[J3110]

Well, presuming we still live in a world where R/C is still a viable luxury for a fair amount of the global population...

-Will they still make NiMH and NiCD batteries?

Yes: Unless they devise a better all-around solution that has all of the benefits and none of the drawbacks(including cost). I believe the supply will depend on the demand.

-Will everything be lipo, li-ion, or something we haven't even heard of yet that is 50C capable with capacity measured in Ah instead of mAh?

Perhaps: I believe the future of batteries may be in the exhotic supercaps being worked on. They will not be cheap, though, by any means.

-Will anything use brushed motors anymore?

Absolutely. For R/C application, I would have to say there would be no point in using commutators anymore as our mastery of the electron is certain to get a jolt within 20 year's time. We may be driving around photon powered vehicles for all I know...sometimes developmental processes progress exponentially, so I gotta account for that possibility. Still, there will be the die-hards that refuse to drop the comm.

-What will the HV controller specs be like? 20s/200A? It seems there would need to be a limit on voltage at some point due to weight/size concerns, unless the new super-batteries are SHV in a small, light package.

I am wondering if we'll even be using voltage and amps by that time. It may be some form of magnetic measurement. Remeber there are still forces we have yet to fully understand and one of which is the detailed behavior of magnetism.

-What will the top speed record be?

On the ground, I'd say it depends on scale. Full scale will certainly be capable of breaking the sound barrier presuming TX/RX range at that time is suficient(think an FPV Thrust SSC) or you could just be oldschool and chase the thing in a jet plane.

-Will nitro go the way of the do-do due to cost?

Not necessarily due to cost. I should hope we are able to find some other method for pepetuating an air pump using a gas piston by then that is more environmentally friendly.


I'm thinking that if we are able to weather all of our impending crises and are also able to maintain a relatively similar lifestyle to what we have now. Just look at how easily priorities changeas I am sure many of you have been into and out of this hobby if not once, multiple times...imagine a global catastrophe...you think the R/C companies are just gonna keep doin the same-ole same-ole?

Donning the rosey colored glasses, I am guessing that the R/C industry will greatly benefit from future transportation developments.
Wireless communication will be overhauled or equipment will just keep getting smaller, better, and more expensive.
You will be able to control your R/C via the ear-mounted omnicomm device that tracks head and eye movement(targeting) and also responds to voice command. It will have a semi-transparent LCD, reflection or projection(directly onto your retina) video feed capability.

Much of the R/C industry will have shifted to military applications, so expect a lot of that technology to get washed back into the retail market to bring more funding in for R&D while we're not fighting one of our bogus wars.

Anyways, I gotta jet, but I could dream about this kinda stuff all day long...then again, the distant future kinda freaks me out at the same time.