Home

HowTo: Remote Control Anything

PopSci breaks down how basic functions of R/C work. Once you've mastered it, the sky is the limit. You can remote control anything. Well, almost anything.

Diagram illustrating the components and signal flow of a remote control system for devices.

"The basic R/C setup consists of a transmitter, a receiver, and several actuators on the receiving end—either servos (electric motors that rotate to a specified position or speed) or relays (which turn electrical components on and off). Commands from the transmitter about position, speed of rotation, or simply "on" and "off" are sent to the onboard receiver, which decodes them into a signal that can be interpreted by the connected servos and switches."

Click through to learn how to make a servo with a little more oomph than your typical hobby store R/C. Also, check out Pop-Sci's R/C creation: the Kamikaze Go-Kart.

You already know how to use your phone. With our newsletter, we'll show you how to master it. Each week, we explore features, hidden tools, and advanced settings that give you more control over iOS and Android than most users even know exists.