Does anyone know the difference between radio control and remote control is? Someone who is not in the the hobby asked me. The only answer that came to mind was that remote control was slang for radio control.

In today's age it usually means the same thing. But I've always thought of them as different. Remote control refers to controlling an item from a remote location, usually by an attached wire. Radio control refers to controlling in an item remotely, by the use of radio waves.

As I said, they pretty much mean the same thing. But that's how I've always thought of it.

Just adding my .02 worth.

Ditto!

Anything controlled by radio frequency (RF) is radio controlled. Everything else is remote controlled. (ie. fiber optics, cable, I.R. etc...)

So Control line planes would be considered remote control?

I guess that makes sense

Those that call Radio Control 'remote control' just aren't in the know. In fact, if somebody came up to me and said "that's a cool remote control toy", I'd probably punch them in the nose. My radios control my planes. My remotes control my TV's.

You guys are close but...

ALL radio controlled planes are also remote control (You are controlling them from a remote location)

But not all remote controlled items are radio controlled such as your infra-red TV remote, or anything with a wire

Its tomahhhhhato darnit, not tomato. And that's no lady, that's my wife!!!

I almost agree with Minniflyer, in fact all but that "by wire" being remote control. I think remote control is any means of controlling without direct connections such as a wire, pole, stick etc. Light, radio, IR, sound etc. would be remote controle but U-control by wire is not nor signals transmitted via wire or fiber optics controls are not remote control.

Signal transmitted by fiber optics is remote control. Minn is dead on.

Are you guys talking about what is usually referred to as "mote control" by the great unwashed masses?

Jim

Yeah, Jim, I think they are. Hey, all the newbies have a large problem with the term "Transmitter" versus "Controller". They are so into computer games that everything is a 'controller'. They have no idea what a receiver is or what it does.

Now OTOH my grandson can trash my behind when playing one of those games. My 'controller' just never seems to work very well.
So it's all just the terms of the game and the generation. NBFD!

So, playing with this idea a little more, is a car (not talking model car here) remote controlled since it is steered through a series of rods and linkages? Aguably this is no different from a control line plane which was agreed to be remote control.

Or does distance come into it - How remote do you need to be?



Terry

Geeze Red, what are you smokin'?

I couldn't have said it better if I do say so myself!

Yes, and, no.

Nope, the steering wheel is part of the car. Add a servo and a wire/infrared receiver it's remote control. Add a rf receiver and it's radio control. Distance is not involved. Method is. Same for industrial equipment. Technology allows us to move to control rooms and manipulate everything remotely. Or do it the old way and stand next to the machine while moving levers and flipping switches.

Radio control is used to clear things up. It's still remote control, you just don't have wires and have to point things in certain directions.

To go back to the original question. Your friend may have been looking at the "remote control" cars in wal-mart or something like that. That's why we use an identifier like "radio control". If your in the toy section and it says "remote control" it's got a wire attaching it to a handle.

To mix things up again... would a drive-by-wire system like some of the concept cars be remote control?[sm=biggrin.gif]

If you tell a control-line flier that his airplane is remote control, what kind of look would you get? Something like this...[sm=angry.gif]

Remote controlled = being controlled from a location not coincident with the object
A Radio Controlled aircraft/car/boat is Remotely controlled. A Bomb Squad robot is remotely controlled, but {Certainly!) not by radio--they are usually controlled by wire.
A "Fly-by-wire" or Drive-by-wire vehicle (e.g., F-16) is NOT remotely controlled, as the controller is coincident with the object being conttrolled.
And just to pick nits--a C/L aircraft is not remotely controlled, since the lines are an integral and necessary part of the aircraft. At the same time, the elevator (and flaps, if there) are remorely controlled.

Now, go and have fun with that!

Roger W Guinn, PE

A good test, if you break the physical connection and no longer have control, it is not remote control. So P51, Break that fiber optics cable and see if you still have control. If you do not, it is not remote control.

Pure Hogwash!
Break the radio link by standing in a Faraday cage (with your transmitter) and see if you have control of that RC aircraft. Put a piece of cardboard between the TV and your couch and see if the IR remote works.

The true definition of remote control is whether the operator must be present at and move with the controlled device. If he must move with it, the device is not remotely controlled. Individual components of the device may (and likely are)remotely controlled, but if the operator has to move with the device, the system is not a remote control system.

RW, you're right! The car/airplane with a drive-by-wire/fly-by-wire would not be remote controlled. But the subsystems would be. Very good point. That is actually what I was attempting to ask... just not enough clarity of mind or vocabulary. You are 100% right and I'm guilty of trying to stir the pot.
This isn't something that can be measured with a stick. It just has to meet the right criteria. It would still be remote controlled if you were holding a receiver/servo in one hand and the radio in another.

You can hang your hat on this-
We use the wording "Radio Control" to be specific about what type of remote control we use.

Ok, let's take this train of thought one step farther. Einstein's Theory of Relativity. All things are relative from your point of perspective. What is defined as remote? 5'? 20'? a mile? same city? state? country? If the frame of reference it a few feet, then yes we are remotely controlling our planes. But if widen your frame of reference to the same city then no, you are not remotely controlling our planes.

Just trying to throw a bit of humor in here.

You sure you didn't throw it up?

See Pic.

I rest my case.

Thank you for the answers. As it turns out the guy had been looking at toy cars in Wal-Mart and saw the the different labeling on the boxes. He wanted one without the wire attached thats why he asked, so he is buying one that says radio controlled.

boy am I glad we got that straightened out.