Are cams really feasible for RC Cars?

[gimmeanathlon]

I was just wondering...
Are mini cams really feasible for rc cars? I really want to get one,
but would rather not if its just a waste. I have a small 1/10 scale
buggy I'd love to mess around with a camera with, but worry that the
cam would vibrate so much it would not be any fun watching. Or that the
resolution would be a headache to watch. I have no experience, so any
feedback would be appreciated. Recommendations on cams would be great.
Anyone know a site with clips taken by on-car cams?
Thanks!
Gimmeanathlon

[George Williams]

gimmeanathlon wrote:
>
> I was just wondering...
> Are mini cams really feasible for rc cars? I really want to get one,
> but would rather not if its just a waste. I have a small 1/10 scale
> buggy I'd love to mess around with a camera with, but worry that the
> cam would vibrate so much it would not be any fun watching. Or that the
> resolution would be a headache to watch

The ones I have used produce a very good image on an ordinary
television monitor, such that it's easy to navigate them from
a remote position. I have only used them on slow-moving
surveillance vehicles, so I can't really say, but the
image from a fast-moving camera at ground level might be difficult
to look at during rough stretches. The biggest problem for me
was the 10 mW transmitter causing the signal to cut out regularly.

[gimmeanathlon]

I see. I would really like to get one on my car, but does anyone know
any successfal attempts at putting one on a fast car? Specifically
resolution and specs of succesful cam.
Thanks

[Al Satian]

"gimmeanathlon" <gimmeanathlon@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1102875000.501268.45370@z14g2000cwz.googlegro ups.com...
>I was just wondering...
> Are mini cams really feasible for rc cars? I really want to get one,
> but would rather not if its just a waste. I have a small 1/10 scale
> buggy I'd love to mess around with a camera with, but worry that the
> cam would vibrate so much it would not be any fun watching. Or that the
> resolution would be a headache to watch. I have no experience, so any
> feedback would be appreciated. Recommendations on cams would be great.
> Anyone know a site with clips taken by on-car cams?
> Thanks!
> Gimmeanathlon



Have a look here, some useful info for you and vids too.
http://www.rc-cam.com/

Mark.


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[George Williams]

Al Satian wrote:

> Have a look here, some useful info for you and vids too.
> http://www.rc-cam.com/

Yes, a good source. I agree - these mini-cams are much better
for aerial use than for high-speed ground vehicles.

[Al Satian]

"George Williams" <nyar1ath0tep@mac.com> wrote in message
news:41BCD800.763BB8D1@mac.com...
> Al Satian wrote:
>
>> Have a look here, some useful info for you and vids too.
>> http://www.rc-cam.com/
>
> Yes, a good source. I agree - these mini-cams are much better
> for aerial use than for high-speed ground vehicles.

Having said that I have seen a cracking vid shot from inside an electric R/C
car, If I can find the link again, I'll post it up.

Mark.


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[George Williams]

Divrdan007 wrote:

> If anyone else has had any experience with these things, and can offer
> recommendations on how to improve range and picture quality, let me know.

There are several booster amplifiers available in the 500 - 1000 mW range,
but they may be illegal in your area, so the usual technique is to
track the vehicle with a parabolic reflector or yagi antenna.

[TyBreaker]

George Williams wrote:
> Al Satian wrote:
>
>
>>Have a look here, some useful info for you and vids too.
>>http://www.rc-cam.com/
>
>
> Yes, a good source. I agree - these mini-cams are much better
> for aerial use than for high-speed ground vehicles.

You need a suspension and dampening system for the camera to improve the
result of shocks, maybe a secure, fluid-filled bag that the cam housing
sits on? Something that would translate the shocks into milder waves?

I am very interested in this myself but was thinking more of a slow,
stealth arrangement than racing eg getting close to wildlife with a
camera and mic.

[Frater Mus]

On Tue, 14 Dec 2004 at 09:40 GMT, <tybreakerNO@SPAMhotmail.com> wrote:

> George Williams wrote:

>> Yes, a good source. I agree - these mini-cams are much better
>> for aerial use than for high-speed ground vehicles.
>
> You need a suspension and dampening system for the camera to improve the
> result of shocks, maybe a secure, fluid-filled bag that the cam housing
> sits on? Something that would translate the shocks into milder waves?

