Introduction: RC Car (Arduino Project)

RC Car (Arduino Project)

In this project I will show you how to build a simpler version of RC cars.

I’m providing a full step-by-step guidance to show you how to make your own RC car, and I'm explaining in details both hardware and software parts in order to turn this guidance the simplest way that leads you to try your own skills in electronic making. This project is so handy to make specially after getting the customized PCB that we’ve ordered from easyEDA to improve the appearance of our car and also there is enough documents and codes in this guide to allow you create customized movements for your car. If you dislike to read so much! You can watch this video for more clear guidance.

We've made this project in just 7 days only, just three days to finish the hardware making and the assemble, then 4 days to prepare the code and the android app. in order to control the car through it.

Before starting let’s see first

what you will learn from this tutorial :

  1. We will hack a Porsche GT3 RS to use its engines and chassis etc.
  2. Then we will design the PCB of our new controllable board
  3. We will see also how to make the android app to control the car
  4. And finally we will assemble all the parts and we start driving.

Step 1: What Is an RC Car!

What Is an RC Car!

Here is some information about RC car or a remote control vehicle which is defined as any vehicle that is teleoperated by a means that does not restrict its motion with an origin external to the device. This is often a radio control device, cable between control and vehicle, or an infrared controller.

Toy-grade R/C cars are typically manufactured with a focus on design coupled with reducing production costs. Where as a hobby-grade car has separate electronic components that are individually replaceable if they fail, toy grade cars are typically made with components harder to find as spare parts and a single electronic circuit board integrated into the design of the vehicle.

In our case we are using a radio linker which is a Bluetooth HC-05 module to connect both the car and a smartphone or any other android device since we are controlling the car through an Android app.

About the Android app.

We used MIT app inventor platform to make a graphical programming for our android app.

Using this platform is so easy and simple.

You can download the app. that we've made for this project through this link

Step 2: Porsche GT3 RS Model

Porsche GT3 RS Model

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I’ve got this RC car from one of my friends, it’s a Porsche model GT3 RS and it was in a real bad conditions but it still having its good standing so after performing some cleaning steps, the car is having a great appearance now, but the most important thing is the engines.

So when I unscrew it I found two motors the first one is in the back side of the car for forward and backward movements and the second one is in the front side of it to represent the steering wheel and they are operating very well. So I moved all useless wires and keep only the motors wires and after soldering some connector the chassis is ready for action. The car has some lights too, there is two white LEDs in the front side and two Red LEDs in the back side, but we will add more LEDs to have more fun with it like the side lights which will follow the steering wheel motor movements :

For example when the car turns left (after picking the left arrow on the android app) then the left side LEDs will start blinking automatically and it will be the same thing for the right direction

And also I've added some RGB LEDs which will change colors depending on your selection.

Step 3: PCB Making Under EasyEDA Platform

PCB Making Under EasyEDA Platform

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About EasyEDA!

EasyEDA is a free online Electronic design automation community that allows the creation, testing and editing of schematics and PCBs. Find the link to the easyEDA platform here. This online program is supported in all platforms even android, with easyEDA you can make a Schematic Capture for your documents, Circuit...

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