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Hot Product
One of the hottest toys this holiday season is this pint-sized RC helicopter that fits in the palm of your hand. Its small size and lightweight foam construction makes it perfect for indoor use. While said to be virtually indestructible, it is probably best off in the hands of an adult or older child (8 years and up). The sturdy remote is a nice size and easy to operate for beginners while the precision control makes it fun for advanced users too. Get it now before it's sold out and you'll be glad you did. It's great entertainment and a reasonably priced gift for yourself or others. |
Robotics and RC Toys
Kids these days only seem to care about one thing -- toys that are battery-operated and that can sing and dance, talk, walk, and everything in between. It's no wonder. Have you tried playing any video games





How to Choose
- The first thing you will want to consider is your price range. There are lots of inexpensive RC toys
and a few small robots that are very reasonably priced. Should you have the money or want to spend the money on a high-end robot or RC toy, there are plenty of options. The average cost for most commercial RC toys is about $30 to $60, but hobbyist cars can run from $175 to $300 or more. The average cost for most robots
is over $100.
- Be aware of the types of conditions that the toy can handle. Some RC cars are built tough to tackle grass, rocks, dirt, snow and other conditions while others are really only meant for racing on flat pavement. Often you can tell what kind of conditions a toy can handle based on the tires it has; the large, knubby ones are best for rougher conditions (off-road cars
) and the small, smooth ones are meant for street use (on-road
).
- Consider the size of the vehicle. This might seem obvious, but the bigger the vehicle, the more powerful it is. In other words, don't get something huge for indoor use and vice versa.
- Decide whether you want a nitro car
or an electric one. Nitro RC cars run on 10-20 nitromethane fuel and are probably best reserved for serious hobbyists since they are harder to maintain and operate. On the other hand, they can reach much faster speeds than an electric vehicle.
RC toy or robot?
Both are fun, sometimes educational, and either can turn into a personal hobby.
- For those with a need for speed and simplicity an electric RC toy would be the best option. There are two options to choose from: toy cars
or hobby cars
. A toy car is what usually comes to a person's mind when shopping for children. They want something with a cool look, user-friendly interface and enough power to amuse a child for awhile. These cars don't have to be incredibly fast or have any special features, although many of the best-selling models do have a unique twist to make them stand out from the rest.
- Hobby cars
and planes
are meant for adults or older children with an affinity for collecting and/or model-making and can cost significantly more than a basic consumer car. They are custom built to the specifications the user chooses and often, these are what serious RC lovers will want. Note the differences between a "ready-to-run car
" or RTR and a kit car.
- RTRs, such as the Sig Kadet Seniorita Trainer Kit .15-.25,63"
, DuraTrax Evader EP BX w/ESC Prebuilt Purple
, or Dumas Chris-Craft 1940 Barrel Back Kit 28.5"
, are a fun and easy way to build your own model airplane or car and they often come with a choice of engine, radio receiver, battery, servos and charger.
- Kits usually include the most of basic things needed to build an RC car, such as a chassis. They require assembly and possibly the purchase of additional parts, such as a motor, transmission, etc.
- Robots
, despite the stigma that has followed them around since their inception, are not as scary as they might seem. None of the robots made to date are able to pull an I, Robot
move just yet. Thanks to the increasing popularity of robots and modern science, there are a variety of humanoid and mechanical robot toys on the market. They are great gifts for kids and often, even adults will be impressed by them.
Robots
You might notice that all the items shown below are manufactured by WowWee Toys. That's because they have made the biggest steps in the consumer robotics scene. Nonetheless, there are some other companies working at developing robots too, which are shown in the second row of robots below.
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Ideal for Little Kids The Robosapien Junior |
Perfect for Boys Little boys will love terrorizing their sister with these ferocious robots: the Roboreptile |
Great for All Ages Robosapien |
New and Improved Humanoid RS Media is the newest of the humanoid robots and it isn't even for sale yet in the US. Nonetheless, it is probably your best choice if you want a robot. It has all kinds of programmable features and a choice of personalities. It is even capable of taking photos and videos as well as playing MP3 files. Check out the Web site to learn more about the RS Media. |
For Animal Lovers WowWee Alive Chimp |
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This award-winning toy/hobby kit/robot has really fared well since its release. Not only is the humanoid model available, but there's also a scorpion-like creature and machine. The catch that makes this robot so endearing is that you build it yourself. It's a great learning tool and toy for kids as well as an amusing activity for adults. |
Hitec 77003 RoboNova-I Robot Kit HRN1-KIT This is a very pricey (around $1000), albeit very competent robot (it can do flips) that takes about six to eight hours to complete. |
Video Reviews
RC Toys
Below are some popular RC toys in a variety of price ranges. All are commercial RC toys.
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External Links
- About.com: Choosing an RC toy frequency.
- eBay.com: A detailed guide for beginners on how to choose an RC car.
- RCPlaneGuide.com: How to get started flying RC planes.



















