Future RC Heli Electronics...What might we See in the Next Few Years?

[Mike2112]

Any thoughts or knowledge about what kinds of new and different RC heli electronics do you think companies will come out with during the new few years?

[#1RCHelifan]

Who knows, but I bet 5 years from now the technological advancement in our hobby will blow what we consider as advance by toady's standard out of water. We'll just have to wait and see.

[JWeber]

Smaller more powerful batteries

Better usability of the electronics

A lot more "auto pilot" stuff for doing tricks and crash prevention

More features for less money

But I've been wrong before

[dankcincy]

A spartan FBL unit, maybe.

[bmclaurin]

Bring on the 900 class!

[Cascade]

Hover-helis.
Wait......

[Cailid]

900 size air hogs setting new speed records.

[ronj]

Originally Posted by JWeber

A lot more "auto pilot" stuff for doing tricks and crash prevention

Would be nice to see, but there goes the parts business. I'm sure that's where the money is made for the heli manufacturers. But you are right, the technology will be there soon.

[gothicbunny]

Originally Posted by JWeber

A lot more "auto pilot" stuff for doing tricks and crash prevention

I think we might actually be there already. Helicommand with hard deck? Align APS with GPS? And one of the features I saw listed for the DX18 was programmed servo movement routines at the flick of a switch?

[Superior]

12 & 24 volt servos. Or a trex 1200 on 18 cells

[Jerrymac]

My guess is that advancements in electronic control will eventually make it boring to go out and watch your helicopter fly around by itself. You will probably be able to record a practice flight session on your flight sim, then just load it into the controller on the helicopter, then push a button and your heli will fly the exact routine while you watch.

For me, as long as flybarred helicopters with belt driven tails are still around, I will still be in the hobby. When they are gone, I will be gone from the hobby, which looks like it won't be too long from now.

[dl5973]

FB helis will not die out as long as they are cheaper than FBL helis to set up and fly.

[Slyster]

Flybarred helis are now officially vintage IMO. One day last week at IRCHA we drove the entire flight line and I counted around 8 flybarred helis.. out of probably 1000+ helis... and there were ZERO flybar helis at center stage... (demos, pros etc). Do some still fly mechanical tail gyros? I don't know... probably.. but that is where flybars are going.

Nitro helis are still going on stronger than I thought they would be though. I might have to go there one of these days. Just to do it.

[youturnjason]

Originally Posted by dl5973

FB helis will not die out as long as they are cheaper than FBL helis to set up and fly.

I gotta disagree, flybarred helis are already dying out, I think they'll be gone in a few years. You can already pickup an FBL unit cheaper than most HH gyros.

[dl5973]

I think there will be huge improvements in micro heli technology and reliability

helis will become more powerful/ efficient and easier to fly the tricks will become more complex and mindblowing.

There may be a new design in heli or blades that may greatly imrove performance

As popularity of hobby increases and if hobby goes main streem the law will dictate more quiet and safer helis.

[dl5973]

Originally Posted by youturnjason

I gotta disagree, flybarred helis are already dying out, I think they'll be gone in a few years. You can already pickup an FBL unit cheaper than most HH gyros.

FB helis still used in scale fllying

as long as this does not change it wont die

[aclysma]

You really have to define "died" in this context. In the games industry there is strong speculation that consoles will "die" in the same way that "arcades" died.

Does "dead" mean 0 exist? No, I can go find an arcade cabinet to play today, but I have to go out of my way to find it. Similarly, folks are going to have to go out of their way to find flybarred kits, machines, set up info, parts, etc.

[Volcano]

The control interface may change from sticks to something we cant imagine.

[TignMeg]

As much as I hate to say it I think you will find more "All in one" electronics units. That is to say the electronics modules ESC's, FBL controller, Receiver etc etc will be manufactured as a combined single unit. Its already happening with the ultra-micro's and its only a matter of time for that trend to be extended to large birds.
"I hate to say it" because I kinda like the challenge of installing the electronics webs.

[Just Another Flyer]

The blade 500x release, lipos with10x the capacity, a 24s 250.