Solar Powered Obstacle Avoidance Car

This solar-powered car navigates obstacles autonomously using Arduino, ultrasonic sensors, and DC motors. Designed for eco-friendly innovation, it demonstrates how robotics and renewable energy can be combined to create sustainable transportation solutions. The car detects and avoids obstacles in real-time, relying solely on solar power for its control system, highlighting the potential for green technology in autonomous vehicles.

Purpose and Inspiration:

This project emerged from a desire to merge solar power with robotics, fostering the exploration of clean, sustainable technologies. By developing this car, I aim to showcase how solar energy can drive practical, autonomous systems, inspiring further experimentation with green technology in robotics and transportation.

Here’s the updated list with all the new components added:

Materials:

- Arduino Board

- Ultrasonic Sensor

- DC Motors

- L293D Motor Driver

- Solar Panel

- Rechargeable Battery

- Servo Motor

- Wheels and Chassis

- Voltage Regulator

- Breadboard

- Jumper Wires

- Diodes and Capacitors

- Paper Clip

- PLA Filament

- Ball Bearing

- Gear

- Metal Rod

- Hot Glue

- Buzzer

Tools:

- Soldering Iron

- 3D Printer

- Screwdriver Set

- Wire Cutters and Strippers

- Multimeter

- Laptop

I attached the wheels to the chassis, ensuring they were securely fastened to the DC motors. Then, I inserted ball bearings to reduce friction and improve movement. I positioned the metal rod through the center of the ball bearing as the axle and used gears to connect the motors to the wheels, adding extra torque. I secured the servo motor to the front of the chassis for steering control. Once everything was in place, I used hot glue to secure each part.

I positioned the Arduino board on the chassis and attached the ultrasonic sensor to the front with hot glue, facing forward for accurate obstacle detection. I used paper clips to connect the motor driver to the Arduino board on the breadboard to avoid too many wires and entangling. I connected the L293D motor driver to control the direction of the DC motors. Then, I attached a buzzer for sound alerts when obstacles are detected. I used jumper wires and paper clips to connect everything according to the circuit diagram, including the servo motor for steering. After double-checking, I secured all connections and organized the wires neatly.

I connected 3 solar panels each having an output of 2v in series which has a total output of 6v.I placed the solar panel on top of the chassis using a solar stand I 3d printed, positioning it to maximize sunlight exposure. I connected it to the voltage regulator to stabilize the power output, then added the rechargeable battery as a backup power source when solar energy is low.