Nissan GB has created the ultimate remote-control car for gamers - the Nissan GT-R /C. Celebrating the release of Gran Turismo Sport, out in Europe on 18th October, and marking 20 years of Nissan involvement in the Gran Turismo gaming series, the one-off project car was extensively modified to be driven entirely by a DualShock 4 controller.
The GT-R /C was put through its paces by NISMO racing driver Jann Mardenborough, around Silverstone's famous National Circuit. Jann controlled the GT-R /C from the cockpit of a Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter, which had been given special permission to operate at a low altitude. On Mardenborough's fastest lap (1:17:47), the GT-R /C averaged 122km/h and reached a top speed of 211km/h.
The GT-R /C is fitted with four robots that operate the steering, transmission, brakes and throttle. Six computers mounted in the boot update the controls at up to 100 times a second. The steering position is measured to one part in 65,000. The unmodified DualShock 4 connects to a micro-computer, which interprets the joystick and button signals and transmits them to the GT-R /C's on-board systems. The wireless operation has a primary control range of 1km.
