Exceed Hyper Speed Initial Assessment

This section of the wiki provides an initial analysis of the Exceed RC 1/10 scale Hyper Speed RC car. No dissection or research was done prior to this analysis with the exception of removing the interchangeable body cover as this would be done by most users soon after purchasing the product.

Development Profile

The Hyper Speed Beginner Version Off Road Buggy was developed in 2008 by Exceed RC. At this time, the United States was in a state of recession, causing most people to be more cautious on how they spent their money. This was clearly a prominent concern that went into the design and production of the buggy, as at that point people would be less willing to spend money on recreational hobbies such as RC racing. With this in mind, the buggy was designed with an aluminum alloy upper plate and chassis to make the buggy more resistant to damage, and therefore hold the draw of a car that wouldn’t require constant and expensive repairs. The parts were also designed to be interchangeable with other major brands, allowing for more flexibility in the event that a replacement part is needed, a fact which gives the consumer the option of customization. Also, RC racing is a small hobby beyond the market of children, and RC companies wish to extend RC to a much more broad market. This desire to appeal to those who are new to RC resulted in the development of a car specifically designed for beginners, who may not want to risk a high price point without a grasp on how to control a full scale nitro car. From the global standpoint, the car was designed to handle off road terrain and Baja 500 style racetracks, mainly in the United States and parts of Canada. This is evident as the manufacturer's website offers special offers to ship replacement parts within the USA, demonstrating that it is their target market. To increase performance appeal, the designers included a four wheel drive system and an adjustable wishbone suspension system that can handle these types of terrain. Overall this product was intended to offer an easier transition into the world of Nitro RC for those who wish to try it and to expand the horizons of Nitro RC.

Material Profile

One of the most important steps in the development of this car is material selection. Upon initial inspection, one can see that the car is covered by a thin

Figure 1: RC car with plastic cover removed

plastic case that provides some protection for the internal parts and is designed to look like a race car. The case is held in place by a series of small metal pins. Under this cover, much of the workings of the car can be seen without having to perform any real disassembly, as seen in figure 1 to the right. The vehicle’s shocks consist of a small plastic container filled with fluid surrounded by a spring, much like a bike shock. The chassis is mainly aluminum alloy and appears to be the source of much of the car’s durability. Next the glow starter sticks out, made out of a silver metal. All of the parts of the engine appear to be metal, with the exception of the plastic and rope-comprised pull starter. The main drive shaft is also clearly visible from the top of the car just in front of the engine. Spouting from the fuel tank are two fuel lines which go to the engine and exhaust systems. The air intake in front of the engine is composed of a foam filter partially encased in rubber. An exhaust pipe made of another plastic material is also visible on the side of the car next to the gas tank. A battery powered, plastic-encased radio receiver with a thin wire and plastic antenna is also visible on one side of the car. The wires running from this as well as two small fasteners on the engine appear to be the only pieces on the vehicle made of copper. The other piece of material which sticks out as unique is a small washer between two metal plates that appears to be made out of a fabric material in order to eliminate possible frictional heat as it rotates.Without doing more research or more in depth analysis, we regrettably are unable to decide which types of plastic or metals the individual pieces are. As we go further into the project, we will look into the individual materials and the factors that resulted in the choices that were made.

Complexity & Energy Analysis

There are well over 100 individual parts to our product including every piece from the chassis to the smallest screw. These parts can be simplified into ten functioning systems: the remote, receiver/computer system, body, fuel tank, engine, transmission, gear boxes (front and rear), suspension (front and rear), and the tires (front and rear) and the exhaust. An in depth analysis of the systems and flowchart detailing their interactions is shown in Complexity & Energy Figures. The individual components which are in the Hyper Speed RC car range from simple plastic pieces which can be easily injection molded and pinned together, to complex engine components like the glow plug and exhaust manifold that require a combination of processes to manufacture and assemble.

The two types of energy which the RC car utilizes are fuel, and electrical energy supplied by batteries. The fuel which undergoes combustion by the engine provides the power in order to move the car through a series of gear exchanges. Simultaneously, the batteries power the regulatory subsystems including the AM receiver and the servos. For more information on the flow of energy through the car, please see linked video.

