Introduction: Worlds Smallest Car With Electronic Stability Control!

By Visit My YouTube Channel
About: Arduino, DIY RC remotes, solar electronics

You have one of those tiny little Coke Can Cars? And its controllability sucks? Then here comes the solution:

Arduino 2.4GHz "Micro RC" proportional control modification!

Features:

  • Proportional control Arduino "Micro RC" conversion with electronic stability control system!
  • 2.4GHz Arduino / NRF24L01+ based DIY remote
  • Custom made boards from OSH Park, designed in Eagle
  • Proportional throttle and steering
  • 3.7V LiPo battery
  • MPU-6050 gyro / accelerometer, used for stability control (steering overlay). Gain adjustable via transmitter knob.
  • TB6612FNG dual channel DC motor driver for drive motor and steering
  • 4 Channel Joystick or 2 channel „car style“ transmitter with OLED and integrated PONG game (if you crashed your car)
  • Software and board files available on my GitHub. The link is below.

Step 1: Micro RC Conversion

In this step, the original supercap is replaced with a LiPo battery. The original 27MHz receiver is replaced with my own 2.4GHz proportional control "Micro RC" receiver: https://github.com/TheDIYGuy999/Micro_RC_Receiver

Step 2: Board Upgrade

The new board version 1.3 allows to drive the steering with an increased PWM frequency. This removes the annoying PWM "whining".

Step 3: Steering Repair / Optimization

Step 4: A Little Race: David Against Goliath!

Step 5: MPU-6050 Gyro / Accelerometer Implementation

This tiny little car is very lightweight and has an extremely short wheelbase. Also its steering is proportionally controlled, but there is no feedback. So it is very hard to control on slippery surfaces like parquet.

After I had added an MPU-6050 gyro / accelerometer to several of my other RC cars, I wanted to try, if this board would fit inside this very tiny car...

And yes, it did. The car is now very easy to control. Success!

For more details about my "Micro RC" remote control system have a look at:

I hope, that this little Instructable was helpful for you