future of RC: A new millennium in modeling, The

Model Airplane News, Jan 2000 by Aberle, Bob, Gierke, Dave

I suspect the transmitter's control capabilities will keep improving along with the development of new microchips. I do hope, though, that the circuit designers will strive for the easiest operating menu systems. If we are all going to have sophisticated transmitters, then let's make sure that everyone can operate them. How about a large LCD screen on the rear of the transmitter case? This would display various help menus and would be much like having a set of instructions with you all the time.

RECEIVERS

Again, we took forward to the benefits of newly developed integrated circuits that will constantly improve the performance of our receivers. Although we have made tremendous strides in the past 20 years, improvements are still needed in both selectivity (coping with adjacent channels) and sensitivity (radio range). While improving range, we should also concentrate on being able to shorten the antenna length, making model installations more convenient. We probably should also be using a truly universal type of connector and connector blocks that will permit all kinds of interchangeability. These connectors should be foolproof, so that you can never reverse polarity and blow anything out.

If we are considering a built-in channel synthesizer at the transmitter end, then we should be thinking of some form of synthesizer at the receiver end. This way, you could quickly pick an open channel at your flying field, set your transmitter to that channel and then do the same on the receiving end. The method of doing this should be both quick and safe.

SERVOS

Let's get out of our present rut and come up with some new designs for our proportional servo actuators. The same style with a rotary output has been employed for the past 30 years and more. Let's try linear output servos again, and let's have servos with a flat configuration to allow easier mounting in a model. Perhaps we can develop better linkage connections between the servo and the control surfaces. The new digital servos offer some high-resolution possibilities; that's certainly a step in the right direction.

BATTERIES

Things are gradually improving in the world of RC system batteries. The new NiMH cells can provide as much as 1400mAh capacity in the same size package as the 500mAh packs we used previously. This provides longer operating times without the need for field charging. Developments in the. electric power field in the future will obviously spin off to RC system batteries as well.

MICRO RC

This is now coming into its own. New RC manufacturers have paved the way and created an entirely new marketplace by producing tiny or micro-size RC receivers, servos, motor speed controls and the like. The goal of all this is to be able to fly RC model aircraft indoors-especially desirable during winter months or inclement weather. These same, small RC systems can also benefit the new, small models being flown outdoors in parking lots and schoolyards.

The microflight movement is becoming so large that the publishers of Model Airplane News have recently committed to the publication of "RC Microflight," a new newsletter showcased in this issue.