Usage & User Interactions

The intended use of RC cars is for outdoor driving and racing. RC cars operate much like real cars and can be a great way to learn how cars function at a very basic level. RC cars are usually classified as a hobby. The varying complexity of RC cars corresponds to the amateur and professional use of RC cars. Our specific product is advertized as a beginner RC car, which implies that professional racing is not its intended use. It is a 1/10 scale Nitro Off-Road Buggy. Nitro cars run on a mixed fuel with 20% nitro-methane. The name of the car implies that it has off-road capabilities but the user manual warns to only use on an “operating site consisting of flat smooth ground, and clear open field.” The car operates with a 2.4Ghz Remote Control and AM receiver. We are not yet sure of the range of the remote but we can determine the range during testing.

This RC car comes ready-to-run, right out of the box. Being a beginner model, the buyer needs little knowledge of the product prior to using it. The user simply adds nitro-methane fuel to the fuel tank found under the body of the car. After fueling the car, the user simply turn the receiver on, replaces the body, pulls the starter cord and the car is ready to drive. Since the fuel is available at any local hobby shop, running this car seems to be a very user-friendly. The radio control is very simple in appearance but gives the user access to a variety of controls that will ensure a pleasant experience using the car. The steering and throttle can be adjusted using “trim” adjustment knobs to ensure the car drives straight and does not continue to move after the throttle is released. Only the steering wheel and throttle (and two trim micro-adjustments) are exposed on the controller which create an intuitive radio controller, appropriate for a beginner model. Pull the trigger to go, push it away from you to go in reverse. Turn the steering wheel left to turn the car left and turn right to go right. One big flaw to the controller design is that it was designed with right-handed people in mind. Holding the controller correctly, the steering wheel is on the right side of the controller. This makes it difficult for those who are left-handed to control this vehicle.

Maintenance of the Hyper-Speed RC car is relatively easy. The foam air filter can be removed by hand and washed with water. The filters are re-useable but the manufacturer recommends cleaning the air filter for every hour worth of use. To avoid wear and tear on moving parts, it is recommended that a user cleans any dirt or debris that may interfere with any moving parts. The shocks a liquid filled and may need to be refilled from time to time to keep the car riding smooth and the glow plug that is responsible for combustion will also wear out over time and need to be replaced. Most adjustments can be done with a small tool kit of wrenches and screwdrivers that can be picked up at a hobby shop for under $10. Instructional videos are provided on the manufacturer’s website to help the user become accustomed to tuning their car. It is also recommended that when finished driving the RC car, consumers should empty the remaining fuel and add a few drops of “after-run” oil to the engine to maintain optimum performance. Finally, any broken parts can be replaced as needed which means the Hyper-Speed will last a long time, and fixing the car will not break the bank.

Product Alternatives

Thousands of different models of RC cars exist which are intended for anyone from small children to adults with an RC car hobby. Electric, nitro, and gas powered models are all available for purchase. In general, electric cars are the slowest and gasoline powered models are the fastest. This also comes with a large price difference. For the cost-conscious enthusiast, a nitro-powered RC car may be optimal as they deliver a balance of power and affordability. Because of these differences, a consumer who is looking into purchasing an RC car may wish to look at several options to consider which is the best for their needs before purchasing. Table 3 below is a brief analysis of three similar products that consumers may consider purchasing in place of the Hyper Speed model.

Alternative Product Name	Advantages	Disadvantages	Image
1/16 2.4Ghz Exceed RC Blur Nitro Gas Powered RTR Off Road Buggy[1]	- Smaller scale model than our car - Faster and more lightweight than the vehicle we purchased - Intended for similar users as our product	- $10 dollars more expensive	Figure 2a: Alternative 1
1/8 2.4Ghz Exceed RC Razor .21 Nitro Gas Powered ARTR Remote Control Buggy Wild Blue[2]	- Larger and more powerful - Gasoline more readily available than nitro fuel - Intended for serious RC enthusiasts	- Does not come ready to run - $120 more expensive	Figure 2b: Alternative 2
1/10 2.4Ghz Exceed RC Electric Champion RTR Racing Car Fire Yellow[3]	- Runs on electricity - $50 cheaper - Intended for casual RC car users	- Lower top speed - Lacks off road functionality	Figure 2c: Alternative 3

Table 1: Alternatives to the Exceed RC Hyper Speed

In addition to the alternatives shown above, nitro or electric powered boats and airplanes are both on the market. Exceed RC even produces 1/5 scale gasoline powered RC vehicles. There are also several other companies which produce cars similar to the ones manufactured by Exceed RC shown in Table 3. The range of alternative products when it comes to RC vehicles is staggering.