Remote controlled helicopters as toys: Probably the most common form of remote controlled helicopters seen today are the ones we see being prepped for a lunchtime takeoff by a hobbyist. Once generally powered by engines driven by a specific mix of castor oil and alcohol, the use of electric power is increasingly used today. In turn, remote controlled helicopters are decreasing dramatically in size. Another benefit from the increasing use of electric-powered remote controlled helicopters is the reduced price of each ready-to-fly unit. This characteristic is probably the single most significant factor which has made remote controlled helicopters available to so many people in the past few years.
Remote controlled helicopters as research tools: The use of helicopters in everyday transport is here to stay. The problem is that development costs for designing and prototyping new helicopters has always been high. This is especially true of helicopters, which have many more moving parts than conventional aircraft. Remote controlled helicopters are fitted with an outer “body” matching that of the real helicopter, and flown through a regimented series of test maneuvers. The remote controlled helicopter’s performance, measured closely by onboard instrumentation, gathers valuable data which is used to perfect the design of the coming full-size machine.
Remote controlled helicopters as movie props: In the same way that Hollywood makes extensive use of helicopters for film work, it likes blowing them up in special effects sequences. Remote controlled helicopters make very economical stand-ins where a real helicopter would be far too expensive and too dangerous to blow up. For these uses, remote controlled helicopters are made to look as realistic as possible in the model shop, and loaded with explosive charges. For realistic blast effects, a certain amount of liquid explosive, such as gasoline, is also carried. The entire lot is then blown up at the director’s command.
Remote controlled helicopters as unmanned aerial vehicles: Remote controlled helicopters make ideal spies. They can hover in and out of tiny spaces. They can hug the ground as theyfly, making them invisible to radar detection. Any number of cameras and sensors can be carried, such as low light level television, infra-red line scan, and image intensification/ starlight scopes. They can carry a wide variety of modern weapons, ranging from small cluster munitions which break open to release small, spherical bomblets, to tank- killing missiles which are operated and fired by an operator sitting miles away. Some remote controlled helicopters can operate from ships, in place of the traditional manned helicopters, carrying specialized gear for hunting and killing submerged enemy submarines. Typical load of these robotic submarine killers are sono-buoys for listening for and detecting the position of submerged objects, and acoustic torpedoes which home in on the sound of a submarine’s screws.