[Noorulameen]

Hello everyone, I am design student and currently working on a project for Scalextric.
I like to know what features/style/aesthetic etc... you might look for in premium, high-end wireless hand controller, which will enhance your slot car racing experience as enthusiasts/car fans?
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

[MrFlippant]

Any controller that wants to be in that class has the BARE MINIMUM requirement of adjustable sensitivity and braking. There are other things that can be added, but those are the basics.

If you want true premium/high end, you need to also include:

"Choke" - the ability to tune how quickly the power is applied, so that really fast cars don't just spin the wheels, but do eventually get up to top speed.
Power limiting - so that the top speed the controller will provide to the car can be limited. Great for making fast cars easier to drive for all skill levels of racers.

I'm sure there are others.

[Kevan]

One obvious first question is digital or analogue?

[dvd3500]

Any controller that wants to be in that class has the BARE MINIMUM requirement of adjustable sensitivity and braking. There are other things that can be added, but those are the basics.

If you want true premium/high end, you need to also include:

"Choke" - the ability to tune how quickly the power is applied, so that really fast cars don't just spin the wheels, but do eventually get up to top speed.
Power limiting - so that the top speed the controller will provide to the car can be limited. Great for making fast cars easier to drive for all skill levels of racers.

I'm sure there are others.

But wouldn't the power base have to support that (assuming digital)...
I have seen this in analog (wired) all over the place.
Not sure it is at all viable as wireless...

[Noorulameen]

One obvious first question is digital or analogue?

It will be a digital wireless design

[Noorulameen]

Any controller that wants to be in that class has the BARE MINIMUM requirement of adjustable sensitivity and braking. There are other things that can be added, but those are the basics.

If you want true premium/high end, you need to also include:

"Choke" - the ability to tune how quickly the power is applied, so that really fast cars don't just spin the wheels, but do eventually get up to top speed.
Power limiting - so that the top speed the controller will provide to the car can be limited. Great for making fast cars easier to drive for all skill levels of racers.

I'm sure there are others.

But wouldn't the power base have to support that (assuming digital)...
I have seen this in analog (wired) all over the place.
Not sure it is at all viable as wireless...

Good question, there are Scalextric powerbases which provide wireless support, similar to how you bind different RC toys to same controller...

[dvd3500]

Any controller that wants to be in that class has the BARE MINIMUM requirement of adjustable sensitivity and braking. There are other things that can be added, but those are the basics.

If you want true premium/high end, you need to also include:

"Choke" - the ability to tune how quickly the power is applied, so that really fast cars don't just spin the wheels, but do eventually get up to top speed.
Power limiting - so that the top speed the controller will provide to the car can be limited. Great for making fast cars easier to drive for all skill levels of racers.

I'm sure there are others.

But wouldn't the power base have to support that (assuming digital)...
I have seen this in analog (wired) all over the place.
Not sure it is at all viable as wireless...

Good question, there are Scalextric powerbases which provide wireless support, similar to how you bind different RC toys to same controller...

Not that I am aware of... only ARC PRO (for digital).
There is ARC AIR and "spark plug" for analog and Scorpius for digital but that is proprietary.
I could be wrong (as my kids always tell me I am..)

[MrFlippant]

Ah... I didn't notice this was in the Scalextric digital forum.

You can't adjust brakes with Scalextric digital, at least not from the throttle. The system doesn't support that.
So, you're left with throttle manipulation. 

The Slot.it SCP pretty much already owns this space (adjustable wireless throttle for ARC Air/Pro power bases), so you might as well take a look at that and see what it does.

The hobby could use a good option for "between" the Scalextric controller (no adjustability) and the slot.it SCP3 controller. All you'd really need is good ergonomics (see DS controller bodies) and a single sensitivity adjustment knob (along with brake and lane change buttons, of course). TruSpeed offers such a controller, but it does not work with the wireless ARC Air or Pro bases.

[Noorulameen]

That is very helpful, thank you!
What do you think about integrating a touch display screen? Will it distract you while racing?

[Nonfractal]

That is very helpful, thank you!
What do you think about integrating a touch display screen? Will it distract you while racing?

Displays are good for setup (channels, braking, pairing etc) but no use at all during racing.