Revell Rc Helicopter: Fun With Mechatronics

摘要

We're heading into the holiday season, so toys come to mind. Even if you're not a kid any more agewise, the toy section of many stores still holds some intriguing electronic gems. Here we examine an interesting remote-control (RC) device, in the form of Revell's RC helicopter. Measuring over 30 cm long, the device is quite a lot of fun-we put it through some parking lot shenanigans before teardown analysis. The helicopter is powered by a rechargeable Li-Polymer battery pack, which is tucked between the two underside runners and is responsible for controlling all helicopter electromechanics. To receive the 27-MHz controller signal, the helicopter's antenna uses a simple stranded wire, compacted and hidden by spiraling around both runners and snaking over the main helicopter body area. Because an "open" 27-MHz communication band is used between remote and helicopter, electrical length of the antenna is significant. But wire is cheap, as is the labyrinthine implementation of the Chinese manufacturing.