Wired Remote Control
In the world of RC vehicles, remote control is often meant to mean toy vehicles that have a wired, handheld controller. A tether line between the controller and vehicle transmits commands through the wires to the vehicle. In the case of slot cars -- scale model cars that run on a special track -- the tether line from the controller plugs into the track. The controller then supplies power to the track which is transferred to the slot car to make it move forward following the track.
Unwired Remote Control
Remote control can mean radio controlled (using radio signals) or optical (light) controlled, also known as infrared. Some newer slot cars now come with wireless controllers that communicate via infrared with a receiver unit that plugs into the slot racing track.
A remote control vehicle might be an RC car, RC truck, RC motorcycle, RC snowmobile, RC airplane, RC helicopter, RC blimp, RC UFO, RC boat, RC ship, RC submarine, RC jetski, RC hovercraft, RC tank, RC bulldozer, RC tractor, and even some walking toys such as remote control animals and remote control robots.