Recently, I received a buildable car that is apparently compatible with Arduino.
However, I don't know what else to buy or get since the car only came with what it had in the package.
I was wondering what are the sufficient, minimum amount of parts that I will need to control it (not like those videos with the complex wiring hopefully, I've seen simpler ones but I don't remember where they are), and what Arduino boards I can use. Additionally, where can I buy these parts, and what will these parts do to help.
In a nutshell, what is a short, simple setup to be able to control this car, what parts will I need that are sold separately from it, and if possible, a guide on what you're recommending.
P.S. I am relatively new to the Arduino Uno, but I have completed most of the projects in the project book, though I am not a pro at it.
Recently, I've received a robotic car in the mail for my birthday. However, when I've assembled it, I don't seem to have other parts needed to operate it.
I have no clue what to buy, and how to set it up to control the car.
In a nutshell: What is a simple setup with the least amount of materials needed (if any), and where/what are the parts? What will I need to make this car run without complex wiring, if possible?
P.S. Sorry, I am relatively new to this car thing, but I have experience with using setups from Arduino Uno with the project book.
This is the website where my friend ordered, and I don't know if the recommended parts to buy are the only parts I will need, let alone what they are.
Looks like you need an Uno and sufficient motor drivers at a minimum.
1 channel if all 4 are wired in parallel.
2 channels if the left are connected in parallel and the right are connected in parallel.
4 channels if are all are driven independently.
I would like at www.pololu.com for motor driver boards.
Maybe some distance sensors if you want it to stop before it runs into something. Or bumper switch to have it reverse.
Maybe optical sensors if you want to read the encoder on a wheel for speed feedback.
Maybe optical sensors if you want to make a line follower.
Maybe 433 MHz Tx/Rx unit and a 2nd arduino if you want to make RF remote control.
Maybe ...
You need to tell us what car you are talking about.
What controls do you want? Steering, speed, forward and reverse?
What sort of motor(s) and power supply does it have?
Robin2:
You need to tell us what car you are talking about.
What controls do you want? Steering, speed, forward and reverse?
What sort of motor(s) and power supply does it have?
The steering, forward/reverse, and speed is exactly what I was thinking of, awesome!
Um for the power supply, I have a battery holder with 4 slots, with red/black wires already attached. The other red/black wires weren't attached to anything, but they were still inside the package.
For the motor drive, I'm familiar with 4, yellow ones that are attached to the wheels in the picture, if that helps.
Ok, that is a very bare package. It looks like all you have is 4 motors and a battery holder.
The "customers also bought" line has some helpful suggestions but it is not useful to show you what you need to make this move.
You need an Arduino Uno as the brains of the unit. You need a motor shield to be able to direct power to the motors. But even with those, you have a pretty dumb robot. Do you want it to do anything specific? Like follow a line drawn on the floor or avoid furniture obstacles? Each different thing will require certain sensors.
MorganS:
Ok, that is a very bare package. It looks like all you have is 4 motors and a battery holder.
The "customers also bought" line has some helpful suggestions but it is not useful to show you what you need to make this move.
You need an Arduino Uno as the brains of the unit. You need a motor shield to be able to direct power to the motors. But even with those, you have a pretty dumb robot. Do you want it to do anything specific? Like follow a line drawn on the floor or avoid furniture obstacles? Each different thing will require certain sensors.
You also need batteries.
Alright, thanks a lot for the information before the questions!
I was just thinking of making it move, like forward, reverse, going left/right, like that. I wasn't thinking about including a sensor, is that needed? I feel like it'd be easier without one, and if the car can function without a sensor, that'd be awesome! I'll just be careful not to hit it into obstacles xD
I have an Arduino Uno, so is there a minimum or simple motor shield that you would recommend?
tdong:
Alright, thanks a lot for the information before the questions!
I was just thinking of making it move, like forward, reverse, going left/right, like that. I wasn't thinking about including a sensor, is that needed? I feel like it'd be easier without one, and if the car can function without a sensor, that'd be awesome! I'll just be careful not to hit it into obstacles xD
I have an Arduino Uno, so is there a minimum or simple motor shield that you would recommend?
Sorry, but along with that, is there a way I can manipulate the car with some recommendable controller as well?
Your car seems to have 4 small DC motors - one for each wheel. Does it also have steering like a real car? Or is it meant to steer by making the wheels on one side turn faster than the other?
If it has real steering I would try to remove two of the motors and make it rear-wheel drive for simplicity. Then you could connect the two motors to a single speed controller.
If it uses skid steering I would connect the two motors on one side to a single speed controller (i.e. one speed controller for each side) - also for simplicity.
If you have an Arduino in the car and another "in your hand" the two can communicate by wireless - perhaps using cheap nRF24L01+ transceivers. If you have an Arduino with a Bluetooth module in the car you could probably control it with an Android phone using the RemoteXY software or this similar program
Go to instructables.com and look for a tutorial. Or just Google for one. I'm working on one right now, they're lots of fun but you need time and patience like everything.
Make it easier on yourself and get a motor shield!
Thanks a lot guys, but the struggle goes on to find a tutorial for a simple setup on my car. Would you guys happen to know where to find one for so, at a relatively cheap price for the materials? I haven't found much on Instructables or Google, but I somewhat know the main materials that I will need.
