A small autonomous mobile robot designed to detect obstacles, evaluate its surroundings, and change direction without direct user control.
The team developed the vehicle around an Arduino Uno microcontroller and integrated sensors, motors, wireless communication, and control logic into one mechatronic system.
In addition to autonomous obstacle avoidance, the robot incorporated Bluetooth and infrared remote control as well as infrared line-tracking sensors.
Arduino Programming, Wiring, Sensor Integration & Testing
Within the team project, my work focused on integrating the electronic hardware with the Arduino control system and validating the behavior of the completed robot.
- Developed and modified Arduino control code for vehicle movement and autonomous obstacle-avoidance behavior.
- Wired the Arduino Uno, motor driver, motors, sensors, and communication modules into the complete system.
- Set up and integrated the ultrasonic distance sensor used to detect obstacles in front of the vehicle.
- Integrated the SG90 servo motor used to rotate the ultrasonic sensor and scan the surrounding environment.
- Supported setup of the infrared sensors used for line-tracking functionality.
- Tested sensor readings, motor responses, vehicle direction, and autonomous decision logic.
- Troubleshot wiring and control-code issues during system integration.
- Helped modify the vehicle control configuration after hardware issues required the team to transition from four-wheel drive to a two-wheel-drive setup.
The complete smart-car system was developed collaboratively by the project team. This section highlights my individual work in programming, wiring, sensor integration, and testing.
The robot combines sensing, digital control, actuation, motor interfacing, and wireless communication through the Arduino Uno.
Ultrasonic and infrared sensors detect obstacles and track environmental conditions.
Arduino code evaluates sensor input and determines the appropriate vehicle response.
Motor-control signals are sent through the L298N driver to control wheel motion.
The vehicle moves forward, reverses, stops, or turns based on the selected mode.
Integrated mechatronic hardware for sensing, control, communication, and actuation.
Executes the control logic and coordinates sensors, motors, and communication devices.
Measures the distance between the robot and obstacles ahead.
Rotates the ultrasonic sensor to scan multiple directions.
Interfaces low-power Arduino control signals with the vehicle's DC motors.
Provide forward, reverse, and turning motion.
Detect a dark path against a lighter surface for line tracking.
Allows manual vehicle control using a smartphone.
Provides an additional remote command interface.
The obstacle-avoidance sequence uses distance sensing and directional scanning to determine whether the robot should continue forward or change direction.
Vehicle travels normally while the path remains clear.
Ultrasonic sensor identifies an object within the programmed detection range.
Vehicle stops while the servo rotates the sensor to evaluate possible directions.
Sensor readings are compared to identify the clearer path.
Arduino commands the motors to turn toward the selected direction.
Vehicle resumes forward motion after completing the maneuver.
The system was designed with multiple modes of operation rather than relying on a single vehicle-control method.
Sensor feedback and Arduino logic control obstacle avoidance.
Smartphone commands provide manual directional control.
Infrared commands provide a second manual-control interface.
Three infrared sensors detect and follow a dark path.
Iterative testing exposed hardware and power limitations that required changes to both wiring and control logic.
OUT1 and OUT2 on the motor driver stopped functioning during testing.
Motors were reassigned to the remaining functional outputs and the control code was modified.
The team transitioned from the original four-wheel-drive configuration to two-wheel drive.
The available 3.7 V battery supply was insufficient for fully independent operation.
Much of the development process involved iterative troubleshooting of code, wiring, motor direction, and hardware behavior. These tests helped identify how electrical and software issues affected overall robot performance.
The robot was successfully assembled and operated after iterative hardware and software troubleshooting.
The completed system demonstrated the integration of sensing, actuation, microcontroller programming, motor interfacing, and wireless control within one mobile robotic platform.
Although the final configuration was modified from the original design due to motor-driver and power limitations, the project demonstrated how subsystem failures can be diagnosed and addressed through changes to both hardware and software.
This project gave me hands-on experience connecting software, sensors, electronics, and mechanical hardware into a complete autonomous system.
My work on Arduino programming, wiring, sensor integration, and testing strengthened my understanding of how control logic depends on reliable hardware signals and proper subsystem integration.
The troubleshooting process also reinforced the importance of iterative testing and adapting a system when real hardware behaves differently than expected.
Arduino Smart Car Project Report
The complete project report documents the vehicle requirements, mechatronic subsystems, autonomous-control logic, hardware architecture, testing, troubleshooting, results, and conclusions.