What you need?
Elements:
- Power – 1
- IR set – 1
- Motor – 2
- Geared motors – 2
- Castor wheel – 1
- Flip – 1
- Buzzer – 1
- Power bank and power cable
Accessories:
- Car plate
- Double side tap
The making
Step 1
Assemble the car using accessories. Check how to make a robotic car
Step 2
Version 1: Alarm system
Prepare the circuit as shown here.
The buzzer should turn on when you bring your hand near to the sensor LEDs. Use the potentiometer to adjust the distance.
Place and stick the circuit and power bank on the car plate. Stick the sensor LEDs at the back of the car plate.
Adjust the motor switches so both the motors rotate in the backward direction.
Turn the power on and the car will start moving backward. As the car reaches to the wall, the buzzer will make the sound. This becomes an alarm system where the buzzer sound may alert the driver about the approaching obstacle. In our case the car will remain uncontrolled and will hit the wall.
Version 2: Smart reverse sensor
Prepare the circuit as shown here.
Place and stick the circuit and power bank on the car plate. Stick the sensor LEDs at the back of the car plate.
Adjust the motor switches so both the motors rotate in the backward direction.
Turn the power on and the car will start moving backward. As the car reaches to the wall, the buzzer will make the sound and the motors will stop rotating. This will result into an alarm as well as a smart accident prevention mechanism.
How does it work?
Do you know how the IR works? Checkout here.
The IR sensor will detect an object and will send Yes signal to buzzer. Buzzer will turn on and will make the sound. However motors are not under control of the IR element hence will continue working normally.
When we bring motors under the control of IR and the Flip element the behaviour changes.
While there is no object on the way, IR will release “No” signal to buzzer. Buzzer will remain off and will forward the No further. Flip will receive the No, will turn it to opposite (Yes) and will pass that to motors. Motors will remain on because of that.
But when the IR element receives an obstacle, it will send the “Yes” signal to buzzer. Buzzer will turn on and will pass the signal to Flip. Flip will invert the singal to “No” and will pass to motor elements. This will result in motor elements to stop the motors. Hence the car stops.
That’s a smart reverse mechanism using IR sensor.
Advantages when implemented in the real world.
The alarm mechanism alerts the driver for the upcoming obstacle while the smart reverse sensor delivers much more. That prevents accidents to happen as it stops the car by itself.
What else can you do with this same circuit combination?
Share your ideas and project photos here.