Introduction: Six-Wheeled RC Vehicle

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About: I love Arduino and anything related to the holy science of electronics. Sometimes I slip into C++ or C#. You're darn right I'm a nerd!

Hello, welcome to my Instructable on how to make your own Six-Wheeled RC Vehicle.

This Instructable will help you on the way to RC Arduino greatness! By the time you're done working, you will have your own fully functional, Arduino powered remote controlled vehicle. It works with any television remote control, so it's really adaptable to your needs.

Good luck!

-TheArduinist

Step 1: Getting Started

Gathering your parts:

#1 Arduino Uno R3 - Arduino Uno R3

#2 Four AAA batteries and holder - holder available at Radioshack (US) or Maplin (UK)

#3 One 9V battery and snap - snap available at Radioshack (US) or Maplin (UK)

#4 One Infrared Receiver (IR) - available at Radioshack (US) or Maplin (UK)

#5 One 120-Ohm resistor (brown-red-brown) - available at Radioshack (US) or Maplin (UK)

#6 One LED (I use a high-intensity blue, but others will work) - available at Radioshack (US) or Maplin (UK)

#7 One Pololu DRV8833 dual motor driver carrier - available at Pololu

#8 One 220pF ceramic capacitor (optional and not shown) - available at various suppliers

#9 One gearbox (not shown) - I use the gearbox found here

#10 Any television remote control (not shown)

Step 2: Wiring the Arduino

Wiring the receiver:

First, insert the IR receiver near the front of the breadboard.

Attach the ground pin of the receiver to the Arduino's ground.

Attach the power pin of the receiver to the +5V pin on the Arduino.

Attach the data pin of the receiver to digital pin 4 on the Arduino.

If you are using the capacitor, attach one wire to the Arduino's +5V, and the other wire to the Arduino's ground.

Wiring the LED:

Attach the positive lead of the LED to digital 13 on the Arduino.

Attach one lead of the resistor to the Arduino ground, and the other lead to the LED's negative lead.

Step 3: Wiring the DRV8833 Driver

Attaching the power pins:

Insert the DRV8833 into the breadboard.

Attach the left GND pin (next to the Vmm pin) on the DRV8833 to the Arduino's ground.

Attach the right GND pin (next to the Vin pin) on the DRV8833 to the four AAA's negative (black) wire.

Attach the Vin pin (next to the Bout1 pin) on the DRV8833 to the four AAA's positive (red) wire.

Attaching the nFAULT pin:

Attach the nFAULT pin (next to the nSLEEP pin) on the DRV8833 to digital pin 12.

Attaching the inputs:

Attach the Ain1 pin on the DRV8833 to digital 5.

Attach the Ain2 pin on the DRV8833 to digital 6.

Attach the Bin1 pin on the DRV8833 to digital 9.

Attach the Bin2 pin on the DRV8833 to digital 10.

Attaching the outputs:

Attach the Aout1 pin on the DRV8833 to the positive terminal on the right motor.

Attach the Aout2 pin on the DRV8833 to the negative terminal on the right motor.

Attach the Bout1 pin on the DRV8833 to the positive terminal on the left motor.

Attach the Bout2 pin on the DRV8833 to the negative terminal on the left motor.

If you have any questions about the DRV8833, visit here.

Step 4: The Arduino Code

Getting the IRremote library:

Go to https://github.com/shirriff/arduino-irremote. Download the ZIP, and follow the steps shown here.

Getting the DRV8833 library:

I'm especially proud of this part, because I made this library myself! Go to https://github.com/TheArduinist/DRV8833. Download the ZIP, and do the same as above.

The core files:

RCVehicle.ino

remoteDetector.h

Download each of these files to use with your Arduino!

Creating remoteDetector.h:

Open the IRremote example called IRrecvDump to find your remote's codes.

Use the codes from the buttons you want to use (for instance, an UP arrow could be Forward, and a ENTER button could be Stop).

Replace the codes in remoteDetector.h with your codes!

Attachments

Step 5: Powering the Arduino

Wiring the 9V battery:

Attach the positive (red) wire of the 9V battery to the Vin pin on the Arduino.

Attach the negative (black) wire of the 9V battery to the Arduino's ground.

NOTE: Do not put the wires in backwards. If you do, you will know by the smell of burning Arduino.

Step 6: Have Fun!

If you have done everything right...

You should have a working remote controlled vehicle! Post any questions below! Thank you for using this Instructable!

-TheArduinist