DIY Remote-Controlled Car

Project Overview

Inspired by personal interest, I built a remote-controlled car using toy components and simple electronics. I cut, shaped and glued wooden chassis and integrated a 12V battery, DC motor, H-bridge, IR transmitter/receiver, and servo motor with an Arduino Uno. This project enhanced my practical understanding of mechanical systems and introduced me to basic Arduino programming in C/C++. Looking back at the project, a lot can be improved...

Technical Skills

This project served as a practical application of basic engineering concepts. The layout was sketched by hand to map out the placement of components like the DC motor, servo, and control board. Basic electronics skills were essential for integrating the DC motor, H-bridge, infrared modules, and servo motor, while careful wiring ensured reliable connections. Additionally, I applied introductory Arduino programming in C/C++ to control the system, calibrating and testing the the drive and servo motors.

One significant challenge was managing the voltage differences between the 12V battery and the Arduino. The battery's higher voltage required using an H-bridge motor driver to safely and effectively control the DC motor and protect the microcontroller. Another issue was with the servo motor; its high torque occasionally caused it to detach from the steering axle, which required adjustments to the mounting setup and reinforcement of the connection. Additionally, I encountered intermittent IR signal fluctuations, prompting fine-tuning of sensor placement and calibration for reliability.

Challenges Encountered