Light Seeking R.C Car Hack (with Arduino)

Creating a robotics platform from scratch takes allot of work and a few dollars. Buying a ready built one is easy but costs allot of money (at least for me). So instead I decided to piggy back off of the companies who make remote control cars.
This is a great because it comes ready made with two h-bridges and a steering mechanism already built. The cost of the whole project is probably $90 if you don’t have any of the materials but for me I was about $3(for the batteries).
This test shows how the robot works. I didn't have a large enough space to test it while it moved.  And I also had it running the dark seeking sketch. 
Because i'm entering this in the robot contest I'd like to say i'm 13-18 years old and belong to the 401 venture company (scouts).  

Step 1: Materials

Materials:
1x Arduino (I used an Uno but any will do)
1 x Breadboard
1 x 9v Battery
1 x 9v to Arduino cable (link to make your own)
1 x Arduino to USB cable
1 x R.C Car
2 x LEDs (hopefully the same)
3 x AA batteries (for the car)
About 50cm of four strand wire
15 – 20 jumper wires
A few elastics
Some electrical tape
Some solder (lead free)

Tools:
Soldering iron
Wire strippers
Small screwdrivers
Third Hand (for soldering)
Computer (with Arduino software installed)

Comments

[mfiqri]

hey friend ...
I want to ask you, about the project that you created.
I want to learn as well as make your project.
if you are willing whether I can learn with you.

Do you genuine Indonesian citizen?

[e-mail]

[bluenosedwill]

Hi i have been following your intructions and have found it real helpful. i have got to the stage of adding LEDs and i do have LDRs and would like to use them. could you tell me how i need to change that code to use LDRs instead?

any help would be great

thanks a lot

[Zaphod Beetlebrox]

LDRs are light dependent resistors right? Take a simple program that reports the value of the LDR and transmits it to your computer via serialread, serialwrite, next place the LDR into the light and then into the dark, then follow the same directions as with the LEDs. If that didn't help reply and I will try to write up a program.

[bluenosedwill]

yeah thats right. seem to have got it working only the right turn connection keeps coming loose. i need some soldering first aid and it should get working. What i also need to do is slow the thing down as it goes full steam ahead all the time and slides everywhere. any idea on how i can reduce the speed? what about resistors on the Volts in?

thanks for getting back to me btw!

BNW

[Zaphod Beetlebrox]

I never experimented with slowing it down but I would recommend putting resistors on the positive side of the motors. Or you could just give it larger heavier wheels.

[JoeChege]

I tried to replicate the project, while I was taking out the chip, I accidentally ripped one of the thing with the 222 number I don't know what they are, now my car doesn't work when I connect the Arduino to the car and upload the code, it doesn't bulge, Would that have caused the car not to work? Do I have to buy a new one?

[Zaphod Beetlebrox]

Give me a day or so. I have to find my car and find out what it is then I'll reply back. No chance you could put the piece back in.

[Zaphod Beetlebrox]

K I looked at my board, when you say it has 222 on it is that on the component or the PCB. if possible could you comment a pic of the type of piece that you're talking about. It would really help to have some more description, nothing on my board has 222 on it (all remote cars are different).

[iceng]

Impressive understanding of the RC electronics to do the hack.

The video looked like dark following ?

You could put a few bright remote switched LEDs and put this RC through
a whiz bang drive and seek :)

A

[Zaphod Beetlebrox]

at the time it was dark seeking because my house was mostly vary bright so I switched it.
Would have tried you're led test but it has already been dissembled and my arduino is now busy shooting zombies.
but later I might try it, first I have to work out the code for bump switches.

[iceng]

Cool :)

[Mr Jaderman]

That's cool how you utilized the RC cars circuit like that. Real nifty! I'll prolly be using that idea in other projects.

[Zaphod Beetlebrox]

Thanks post a pic if you do.

[mohtaprashantrocks]

This is so on my list to do when i get my hands on an Arduino that is

[Zaphod Beetlebrox]

Thanks hope you have fun building it.