Connecting toys, beginner

[Einar]

Hi everyone,

I am currently working on my bachelors exhibition in graphic design. As a part of that exhibition i will make small "printers" out of toys and a pen, letting the visitors make their own random poster.

The main toy i'm using is a so called I-BUG (**broken link removed**) which is activated by sound and then moves around randomly. As I don't want the toy to be able to be activated all the time, I want to remote control the on/off-switch. To accomplish that I'm trying to use these mini RC-cars - but without success. What I'm trying to find out is how the output from the RC-car (about 2 Volt) should function as a switch for the I-BUG. Or if there is some other easy way to make a remote controlled on/off-switch (wont be able to use IR though, since I am making four of these "printers", and they should be activated at the same time...)

Since I'm a beginner I need really easy instructions...

Any help would be highly appreciated! Thanks in advance,

Einar, Sweden

 

[Sceadwian]

Some pictures of the innards of the RC car you're planning on using would be useful, and where you're reading this 2 volts from.

 

[kchriste]

I would replace the motor (I assume the remote can turn the motor on/off) in the mini RC-car with a 1.5V or 3V relay and connect the contacts of the relay across the switch on the I-bug. How many things can you control on the mini RC-car with the remote?
3V relay:
http://pewa.panasonic.com/pcsd/product/sign/pdf_cat/hy.pdf

 

[Sceadwian]

Only if it's true on and off, not like a servo signal or a speed controller, otherwise what you could be signing the death warrant to the relay they use. Even then many tiny RC cars automatically work in a PWM mode and only disable it when a 'turbo' button is held which makes the receive use a direct non modulated connection.