Everyone enjoys playing with remote control gadgets, and now there's a lot more on offer than just the standard remote control cars and planes of yesteryear. Check out these fun (and occasionally even useful) examples of remote control frivolity.
VTS Camera Car
Remote control cars are fun enough, but now for the first time ever you can experience an exhilarating drive from the perspective of the vehicle's cockpit. Put on the control helmet and the car's onboard camera will respond to the movement of your head! You can actually look left, right, up or down to check for obstacles before turning! Not only that but you'll also get stereo sound to give you full immersion. Check out this demonstration:
All in all this is the most impressive remote control car money can buy.
One of the slickest available remote control planes, This hydroplane racer happily takes off from water, or any hard surface. One button tap will get the Hydro-Fly in the air. Combined with exceptional speed, incredible acceleration, and extreme 3D manoeuvrability the Hydro-Fly has got flying all wrapped up.
If all that flying and driving means you need to relax, the Snack-Float delivers refreshments anywhere in your pool without anyone ever having to get out of the water. Stock the float with up to five drinks, fill the center bowl with something to munch on, and tell your guests to make way for the snack tray!
This highly desirable R2-D2 responds to over 40 voice commands and reacts to any mention of the key Star Wars characters. He can navigate his way round, patrol, play interactive games, serve drinks from his utility arm or stand guard as a security device. Just like the movie version, R2-D2 will communicate with you through beeps and whistles. Tap R2-D2 too hard on the head and he'll make an annoyed whistle and back away. This is one of the most decked-out toys ever with a soda holder, removable sensor scope, illuminating light beam, utility arm, sound-processing microphones, sonar navigational system, adaptable droid mood-status indicator, and sleek rotating dome.
The X-Plane isn't your average radio controlled plane. There's a built-in digital camera, allowing you to take aerial photos. On the more silly side it has the ability to drop a paratrooper, complete with opening parachute from its underbelly doors and plastic bombs. Sporting 4 channel digital proportional control, the X-Plane is a breeze to fly smoothly and there's very little in the way of aerobatics it cant do.
Scare pretty much anyone with this red eyed hairy horror! Its furry texture and real spider movement make it frighteningly convincing. Just don't expect to be friends with your victims afterwards.
A helium filled blimp that will drop foam bombs on a target upon command. Controlled by three powerful Micro Motor Jet Thrusters for precise flying. You have to be careful to keep it indoors though or it will be lost!
GroundSurf is a three-wheeled skateboard with a difference: it's driven by an electric motor between the two front wheels which you can remotely control with a Bluetooth cellphone. However its designers say its not a skateboard but a surfboard, because you can also control it by surfing like motions.
Homer is a robot! Homersapien can pick things up, throw them around, kick objects and dance about the room - he's even programmed with Kung Fu moves! Homersapian has the classic "Doh!" and catchphrases from the show galore. He can be put into various demo states in which he will take on Homer's persona or be controlled directly via the Simpson's styled remote control. The 67 pre-programmed and programmable functions can be selected and combined to form a series of longer actions. According to some sources, Homersapien also boasts a selection of 28 secret movements that users will unlock as they explore the remote control and the robot itself.
Picture the scene. You take a putt, it's going to miss by a mile, suddenly the ball zigs, then zags, then manages to swerve unerringly into the hole. This little practical joke masterpiece contains a mini gyro which makes the ball go off under its own power when activated by the remote. Make sure your golfing partner has a sense of humour first though.
