The Spy Video Car is a hybrid product created by mixing a traditional

RC car 'Radio-controlled cars'' (or RC cars for short) are miniature model cars, vans, buses, trucks or buggies that can be controlled from a distance using a specialized transmitter or remote. The term "RC" has been used to mean both "remote controll ...

and a video baby monitor. The remote controller communicates digital command via the 49 MHz frequency to the car for control, and the camera on the car transmits

video Video is an Electronics, electronic medium for the recording, copying, playback, broadcasting, and display of moving picture, moving image, visual Media (communication), media. Video was first developed for mechanical television systems, whi ...

via the 2.4 GHz frequency to the remote controller for display. Because both directions use different

radio frequency Radio frequency (RF) is the oscillation rate of an alternating electric current or voltage or of a magnetic, electric or electromagnetic field or mechanical system in the frequency range from around to around . This is roughly between the uppe ...

, they do not interfere with each other. The single-lensed display with a zoom lens produces a bigger

virtual image In optics, an ''image'' is defined as the collection of focus points of light rays coming from an object. A '' real image'' is the collection of focus points made by converging rays, while a virtual image is the collection of focus points ma ...

in front of the operator, creating a first-person point of view feel for the driver. Wild Planet launched it for the 2006 Christmas season. It may be the first RC toy with built-in camera in the US market, and it also received the 2007 T.O.T.Y (Toy of The Year) award at the

American International Toy Fair The North American International Toy Fair (formerly the American International Toy Fair and also known as Toy Fair New York) is an annual toy industry trade show held in mid-February in New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and at t ...

Technical details

Video system

Inside the car body is a transmitting RF module (Richwave "RW67TX-NA03") and a black-and-white camera module (based around the OmniVison OV5116 IC). Similarly, the remote control unit contains a corresponding video receiver (Richwave "RW67RX-NA03") and a 3.5 mm phono jack which carries the video signal to the headset. The headset is based around the Kopin CyberDisplay 300M LV LCD and A300 controller IC. It contains simple optics and a diffused, white LED backlight. All of the components run on a 9v DC source (each has its own voltage regulator), and the Rx/Tx set operates on the 2.4 GHz range.

Vehicular system

The radio and motor-control circuits are similar to those commonly used in other radio-controlled toys. The radio set operates in the 27/49 MHz range, with non-proportional control over steering and forward-and-reverse movement. The motors and gearboxes used to propel and steer the car are fairly typical of RC toys, though they have been designed for quiet operation rather than speed or power, allowing the vehicle to run almost silently.

References

* From product package, user manual and disassembly my spy video car (with my best guess).
Sensor module briefs
from OmniVision web site.
Display module briefs
from Kopin web site.

from Toy Industry Association web site.

External links

Wild Planet web siteSpy Video Car take-apartDetails on modifying the headset for personal use
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Spy Video Car Radio-controlled cars