Remote control model aircraft with laser tag shooting action

• US 7,806,371 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2007
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Troutman S. Clayton
• Original Assignee: Troutman S. Clayton
• Inventors: Troutman, S. Clayton
• Primary Examiner(s): Collins; Timothy D
• Application Number:
  US11/999,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20090050747A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 244/190, 446/50, 446/57, 446/34, 446/175, 446/429
• US Class Current: 244/190
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/004 Means for launching objects from aircraft, e.g. pilot, missiles

Abstract

The present invention is a radio-controlled (RC) model aircraft system with laser tag capabilities. A transmitter and receiver are each installed in at least two separate RC aircrafts. The transmitter on one aircraft emits an infrared light beam to the receiver on the other aircraft(s) that changes the infrared signal to a first servo to move an arm, which releases a model aircraft door behind which there are ribbons. The ribbons escape from the aircraft wings to show a hit. An optional second servo operate a smoke screen and eject a pilot to simulate actual combat. The system may also include audio and lighting effects to simulate firing and hit sequences with accompanying theatrical, physical effects including release of smoke and ribbons, and ejection of the pilot that realistically simulates air combat.

Claims

1. A radio-controlled aircraft, comprising:

a scale model aircraft with fuselage, wings, gas engine, and motion-control servos for controlling flight;

a handheld radio controller including a pair of joysticks for controlling said motion-control servos, and at least one auxiliary firing control;

an optical transmitter mounted on said scale model aircraft and selectively illuminated by said auxiliary firing control to simulate a weapon firing;

an optical receiver mounted on said scale model aircraft for receiving illumination from other aircraft;

a processor in communication with said optical receiver for calculating hits from said other aircraft;

at least one servo motor electrically connected to said processor;

a pilot ejection mechanism including a spring-loaded pilot doll with parachute, and an ejection assembly mechanically connected to said servo motor for ejecting said pilot doll from said scale model aircraft when said processor has calculated a predetermined number of hits from said other aircraft.

2. The radio-controlled aircraft according to claim 1, wherein said at least one servo motor electrically connected to said processor further comprises a first servo motor coupled to said pilot ejection mechanism, and a second servo motor coupled to a streamer release assembly for releasing a streamer from said scale model aircraft when said processor has calculated a predetermined number of hits from said other aircraft.

3. The radio-controlled aircraft according to claim 2, wherein said processor releases said streamers and ejects said pilot doll according to a predefined sequence.

4. The radio-controlled aircraft according to claim 3, wherein said predefined sequence includes a first step of releasing said streamer after a first number of hits, and a second step of ejecting said pilot doll after a greater second number of hits.

5. A radio-controlled aircraft, comprising:

a scale model aircraft with fuselage, wings, gas engine, and motion-control servos for controlling flight;

a handheld radio controller including a pair of joysticks for controlling said motion-control servos, and at least one auxiliary firing control;

an optical transmitter mounted on said scale model aircraft and selectively illuminated by said auxiliary firing control to simulate a weapon firing;

an optical receiver mounted on said scale model aircraft for receiving illumination from other aircraft;

a processor in communication with said optical receiver for calculating hits from said other aircraft;

at least one servo motor electrically connected to said processor; and

a streamer release assembly coupled to said at least one servo motor for releasing a streamer from said scale model aircraft when said processor has calculated a predetermined number of hits from said other aircraft.

6. The radio-controlled aircraft according to claim 5, wherein said at least one servo motor electrically connected to said processor further comprises a first servo motor coupled to said streamer release assembly, and a second servo motor coupled to a pilot ejection mechanism including a spring-loaded pilot doll with parachute, and an ejection assembly mechanically connected to said second servo motor for ejecting said pilot doll from said scale model aircraft when said processor has calculated a predetermined number of hits from said other aircraft.

7. The radio-controlled aircraft according to claim 6, wherein said processor releases said streamers and ejects said pilot doll according to a predefined sequence.

8. The radio-controlled aircraft according to claim 7, wherein said predefined sequence includes a first step of releasing said streamer after a first number of hits, and a second step of ejecting said pilot doll after a greater second number of hits.

9. A laser tag radio-controlled model aircraft system comprising:

a plurality of a scale model aircraft each having a fuselage, wings, gas engine, and motion-control servos for controlling flight;

a corresponding plurality of handheld radio controllers each including a pair of joysticks for controlling said motion-control servos, and at least one auxiliary firing control;

an optical transmitter mounted on each of said scale model aircraft and selectively illuminated by said auxiliary firing control to simulate a weapon firing;

an optical receiver mounted on each of said scale model aircraft for receiving illumination from the other aircraft;

a processor in each of said aircraft in communication with said optical receiver for calculating hits from said other aircraft;

at least one servo motor in each of said aircraft and electrically connected to said processor;

a pilot ejection mechanism in each of said aircraft and including a spring-loaded pilot doll with parachute, and an ejection assembly mechanically connected to said servo motor for ejecting said pilot doll from said scale model aircraft when said processor has calculated a predetermined number of hits from said other aircraft.

10. The laser tag radio-controlled model aircraft system according to claim 9, wherein said at least one servo motor electrically connected to each said processor further comprises a first servo motor coupled to said pilot ejection mechanism, and a second servo motor coupled to a streamer release assembly for releasing a streamer from said scale model aircraft when said processor has calculated a predetermined number of hits from said other aircraft.

11. The laser tag radio-controlled model aircraft system according to claim 10, wherein each said processor releases said streamers and ejects said pilot doll according to a predefined sequence.

12. The laser tag radio-controlled model aircraft system according to claim 11, wherein said predefined sequence includes a first step of releasing said streamer after a first number of hits, and a second step of ejecting said pilot doll after a greater second number of hits.