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Old 01-17-2008, 12:42 AM
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sheograth
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Default RE: what is this truck???

It does a bit, yeah. The thing is, to add to my above behemoth of a post, is that broad design categories like such as solid axle suspension, swing arms, wishbones, etc are not patentable and protected. There simply arent that many ways to setup a 4 wheeled vehicle. In that sense, really broad automotive design isn't a matter of secrecy.

In the world of 1:1 vehicles, a Mercedes and a Kia both have alternators, internal combustion engines, 4 wheels, similar suspension, similar transmissions, and are laid out similarly. Thats because for the last 100 or so years, collectively the industry has refined the design. The innovation is in how individual components are designed. I have no doubt that Daimler Chrysler has patents on the nuances of their onboard computers, sensors, and all individual components - and if another brand were to copy those outright it would be illegal.

You don't see Toyota suing Honda for putting a differential between 2 driving wheels, just as you don't see Boeing suing Airbus for putting wings on their planes.

RC cars are so much more simple, so its easy to have many identical looking cars and trucks out there. Refinement takes place at a much more elemental level, ESCs, servos, motors, engines - thats where the differences are found, not in how the parts are laid out.