How does a remote control work?

Have you ever played with a remote control toy, such as a remote control car or a remote control helicopter? Or did you ever have a fight with your sibling over the TV remote? What do you think can be the possible mechanism of the remote-controlled car so that a toy car is able to move on our demand? Why is the TV remote able to change channels on the TV screen?  Let us get to know a little bit more about this entire process.

• Remote-controlled things are electrical objects, in which one device is capable of controlling another device by sending waves as a signal message.
• They are wireless devices, with one device controlling another device even from a distance between the remote control and its corresponding device.
• There are many examples of remote-controlled devices such as a Television screen controlled by remote control or remote controlled toy.
• Let us learn about the working of remote control through the example of a toy car with its remote control.

Remote Controlled Toy Car:

• Remote controlled toys are also called RC toys.
• They can be operated from a distance by their corresponding remote control that emits the radio waves.
• The remote control works by sending the radio waves. These radio waves are then received by the car which then moves according to the commands on the controller.
• The remote control consists of a transmitter. The transmitter is powered by a battery and its main function is to convert electrical energy into radio waves.
• The controls from the remote can be used to move a car in the right, left and any other direction as well as to modulate the speed of the car.
• Radio waves travel in space as invisible waves. The pattern of these waves determines the action to be performed by the toy car such as the width, height and length of waves.
• Radio waves have a limited range for travelling. So, if the transmitter is far away from the car, the remote will lose contact with the car and will no longer have any control over it.  For the car to obey actions, the remote and toy car must be in close proximity to each other.
• The antenna present inside the toy car is responsible for catching the signals transmitted by the transmitter of the remote.

Fun Facts:

1. Did you know, in a remote-controlled toy car, radio waves must be emitted by its remote control whereas in the television remote, emission of infrared waves takes place.
2. Sir Nikola Tesla invented the remote control system in the 1800s.
3. The first remote-controlled vehicle was a boat, invented in the year 1898.

Related Questions:

1. Explain the mechanism of a remote-controlled helicopter toy.
2. What are the parts of the remote control system?
3. How does a Television screen remote work?

True or False:

1. Remote-controlled objects are wired objects.
2. There are two electrical objects, from which one sends the signals to another device.
3. There is no limited area for the remote-controlled toy to function within.
4. Radio waves are sent by the transmitter of the remote of a toy car.
5. The antenna present inside the remote of the toy car is responsible for sending the signals to the toy car.

Objective Quiz:

1. Remote controls are __________ objects.
   1. Wireless.
   2. Wired.
   3. Both 1) and 2).
   4. None of the above.
2. ________ is sent as a signal to convey our actions to another device.
   1. Waves.
   2. Lines.
   3. Dots.
   4. Sound.
3. _________ are transmitted by the remote of remote-controlled toy.
   1. Radio waves.
   2. Infrared waves.
   3. X-ray waves.
   4. None of the above.
4. _________ is present inside the remote of the remote-controlled toy responsible for sending signals.
   1. Transmitter.
   2. Reciever.
   3. Rotor.
   4. None of the above.
5. The toy car consists of a_________ which is responsible for receiving signals.
   1. Transmitter.
   2. Reciever.
   3. Motor.
   4. None of the above.