AIR for Android app turns Nexus One into slot car controller (video)

AIR for Android, a Phidgets motor control, a slot car set, and a custom built LEGO housing for good measure -- if this project isn't meant for Engadget, we don't know what is! The premise is pretty straightforward: Grant Skinner uses his Nexus One to send accelerometer data to a desktop PC, which then sends it to a motor controller. In turn, the controller tells the cars how fast to go. Tilt forward a little bit, and the car accelerates a little bit. Lean forward a lot, and it picks up speed. Sure beats those cheesy plastic triggers we used as kids! For the interface (which is an SWF that's sent to the handset from the host PC) our man designed a gas pedal with a series of lights that tells you how fast you're going. Let's just say we wouldn't mind a setup like this for the Engadget game room. Video after the break.

[JonnyB Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:17PM]

:o

[Plazmic Flame Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:20PM]

@JonnyB

Looks like there's gonna be an app for that!

[JonnyB Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:22PM]

@Plazmic Flame
Im ganna make my Android phone drive my car for me and clean my room!

[MrFluffyThing Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:57PM]

@JonnyB Maybe this is what caused Toyotas to accelerate on their own...

[statickeith Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:18PM]

SWEET!!!!

[DeveshRai Posted Jun 22nd 2010 7:47PM]

@statickeith Sure is. =)

[exboy99 Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:19PM]

sweet little Audi TT's!

[Edobe Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:20PM]

Wait a minute. This doesn't have anything to do with the iPhone.

[MattPetitt Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:20PM]

Did anyone else find the irony in the flash sticker on a mac?

[commenter7 Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:22PM]

@MattPetitt

Google used a Nexus One to tether an iPad at their I/O..

nothing really shocking here, android is open in the first place

[jimmy bones Posted Jun 22nd 2010 9:45PM]

@MattPetitt Not really...

[Plazmic Flame Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:22PM]

OMG!!!!!

Nostalgic level OVER 9000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I miss slot racers... :(

[Templarian Posted Jun 22nd 2010 9:42PM]

@Plazmic Flame, I have those smaller ones with tons of track. Good memories.

[SilverSatin Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:24PM]

djeezez would ya'll stop with the darn iPhone crap djeezezz....

now ya'll posting A NEW BOX as if its worth calling NEWS....


so sick of the damn hype allready

[SilverSatin Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:24PM]

@SilverSatin wrong spot

[MattsZ Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:24PM]

This article is full of hot Air

[MrFluffyThing Posted Jun 23rd 2010 12:19AM]

@MattsZ I see what you did there...

[Moisture Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:26PM]

Im pretty sure I would rather just play a car racing game on the phone!

[Seb6554 Posted Jun 22nd 2010 8:20PM]

@Moisture
But the cars don't run off the track if they go too fast on an iPhone :(

[SinclairZ Posted Jun 30th 2010 2:56PM]

@Moisture 1:32 scale plastic race cars with tiny motors > bunch of pixels on screen :)

[commenter7 Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:27PM]

@eam122

....to be downranked

[nikolas7gr Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:31PM]

macgyver is that you??

[Plazmic Flame Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:31PM]

*BLOOP BLOOP*

Achievement Unlocked
50G - You Claimed First When You Were Not

[dennism Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:34PM]

If you could do these things with android powered devices... Their should be many things that aren't discovered yet.. which could be way more useful than this!! :)

Still cool! :)

[imikedaman Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:44PM]

@dennism Android has always had the ability to send data over a network, including sending accelerometer data to a PC. I'm pretty sure that's what developers do anyway when they want to test their apps on a simulator.

The actual story was that someone came up with the idea to route that data to a program that can control a slot car. The rubber band contraption was cool too.

[DefPoet Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:37PM]

Engaged game room. Hire me now!!!!!!

[choffy21 Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:47PM]

@eam122

Not even close!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Yankee Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:47PM]

I wish I had this guy's enthusiasm. :) Must have taken him a while.

[everyone does Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:51PM]

dammit, hurry up and give me 2.2 on my EVO

[treef rt Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:56PM]

A variety of development flexible IDEs, logical cross-platform deployment, and no BS red tape...

Yeah, we definitely have to get rid of Flash, eh Jobs?

[OneHungFeller Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:56PM]

Ok, that is cool. But what I've really been waiting for all my life is a slot car that hauls ass without flying out of the slot.
Would be way cool if homeboy made that his next project.

[Wesscoast Posted Jun 22nd 2010 6:08PM]

This photo tells you everything you need to know about Android users. Reality Check.

[Dafrety Posted Jun 22nd 2010 6:48PM]

@Wesscoast
This comment tells you everything you need to know about Wesscoast. Idiot troll.

[Wesscoast Posted Jun 22nd 2010 7:12PM]

@Dafrety

GET BACK IN THE BASEMENT!!

[captnlove Posted Jun 22nd 2010 8:12PM]

@Wesscoast Yup. Smart, imaginative, and great with their hands. I think your (probably imaginary) girlfriend just hooked up with one ;)

[Dafrety Posted Jun 22nd 2010 6:50PM]

This is very cool. I wish I knew how to do these sort of things with my N1. I just use it for the apps and social stuff, when it can do so much more. Clearly I'm not using it to it's full potential!

[refink Posted Jun 22nd 2010 7:45PM]

THIS IS BLOODY AWESOME!!! love it

[SCB Posted Jun 22nd 2010 8:23PM]

That is so freakin awesome!!!

[Novoken Posted Jun 22nd 2010 8:24PM]

Nice. Now can we try with real cars?

[benjgvps Posted Jun 22nd 2010 8:44PM]

@Plazmic Flame Personally I would make the achievement -1000000000 Microsoft points.

[S2333 Posted Jun 22nd 2010 9:11PM]

This is why I love Android. Google doesn't hate you for trying new ideas.