Wireless-enabled microcontrollers are now ubiquitous and available for just a few dollars. These allow you to build all kinds of connected projects more cheaply than ever before. [ROBO HUB] demonstrates this well with their build of an incredibly simple WiFi-controlled RC car.
This build is based on the NodeMCU ESP8266 microcontroller combined with the L293D motor driver. This allows the microcontroller to drive brushed DC motors for differential drive. Powered by three 18650 lithium-ion batteries. These parts will be assembled into a kind of car with his four 3D printed wheels. The drivetrain is rather strange, with geared motors attached to the two front wheels and simple brushed DC motors attached to the two rear wheels. The vehicle has tank style steering as the motors on each side are paired.
The ESP8266, on the other hand, is programmed to be controlled via a smartphone app. The touchscreen controls aren’t as elegant as toy RC cars of the past, but they’re pretty good for an inexpensive DIY build.
This is a very simple project that any high school student can follow to learn something. Projects like this are a great way to learn everything from mechanics to electronics and even basic programming. It may not be complicated, but it makes for a great learning tool. We see a lot of projects like this on a regular basis, and every time a project is built, someone is learning a new skill.
We’ve been talking about WiFi-controlled RC cars for a long time. A long time ago, it wasn’t this easy. Video after the break.
