Make an Arduino remote controlled car

Take your Arduino skills to the next level by building a
full-featured remote controlled car. 

You made an LED to blink, played with sensors, got some motors to spin. You know your way around the Arduino IDE and have a good grasp of what the Arduino is all about

Now what?

How about you turbo-boost your Arduino skills by building your own remote controlled car?

This course will take you step-by-step and show you how you can take a typical off-the-shelf (boring) RC car and convert it into an Arduino-powered super-fun lab on wheels.

I call it Ardu-auto.

With Ardu-auto, learning electronics has never been more fun. Every step of the way, you will learn practical facts and skills that will help you elsewhere in your making career. Based on an of-the-shelf cheap RC car, you will use Arduinos, components, software and prototyping techniques to build your own custom creation.

Here's what you will learn:

  • How to use proximity sensors to detect obstacles
  • How to allow for two Arduinos to communicate with each other using RF24 type modules
  • How to control DC motors
  • How to use a Wii Nunchuck
  • How to write a communications protocol
  • How to modify and adapt off-the-shelf raw materials for your project
  • How to integrate components into a complete system

This course is designed for people already familiar with the Arduino.

If you are new to the Arduino, I strongly recommend that you first look at my other courses (Arduino Step by Step and Beginning Arduino) before attempting this project!

You make it so incredibly simple.. I am really impressed at how easy it was to follow along. Even if I stop here I have already learnt how to attach a controller to the Arduino! But of course I am not stopping here..

John Fiott

This instructor always does a great job of explaining the material. I have no particular talent with this material but this instructor has managed to build my self-confidence and knowledge to where (for the first time in my life) I am able to build things and get them working. All of these courses are great for senior citizens who are Making and building robots for the first time.

Thomas Weight

This course is a perfect match for a project I'm working on. I'll be controlling a small tank drive robot.


I'm switching from remote control via Bluetooth to 2.4 GHz.

James Corral

Peter is extremely knowledgeable, interactive and made tech fun again. Rather than reading thick books with a bunch of implicit jargon, why not do a project and learn a lot more from it..that's how I felt when I started accompanying

Jairo Augusto

Course outcomes

  • Use the RF24 type of transceiver modules to allow for communication between Arduinos
  • Use DC motors with L298N motor controllers.
  • Use the HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor to measure distance to an obstacle.
  • Select the appropriate microcontroller for a mobile application.
  • Retrofit an existing toy to make it far more capable (and fun).
  • Use a Wii Nunchuck with the Arduino.
  • Create a communications protocol for transmitting instructions from a transmitter to a receiver.
  • Select the appropriate type of battery for a mobile application.
  • Become confident with the use of power tools, soldering irons.

Here's what you're getting:

  • "Make an Arduino remote controlled car" video course
  • 4 hours of on-demand video.
  • Downloadable code sketches for all experiments.
  • Circuit schematics with video assembly instructions.
  • Lifetime access
  • Hardware not included. See full listing of required hardware.

Which option is best for you?

Solo

Once-off payment, best for self-sufficient learners on a budget.

Price in your currency:
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Once-off.
  • Access all course content.
  • Permanent access.
  • Study at your own pace.
  • Single payment.
  • Access to community discussion space.
  • Access to lecture comments.
  • One-on-one sessions with mentor.
  • Monthly subscription.
  • Cancel when you complete the course.
Price in your currency:
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Once-off.

Community

Best for the social learner: be a member of the course community.

Price in your currency:
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Once-off.
  • Access all course content.
  • Permanent access.
  • Study at your own pace.
  • Single payment.
  • Access to community discussion space.
  • Access to lecture comments.
  • One-on-one sessions with mentor.
Price in your currency:
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Once off.

Mentor

Get one-on-one live meetings with a mentor, learn to master.

US$299

  • Access all course content.
  • Permanent access.
  • Study at your own pace.
  • Monthly subscription.
  • Access to community discussion space.
  • Access to lecture page comments.
  • Includes 2 hours of video one-on-one consultation sessions with an instructor.
  • One month of priority support via instant messaging.
  • Pay as you go: purchase more time with an instructor at any time.

US$299

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The course content

Introduction
Introduction

Components
Components - Everything you will need
Using the Wii Nunchuck
Motors and motor drivers
Sensors: detecting obstacles
Radio communications with the RF24L01+ module
Micro controller considerations
Battery considerations

Prototyping
The controller (transmitter)
The car (receiver)
Testing the prototype

Final assembly - Hardware
Getting a cheap remote controlled car
Preparing for the final assembly - What you will need
Remove the electronics from the RC car
Wiring the motors
Adding the distance sensor
Routing the top side wires
Assembly recap
Wiring the motor controller
Connecting the Arduino, sensor, RF24 and motor controller
Connecting power to the Arduino
Tidying up the wires
Attaching the top cover
Setting up the Wii controller

Final assembly - sketch
Final sketch for the Car
Final Sketch for the Remote Controller

Play
Play to find things to improve

Conclusion
What else can you do with Arduauto?
Your ideas!

What hardware will you need? 

To complete this course, you will need an Arduino and several simple components.

All of them can be easily sourced from online sources such as eBay, Amazon and AliExpress. 

Please find the list of hardware here. This hardware is not included in the price of this course.

The course instructor

The course instructor is Peter Dalmaris, PhD.

Peter has created over 20 other courses on technology education.

He is the author of Maker Education Revolution, a book on how making is changing the way we learn and teach.

He is also the host of Stemiverse, a podcast in which he discusses education and STEM with the shakers and movers of technology and science education from around the world.

Ready to start learning?

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