Buzz
Modern Remote Control systems provide nearly endless range, no interference, and first-person view cameras for piloting, making it possible to control machines from miles away, even out of sight, all for under $500.
With remote control technology's boundless possibilities, it's surprising that smugglers, law enforcement, the military, and even pranksters haven't harnessed this potential superpower more extensively.
Below are some jaw-dropping and incredible potential applications for Radio Control—both for good and not-so-good purposes. It’s mind-blowing that we don’t see more of this!
10. Global Drug Trafficking
For $400, you can purchase a silent electric aircraft model with a six-foot wingspan and a flight range of up to 3 miles. These planes can ascend to the clouds in under 60 seconds and carry payloads weighing up to half a pound. Expect flight times of up to 20 minutes per battery. For an additional $200, first-person video equipment can be added, enabling the plane to be flown expertly even at great distances and landed in a confined area. These aircraft could easily be used for smuggling purposes, as depicted in the movie Bad Boys II, making border busts more challenging.
9. Roadside Bomb Sweeper
There have been numerous tragic reports of U.S. or Coalition soldiers, as well as U.N. Peacekeepers, losing their lives due to roadside bombs. These bombs are typically detonated when a vehicle passes over them. To prevent the loss of life, a simple old car could be outfitted with a $200 servo, $50 receiver, and a 12-volt battery pack for remote control, as demonstrated on MythBusters. A convoy member could control this vehicle remotely, clearing the road of any explosives, thereby ensuring the safety of all personnel.
8. Police Air Intelligence
Forget about spending $500 an hour on helicopter surveys for cannabis grow operations (which might soon be legalized anyway). For just $200, a remote-controlled electric motor glider painted to camouflage with the sky could be flown by an officer within a 2-3 mile radius, far from view, while using affordable first-person view technology to monitor the ground below.
The glider could remain airborne for over 2 hours, hovering at altitudes of up to 5,000 feet or as low as 100 feet for quick passes. It would look like a model plane, making it discreet. A zoom camera and GPS relay mounted on the aircraft would enable officers to easily locate local cannabis fields with minimal cost and effort.
7. SWAT Mini-Kamikaze
With a decent aim, $600, and a pound of explosives, SWAT team members could deploy a small radio-controlled electric jet fighter, purchased from a model store. Capable of reaching speeds of 150 mph and a 2-mile range, this device could be directed straight into a high-risk situation. The impact would trigger a powerful yet controlled explosion, creating a shockwave to disrupt the scenario. This brief aerial strike would give snipers an advantage, enabling them to secure the safe release of hostages. The drone could circle for over 5 minutes before locking onto its target.
6. Sea Monster Hoax
Forget about remote-controlled boats: enter the RC Submarine, which brings an entirely new level of hoax potential. Throughout the last century, stories and images of marine monsters have fueled myths across the globe. With a $300 RC submarine, one could create the basic framework of a sea monster. By adding a waterproof, realistic plesiosaur or 'Nessie' head, you could control a sea creature with a lifelike appearance, bringing it into view before submerging it beneath the water. This would allow you to claim sightings of the creature, supported by multiple witnesses and documented footage, creating an unshakeable sea monster event.
5. Movie Making
Instead of renting costly life-sized aircraft for aerial shots or using animated planes for dramatic fly-bys in action movies, expertly controlled models costing less than $700 could serve as unmatched props. These models can capture smooth aerial footage, fly beneath bridges, race down highways, and even crash into trains for action scenes that would make James Bond envious. They can perform barrel rolls through tight gorges, with footage stabilized by integrated gyroscope technology. All of this is possible thanks to remarkable advancements in radio control, electric power, and GoPro camera technology.
4. Remotely Deployed Visitor
What could be the ultimate prank? How about sending a remote-controlled flying device that appears on a friend's property, performs impossible maneuvers with no visible pilot, and drops a government-style message before vanishing into thin air? I believe that would be quite the unmatchable prank.
For less than $300, a flying machine like this could be assembled. Controlled from over a mile away, it would leave bystanders utterly bewildered by its precise and daring movements.
3. Bomb Disposal
When a bomb is located by law enforcement, disarmament specialists or even robots are called in to neutralize the threat. This process involves considerable risk to the response teams. However, a radio-controlled hybrid vehicle, consisting of a high-performance electric RC helicopter priced between $500-$1000 and equipped with a grasper hook, could lift the bomb with minimal vibration. Controlled from up to three-quarters of a mile away, using a remote camera, the bomb could be moved to a pre-evacuated safe location like a gravel pit, where it could be disposed of by remote blasting or robotic disarmament.
2. Remote Police Vehicle
Every Police Force Should Have One! RC electric land vehicles are available for purchase and can be custom modified for approximately $300. These vehicles are capable of precise navigation, can traverse various obstacles, and reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. They have a control range of up to 300 meters, and remote cameras can be added for a reasonable cost. Instead of engaging in dangerous confrontations with potentially armed suspects, police could deploy the scout vehicle to investigate ahead, even instructing the suspect to surrender. The suspect may assume the device contains a bomb, increasing the likelihood of compliance.
1. RC Water Auger
In high-risk situations involving boat-borne drug smugglers, the challenge is how to stop the vehicle without resorting to lethal force. A radio-controlled submarine, equipped with a remote camera or guidance flag and an auger device, could puncture and sink small boats carrying armed criminals – all without the use of firearms. Basic hobby submarines are priced around $400, and a customized police model with a 2+ mile range, onboard cameras, and a penetrating charge warhead could be developed for $4,000-$6,000 (or less if mass-produced).
