Introduction: Python + Arduino, CarControl V.03

By Captain DeadBones
About: Computer Science Grad Student, Veteran of the Armed Forces, Blogger, Self-Thinker
Have you ever bought something just to take it apart? I bought this remote control car hoping to drive it from my computer. I used Python, an Arduino board and about 300 lines of code. Took me a couple of hours work to get it together and another couple to put this tutorial up. For full instructions and working code checkout http://thelivingpearl.com/2013/01/04/drive-a-lamborghini-with-your-keyboard/


Things you will need: 


  Remote controlled car and remote
  A computer
  An Arduino board
  The Arduino IDE
  Wires
  Batteries

Step 1: Step 0: Get Comfortable With the Arduino.

You can get an Arduino Uno from Amazon for about $15 and you will need to download the Arduino IDE from Arduino.org. The language is based on c/c++ and you will find many tutorials on this and other websites. I suggest you walk through the examples and get comfortable with Arduino before you try to take on this or any other project. It will help. The Arduino IDE has more the enough examples you can play around with to get to know the board. 

Step 2: Step 1: Taking Apart the Remote

We will begin by taking apart the remote. Be careful not to force anything apart. Be sure to stop and test the remote operation at each step. If you mess something up you will make life a lot harder for yourself. Pay attention to the details. 

Step 3: Step 3: Study the Board

You will have to figure out how the board operates in order to figure out how to connect it to the Arduino. Using a wire you should be able to trace the board and figure out which 2 connection you need to connect in order to move the car. Once you figure that out you can send a signal from the Arduino pins and test weather you are moving the car or not. Remember that you are looking for 4 connections, one for each car command, forward, reverse, left and right. 

Step 4: Step 4: Python + PyGame

Using Python and the PyGame Library you can receive keyboard keys pressed and output a command to the serial port. This will allow us to process key events and send an sppropriate signal to the Arduino via USB.

Step 5: Step 5: the Arduino Code

You will have to write some Arduino code that will implement the logic of movement. The signal coming from the python program is a number which correspond to a particular mvment. That means that a command is simply switching the output pin from LOW to HIGH or from HIGH to LOW. You can Download CarControl complete from my website. 

Step 6: Step6: Wire Everything Togther

After you have your Python code and your Arduino code ready and tested, wire everything up. Now it is time to enjoy you computer controlled remote controlled car and show off your skills.