) and this is because the wide tape assists in masking the areas of a wide space and the pinstripe assists in covering areas with curves and any compartment to the body of the car, that is of a circular shape.Various types of paints can be used to paint a remote controlled car but it has been occasionally advised for people to use paints that work well with the type of material/materials the body of the car was used to be built with.

Modifying a remote-controlled car

After looking at the mechanics and techniques of remote controlled cars, I came into terms of how I would like to modify a remote controlled car. I finally came to a conclusion that I would like to modify one, by adding a sound system to it. The reason as to why I would like a sound system to be added to a remote controlled car, is that a number of young children and adults, play with remote controlled cars. As a result of this I would like young children to benefit from it by that they can be granted the chance to improve their academics whilst enjoying the pleasures of the car. By this, a USB containing nursery rhymes, numeracy and literacy work can be played using the car. This will then enable the child to enjoy the pleasures of remote controlled cars and at the same time learning useful concepts for school. For adults this would merely be an extra feature and luxury for them as they can listen to their preferred songs.

Sound system in remote-controlled car

A sound system can simply be added into the remote controlled car, by using the subwoofers and the system of any speaker or set of speakers, and installing themonto the remote controlled car. The speaker is opened up and the parts within it are used. These parts can be placed nicely within the body of the car and spaces for them could be opened up and created for them, depending on how you want them to fit in with the whole remote controlled car. The wires of the speaker and it’s system can then be de-soldered from their power source and soldered onto the power source of the remote controlled car. However if the car doesn’t use as much power or more power than what the speakers need to function, it may not work. The sound system also contains its own circuit board which enables it to let sound out and change from one song to another.

How blogs are created

Introduction

Before looking at how the process of creating a blog can be done, a clear understanding of what blogs are, how they are used and how they are maintained is needed.

To quickly and easily define what a blog is, we can say that it is a single page that consists of a number of entries which are in the order of the newest entry on top and the oldest entry at the bottom, with the date of each entry being given. All of the information, be it in writing, pictures or videos, is usually displayed on that one page. Blogs are a form of sharing ideas, opinions and self-expressing yourself to an audience which could be on concepts you have learnt, challenges you are facing or just basically things that you feel the need to share with a larger audience. These things might impact you and/or others too.

There are various websites that are used and can be used to create your own blog. Such as Wordpress.com, Weebly.com, Blogger.com, only to name a few. When creating your blog, self-expression is one of the key points where by a theme that suite your main topic or idea and what will mainly be discussed and emphasised within your blog is included. Being able to communicate effectively with your targeted audience is also one of the most important ideas of blogging.

Creating a blog

Creating a blog involves a lot of thinking, be it before or during the process of creating one. Generally it is quite easy to create a blog, as the website which you decide to create your blog on guides you effectively. There are also a number of websites on the internet which guide you as to how to go about when creating a blog.

When creating a blog, you have to be certain as to what is the purpose of you creating the blog and what is your blog going to be based at. Having a target audience is also advised, in order to know how to communicate effectively to your audience, being the readers. One of the things in which you need to do when communicating to a certain audience, is to have a certain manner in which you reach out to your audience and to however also encourage your audience to communicate back to you to. According to most websites, having a different writing style, is what makes your blog unique and it however brings out your voice, through your entries.

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