Mobile computing device for use in controlling wirelessly controlled vehicles
Methods and systems for utilizing a mobile computing device (e.g., such as a mobile phone) for use in controlling a model vehicle are described. Consistent with some embodiments, a mobile computing device provides various user controls for generating signals that are communicated to a radio transmitter device coupled with the mobile computing device, and ultimately broadcast to a receiver residing at a model vehicle. With some embodiments, the mobile computing device may be integrated with a controller housing which provides separate user controls, such that a combination of user controls present on the mobile computing device and the controller housing can be used to control a model vehicle.
1. A method comprising:
storing, on a client device, one or more radio-enabled vehicle instructions received from a server, the radio-enabled vehicle instructions associated with steering instructions for guiding a radio-enabled vehicle;
displaying, on a touchscreen of the client device, a user interface element for guiding the radio-enabled vehicle;
receiving, on the touchscreen of the client device, selection of the user interface element;
determining that the selected user interface element corresponds to the one or more radio-enabled vehicle instructions received from the server;
transmitting, by a wireless interface of the client device, the one or more radio-enabled vehicle instructions that correspond to the selected user interface element; and
displaying, on the touchscreen, an additional user interface element indicating that the radio-enabled vehicle is steering according to the one or more radio-enabled vehicle instructions.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the additional user interface element is of a vehicle control element of a control mechanism for navigation of the radio-enabled vehicle.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the vehicle control element is a steering wheel displayed on the touchscreen.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the additional user interface element comprises GPS position information of the radio-enabled vehicle.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the radio-enabled vehicle comprises a GPS sensor that generates the GPS position information.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the additional user interface element indicates compass orientation information of the radio-enabled vehicle.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radio-enabled vehicle receives the steering instructions through a vehicle wireless interface of the radio-enabled vehicle.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the vehicle wireless interface comprises a radio wave receiver.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
causing, using a vibration device of the client device, the client device to vibrate to indicate a status of the radio-enabled vehicle.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the server comprises one or more network servers of a network platform.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radio-enabled vehicle is a radio-enabled car.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radio-enabled vehicle is a radio-enabled airplane.
13. A client device comprising:
a memory comprising instructions;
a touchscreen; and
one or more processors, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the client device to perform operations comprising:
storing one or more radio-enabled vehicle instructions received from a server, the radio-enabled vehicle instructions associated with steering instructions for guiding a radio-enabled vehicle;
displaying, on the touchscreen, a user interface element for guiding the radio-enabled vehicle;
receiving, on the touchscreen, selection of the user interface element;
determining that the selected user interface element corresponds to the one or more radio-enabled vehicle instructions received from the server;
transmitting, by a wireless interface of the client device, the one or more radio-enabled vehicle instructions that correspond to the selected user interface element; and
displaying, on the touchscreen, an additional user interface element indicating that the radio-enabled vehicle is steering according to the one or more radio-enabled vehicle instructions.
14. The client device of claim 13 , wherein the additional user interface element is of a vehicle control element of a control mechanism for navigation of the radio-enabled vehicle.
15. The client device of claim 14 , wherein the vehicle control element is a steering wheel displayed on the touchscreen.
16. The client device of claim 13 , wherein the additional user interface element comprises GPS position information from the radio-enabled vehicle.
17. The client device of claim 16 , wherein the radio-enabled vehicle comprises a GPS sensor that generates the GPS position information.
18. The client device of claim 13 , wherein the additional user interface element indicates compass orientation information of the radio-enabled vehicle.
19. The client device of claim 13 , wherein the radio-enabled vehicle receives the steering instructions through a vehicle wireless interface of the radio-enabled vehicle.
20. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a client device, cause the client device to perform operations comprising:
storing one or more radio-enabled vehicle instructions received from a server, the radio-enabled vehicle instructions associated with steering instructions for guiding a radio-enabled vehicle;
displaying, on a touchscreen, a user interface element for guiding the radio-enabled vehicle;
receiving, on the touchscreen, selection of the user interface element;
determining that the selected user interface element corresponds to the one or more radio-enabled vehicle instructions received from the server;
transmitting, by a wireless interface of the client device, the one or more radio-enabled vehicle instructions that correspond to the selected user interface element; and
displaying, on the touchscreen, an additional user interface element indicating that the radio-enabled vehicle is steering according to the one or more radio-enabled vehicle instructions.