Simple Car

Build a simple robotic car that starts, turns, and stops according to your program! A great introduction to the world of robotics, programming, and electronics.
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Description

Simple Car is a compact robotic vehicle that serves as a base for various projects and extensions. Thanks to its construction from 3D printed parts, it is ideal for creating other modular robots - for example, a forklift or a gripper. Control is provided by micro:bit in combination with an expansion board that allows you to control motors and connect other peripherals. The vehicle can be easily supplemented with a remote control using a joystick (MB2), which is also compatible with other building kits.

Simple Car fosters creativity and technical skills - a great choice for school projects and home experiments. With support for programming in MakeCode (blocks) and more advanced languages, it is suitable for both beginners and advanced creators.

Components


BBC MICRO:BIT V2.2

Joystick

Simple Car

Connection

When using the MB3 expansion board, special attention must be paid to the power supply. For proper operation of the Simple Car, we recommend using high-quality alkaline batteries. When using rechargeable batteries, the vehicle may not work properly and power outages may occur.

MB2

For the Simple Car robotic vehicle, it is important to correctly connect the continuous servo motors to pins P0 and P1 on the MB2 expansion board. If the vehicle moves in the opposite direction after powering on, simply swap the cables of both motors. Connect the battery only after the vehicle is fully assembled. Do not connect the electronic wiring until the end, when all the mechanical parts are assembled. The wiring diagram is for guidance only – the vehicle must first be physically built.

MB3

For the Simple Car version with the MB3 board, you need to connect the continuous servo motors to pins P8 and P12. If the vehicle moves in the opposite direction after starting, swap the motor cables. Do not connect the battery until the entire vehicle is built. Do not connect the electronic wiring until after assembly - the attached diagram is for illustrative purposes only.

Programme

Programming the Simple Car is divided into three parts: basic structure , joystick control and Bluetooth control . At the beginning, it is important to set the correct version of the expansion board using the Init car version block. You can use the joystick with a second micro:bit for remote control - do not forget to set the same radio group on the controller and the vehicle. The vehicle can also be controlled by a mobile phone via the EV-micro:bit application via Bluetooth - just upload the prepared program and connect without entering a pairing code.

Basic structure

Here you will find a project with libraries adapted precisely for controlling and steering the Simple Car vehicle. To open the program, you need to edit the project in the MakeCode environment - you can access the editor by clicking on the icon in the upper right corner of the program window. Before you start completing tasks and programming, you need to set the correct version of the vehicle using the "Init tank version" block.

Joystick control

Joystick - controller

Here you will find a project for programming a Joystick so that you can control your Simple Car remotely. Open the sample program by clicking on the edit program icon. If multiple controllers are used in a room, you need to change the radio group to avoid interference. You can do this using the “Radio set group” block.

Simple Car - receiver

Here you will find the program for the Simple Car vehicle, which allows you to control it using a joystick controller. In the program, you need to set the same "Radio set group" as used in the controller program, so that the devices communicate with each other correctly.

Control via Android/iOS mobile device

EV-micro:bit controller

The EV-micro:Bit application from Google Play or AppStore is used as the controller.

  • Before connecting the micro:bit in the EV - microbit application, it is necessary to download the program below to the micro:bit.
  • The receiver program is set up so that it is not necessary to enter the pairing code from the micro:bit display.
  • If you are unsure how to connect the micro:bit, you can find instructions at the very bottom of this page.
ev microbit app

Simple Car - receiver

Here you can find a program for a simple vehicle so that you can control it using your mobile device. After a successful connection, you can immediately start controlling the vehicle.

Control using an older Android mobile device

Web application

The EV-micro:bit app cannot be downloaded to some Android mobile devices. That's why we created a web app that allows you to control the micro:bit with the same commands - it works with the same micro:bit program.

  • Open the web page.
  • Click the button Connect.
  • Select your micro:bit device and choose Peer.
  • Control with buttons.

If you want to explore the source code of the web application, you can find it here.

Open the application

Tasks

Task 1: Driving along the line

Create a straight line on the ground using duct tape and create a program that uses motor control to transport the vehicle to the end of the line.

Task 2: Round trip

Create a program that uses servo motor control to transport a robotic vehicle to the end of the line, where it turns around and returns to the start.

Task 3: Robotic dance

Create a sequence that makes the robot dance on the floor.

Task 4: Dance choreography

If you have multiple robotic vehicles, program a choreography for at least three vehicles. The vehicles must move for at least ten seconds and create a dance sequence.

Download

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