Advanced Autonomous Robot Car Arduino Mega: Build Guide

Description

Autonomous robot car with Arduino Mega

This autonomous robot car is the most complex build in the shop. It runs on an Arduino Mega, uses ultrasonic sensors for obstacle avoidance, and can also be controlled over Bluetooth from your phone.

The car has three modes. In autonomous mode, the ultrasonic sensors detect objects in front and to the sides, and the car steers around them on its own. In remote control mode, you pair the HC-05 Bluetooth module with your phone and drive manually. The third mode is line following, which uses infrared sensors on the bottom to track a dark line on a light surface.

Switching between modes is handled in the code. You can set the default mode at startup or switch on the fly through Bluetooth commands.

Why Arduino Mega?

The Mega has more pins and more memory than the Uno. This project needs a lot of I/O: multiple ultrasonic sensors, infrared sensors, the motor shield, and the Bluetooth module. On an Uno, you would run out of pins fast. The Mega handles it without any pin sharing tricks.

The motor shield sits on top of the Mega and drives the DC motors directly. No extra H-bridge boards needed.

Building the autonomous robot car

The chassis prints in PLA. I used snap fit joints where possible, so you only need a few M3 screws for the motors and the caster ball. Most people finish the print in about 8 to 10 hours. Assembly takes another hour or two, depending on how comfortable you are with soldering the motor leads.

The wiring diagram covers every single connection. If you follow it step by step, nothing should be left to guess.

What is in the package

• STL files for the chassis, sensor mounts, and covers
• Arduino Mega source code with all three modes
• Wiring diagram and bill of materials

Full tutorial: Advanced Autonomous Robot Car Build Guide