QIHUI brand... competitor or bootleg?

[flibbertigibbety]

I found a pretty neat new product from QIHUI on amazon that uses technic style parts and power function motors, but uses micro usb plugs and their own controller/receiver that looks mostly proprietary. Wasn't sure if it's something I should be talking about here based on the guidelines regarding competitors vs knockoffs. Thoughts? The product in question is the 9801 "storm of the desert" tank, which I've tested and found some pretty interesting undocumented features I think some might be interested in...

[Peppermint_M]

It is not a brand I know of and I am not well versed in Technic MOCs to know if the products are copies of any builders.

If you are concerned about the origins, try searching up a few Technic MOCs that cover the same vehicles to see if they are ripped off?

[flibbertigibbety]

The vehicle designs that you build seem unique to this brand, and not to LEGO. The core communication components of the receiver/controllers are also like nothing I've seen. I was mostly wanting to share it with others because I think it's very interesting, but didn't want to break the guidelines or anything. Anyways... posting the below youtube video I made that simply shows how the device mechanically works. Not any vehicle. Just how the hardware works. I could not find answers to my questions online for these things, so I purchased 2 of the tanks and their humvee so I could test it myself. My findings were satisfactory. Figure people who like to build lego technic based RC vehicles with relatively simple controls would love this tech.The power function stuff is more complicated and requires switching channels to manage the mechanics. This is more streamlined.

 

 

 

[LucyCol]

Can also be found under the 'Bo Toys' brand in the USA, and whilst not a rip off in the same way perhaps as Lepin, there bricks/beams/panels are direct copies of Lego.