Mapping control inputs to vehicle-specific control outputs at a receiver

1. A method for processing control inputs at a receiver for one or more servos coupled to a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, at a receiver mounted on a vehicle, a signal containing a plurality of control inputs from a transmitter; and

mapping at the receiver the plurality of control inputs to a vehicle-specific set of servo control signals.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of control inputs is generated in response to an activation of at least one control element on the transmitter.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the control elements comprise one or more of a control stick, a trigger, a switch, and a dial knob.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle-specific set of servo control signals is generated at a control module running software on the receiver.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the control module operates in an operational mode.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein a user can download upgrade modules for the software from a server through a network.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the network comprises the Internet and the server comprises a web server supporting a web site.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the software can be installed or programmed by connecting the control module in a maintenance mode to a computer running an application using a user interface provided by the application.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the control module and the computer communicates using USB protocol.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the user interface comprises a graphical user interface.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein mapping the plurality of control inputs comprises one or more of:

reversing at least one of the plurality of control inputs;

shifting at least one of the plurality of control inputs;

scaling at least one of the plurality of control inputs;

delaying at least one of the plurality of control inputs; and

mixing at least two of the plurality of control inputs.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising demodulating the signal at the receiver.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising communicating the vehicle-specific set of servo control signals to a corresponding set of servos.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising converting the vehicle-specific set of servo control signals to an analog equivalent thereof.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising caching the plurality of control inputs at the receiver.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle comprises a model vehicle and the signal comprises a radio signal.

17. One or more computer-readable media having computer-usable instructions embodied thereon for performing the method recited in claim 1 .

18. A system for processing control inputs at a receiver for one or more servos coupled to a vehicle, the system comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a signal containing a plurality of control inputs, wherein the plurality of control inputs are generated in response to an activation of at least one control element on the transmitter; and

a receiver mounted on a vehicle having one or more servos and configured to map the control inputs to a set of servo control signals specific to the vehicle, wherein the receiver receives and recovers the control inputs.

19. A receiver for processing control inputs for one or more servos coupled to a vehicle, the receiver comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive an input signal containing a plurality of control inputs from a transmitter; and

a control module configured to map the plurality of control inputs to a vehicle-specific set of servo control signals.

20. The receiver of claim 19 , wherein the control module is further configured to communicate with a computer running a software application for receiving updated setup information.