Hey i'm a nooby with a question.
Is it possible to place a small camera in your aircraft that send what it record to your computer?
And if yes, can you also than control it with the computer?

God. I hope not.

Buy yes, of course you can. It is done all the time for drones and UAV.

A modern transmitter is a computer, after all. You'd just be adding a video uplink and making the world a poorer place. Go outside and keep it in visual. Safer and we may keep the hobby unregulatedlonger.

Cameras for R/C airplanes are very much available. And you can also setup that uplink. However, you instantly convert your R/C airplane into a UAV or drone. Doing so will invite regulations like Charlie said.

However, you can record onto a SD or SDHC card. There are a number of videos online for that. Just ensure that you dont do it around a sensitive area such as a penitentiary, UN office or such. It will invite attention from the cops. For example, our field is located close to a high security prison (which is atleast a mile away) and though our airplanes cant even get there, we were banned from flying for 4 months in the last flying season due to a hi-profile trial. Now we have the cops visit us regularly on weekends

Ameyam

I believe there are already FAA regs re: autonomous robot flight vehicles.

If you are talking more of an autopilot situation where the auto maintains heading and speed under supervision by a pilot, probably okay.

Perspnally cannot see where the fun would be without being in total control of the airplane

Tom

the camera setup you'll need can be very expensive, so you may want to check into the rules in your country before spending the money, here in the US, once you move the controls to a computer, you now have as drone or UAV and those fall under defferent regulations than Radio Controlled

David,

Since flying a model outdoors is so much fun, what I have done is to record a flight with a video recorder on board, and then play in my PC, ............and even post it on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/lnewqban#p/u/16/x9H25wy2ujY

Control a RC model from a computer is illegal, at least in USA.
For FPV (First Person View) flights, AMA regulates the following:

"An FPV-equipped model must be flown by two AMA members utilizing a buddy-box system. The pilot in command must be on the primary transmitter, maintain visual contact, and be prepared to assume control in the event of a problem."

You can read the full regulation here:

http://www.modelaircraft.org/files/550.pdf

Some additional information in this article:

http://www.modelairplanenews.com/ME2...ADE948F6C6B9B7

Best regards!

Point of information - The AMA is not a government body or legislative entity and their "rules" do not constitute laws; even in the USA.  They have no hold or sway over non-members.

Much as I like and approve the AMA and IMAA, it's the FAA that regulates such things.

Very correct, Charlie.

This is what the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates so far:

"Currently, UAS operations for civilian commercial purposes are largely prohibited, limited to mainly research and development, product demonstration, or crew training with an experimental certification. Public-use applicants for UAS must obtain a Certificate of Waiver or “We have to make sure sense-and-avoid is more than a given—it must be a guarantee.”
May/June 2010 FAA Safety Briefing 23 Authorization (COA) which is processed by the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization and reviewed by the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Program Office, FAA’s primary point of contact for unmanned operations.
The application is reviewed to ensure the operation is safe and appropriate safety mitigations are imposed. If there are any questions about the safety of the operation, safety studies are required for those situations where a proponent wants to do something that is outside the bounds of the interim operational guidance material. FAA grants COAs on a case-bycase basis and only when it is clear that operations can be conducted safely.
Despite the multitude of restrictions, applications have increased nearly tenfold in the last six years. Realizing the rapid expansion of this billion-dollar industry, the FAA is taking steps toward allowing small unmanned aircraft (under 55 pounds) to operate commercially in the NAS—under low-risk conditions—in the near future. As part of the rulemaking process, the FAA formed an Aviation Rulemaking Committee to develop recommendations for consideration. The FAA expects to have a published Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) by mid-2011, with a final rule expected in late 2012."

http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/uas/uas_faq/

http://www.faa.gov/news/safety_brief...yeInTheSky.pdf

http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/...fm?newsId=6287