THE THREE DREAMS OF RADIO CONTROL
To enjoy the
history of radio control it is not necessary to be an
electronics expert. Anyone who flies, drives or sails
models can appreciate this electronic revolution by
reference to the Three Dreams of Radio Control. Here they
are, told from the perspective of model airplanes.
DREAM
ONE – ANY CONTROL
Long before
humans took to the skies themselves, they flew model
airplanes. For over a century (and continuing today) people
have launched models which they spent considerable time and
money on only to watch them head toward a tree, an object
or out of sight. At that moment they experienced the first
dream – “If only I had some
control; I
don’t care if it’s left, right or other – any control at
all might save the day”.
This dream lead to the development of single channel
radios; typically controlling only rudder by means of
rubber band powered escapements or motorized servos.
DREAM
TWO – MULTI
Over the years
flyers yearned for more controls to be able to do more of
the things that real airplanes do, especially aerobatics.
This dream lead to various multiple controls coaxed from
single or multiple channels and culminated in reliable reed
systems.
DREAM
THREE – PROPORTIONAL
Dreams one and
two usually involved all or nothing or “bang bang” type
control. When the button or lever was pressed on the ground
the rudder or other control surface would proceed to
deflect to the limit of its travel. Many pilots dreamed of
the day the transmitter would have a control stick and the
control surface would move only to the degree the stick was
moved by the pilot, “just like a real plane”.
This third dream, proportional control, was first realized
by skillful blipping or pulsing of control buttons, then
mechanical or electronic pulses then increasingly
sophisticated analog and digital systems.
