Games

xDroid brings aspects of gaming to RC racing

xDroid brings aspects of gaming to RC racing
xDroid is presently on Kickstarter
xDroid is presently on Kickstarter
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Each xDroid is powered by a Ni-MH (nickel metal hydride) battery that should be good for up to an hour of runtime per one-hour charge
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Each xDroid is powered by a Ni-MH (nickel metal hydride) battery that should be good for up to an hour of runtime per one-hour charge
Up to five players/xDroids can race at one time
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Up to five players/xDroids can race at one time
xDroid is presently on Kickstarter
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xDroid is presently on Kickstarter
View gallery - 3 images

Racing remote-control model cars can be fun, but then so can playing car-racing video games. A group of Austrian entrepreneurs has decided to combine the two (sort of) in the form of the xDroid system.

The setup consists of one or more 1:16-scale rough-and-tough 4WD remote-control trucks – which are the actual xDroids – along with an iOS/Android app, and flat LED-festooned devices known as xPoints.

Utilizing the app on their smartphone, users can remotely control the xDroids via Wi-Fi from a range of up to 80 meters (260 ft). That app can also be used to set them to different racing modes, however, in which the steering, top speed, acceleration and braking of the trucks are altered in specific ways. Some of these modes include Stunt, Drifting, and a fun-sounding Demolition mode, in which players try to ram each other's sensor-equipped trucks in specific locations – an LED "life bar" on each xDroid shows how it's faring.

Up to five players/xDroids can race at one time
Up to five players/xDroids can race at one time

The app additionally lets players choose between different racing games, accommodating up to five players/xDroids at a time. Depending on what game is selected, the Wi-Fi-connected xPoints give out different types of rewards as the trucks drive over them. Players can "capture the flag" for instance, by being the first one to go over an xPoint that starts flashing. The xPoints can also do things like awarding points, or improving recorded lap times.

Additionally, for every meter driven, game won and other achievements, the app gives each player xMiles. Once enough have been earned, those xMiles can be redeemed for things like unlocking new games or racing modes.

The trucks themselves are powered by a Ni-MH (nickel metal hydride) battery that should be good for up to an hour of runtime per one-hour charge, while each xPoint should run for up to 10 hours on four AAAs. And should someone already have an RC truck that they'd like to use, it's possible to make it xDroid-compatible by installing an optional xCore module within the vehicle.

Each xDroid is powered by a Ni-MH (nickel metal hydride) battery that should be good for up to an hour of runtime per one-hour charge
Each xDroid is powered by a Ni-MH (nickel metal hydride) battery that should be good for up to an hour of runtime per one-hour charge

If you're interested in getting an xDroid system, it's currently the subject of a Kickstarter campaign. A minimum pledge of €129 (about US$152) will get you a truck and the app – but no xPoints – with delivery estimated for December if everything works out. The planned retail price for that package is €199 ($235). A set with two trucks and three xPoints can be had for a pledge of €299 ($353) or €515 ($608) retail.

The system can be seen in action, in the following video.

Potential buyers, who are perhaps more interested in racing cars on a track, might also want to check out the existing and somewhat-similar Anki Overdrive.

Source: Kickstarter

xDroid - the first truly gamified remote controlled car (with subtitles)

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1 comment
1 comment
Daishi
I want to see someone build a track for these and let people on the Internet race them via FPV. After the race is over they would autonomously reset on the track for the next group. I saw someone do something like this with a DJI drone and I think it has some potential too. Essentially you get in a queue to fly the thing remotely over the Internet around the California coastline and to keep things save it's programmed to stay within a geofence. I think that mobility to look around would be a cool method to explore places in the world I have never been and will likely never be able to see in person. Building toy versions of this stuff would commoditize telepresence essentially. I want to be able to pay a couple bucks to undock a $200 telepresence robot at at any museum in the world and drive it around for a bit. This stuff is possible with off the shelf technology. It requires no more than an RC car + tablet so there is no reason they need to cost thousands. This would make being elderly or being stuck in an old folks home so much cooler.