Even in aerial photography (AP) RC pilots stop the prop to minimize
vibration.

> I am very interested in this myself but was thinking more of a slow,
> stealth arrangement than racing eg getting close to wildlife with a
> camera and mic.

Some of the national geographic teams use E-Maxxes for that kind of
thing.


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[Techpriest]

I have seen one used in an RC10T3 at my local track. The picture and
sound was good, the only problem we had was motor-noise. By that I
mean when he gunned the electric motor you could see some static in the
picture. Not sure if they all do that or if the motor needed turned or
something. I would not try and drive very fast like that, as stated
before the lack of depth perception alone is a problem. The driver
drive from the stand while we watched in the pits. It was fun to
watch, a little shakey but no worse then the NASCAR in car footage I
see on TV. I have ordered one myself and will try it out in each of my
vehicles.

T-Maxx, RC10T4 FTE, XXX4, RS4 MT, RC12L3

[walker]

"Techpriest" <zeus@ourlair.com> wrote in message
news:1103141170.207435.322900@z14g2000cwz.googlegr oups.com...
> I have seen one used in an RC10T3 at my local track. The picture and
> sound was good, the only problem we had was motor-noise. By that I
> mean when he gunned the electric motor you could see some static in the
> picture. Not sure if they all do that or if the motor needed turned or
> something. I would not try and drive very fast like that, as stated
> before the lack of depth perception alone is a problem. The driver
> drive from the stand while we watched in the pits. It was fun to
> watch, a little shakey but no worse then the NASCAR in car footage I
> see on TV. I have ordered one myself and will try it out in each of my
> vehicles.
>
> T-Maxx, RC10T4 FTE, XXX4, RS4 MT, RC12L3
>
I would think that the on road cars would be easier to watch. The
smoother the track the easier it would be to dampen the vibration I would
think.


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[TyBreaker]

Frater Mus wrote:
>>I am very interested in this myself but was thinking more of a slow,
>>stealth arrangement than racing eg getting close to wildlife with a
>>camera and mic.
>
>
> Some of the national geographic teams use E-Maxxes for that kind of
> thing.

How excitement! I've seen several University web sites with projects
using the TXT-1 and cameras or ground radar etc and thought that's what
I'd like to do. And now that you can buy wireless surveillance systems
from the local electronics stores, it really opens things up to the masses!

[George Williams]

TyBreaker wrote:

> > Some of the national geographic teams use E-Maxxes for that kind of
> > thing.
>
> How excitement! I've seen several University web sites with projects
> using the TXT-1 and cameras or ground radar etc and thought that's what
> I'd like to do. And now that you can buy wireless surveillance systems
> from the local electronics stores, it really opens things up to the masses!

I think it might work well, although I haven't seen the E-Maxx
videos from Nat Geo. The few times I've run a vehicle in the woods,
I never saw any animals on the monitor, implying birds, squirrels,
etc. were scared away by it.

[Frater Mus]

On Fri, 17 Dec 2004 at 18:58 GMT, <nyar1ath0tep@mac.com> wrote:

> I think it might work well, although I haven't seen the E-Maxx
> videos from Nat Geo. The few times I've run a vehicle in the woods,
> I never saw any animals on the monitor, implying birds, squirrels,
> etc. were scared away by it.

The NG folks built a termite mound looking apparatus on top of the E,
stuffed in the camera and drove it up to lions.

I talked to one of that crew at a hobby show (Chicago 2003 maybe?).

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CBSRMT uploads each day in <news:alt.binaries.sounds.radio.cbsrmt>
http://greyhound.mousetrap.net/altus/ our ex-racer greyhound
http://www.mousetrap.net/~mouse/cs.html How to get good phone support

[TyBreaker]

Frater Mus wrote:
> The NG folks built a termite mound looking apparatus on top of the E,
> stuffed in the camera and drove it up to lions.

And of course the lions were totally fooled because they are used to
termite mounds migrating north for the winter...

[walker]

Animals accept change pretty well and have a great curiosity.
"TyBreaker" <tybreakerNO@SPAMhotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ZZaxd.78741$K7.49341@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> Frater Mus wrote:
> > The NG folks built a termite mound looking apparatus on top of the E,
> > stuffed in the camera and drove it up to lions.
>
> And of course the lions were totally fooled because they are used to
> termite mounds migrating north for the winter...


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