PROJECT / 05MECHATRONICS / VEHICLE DESIGN / CONTROLS

Electric Vehicle

Built a Science Olympiad electric vehicle using encoder feedback and stopping-distance compensation to stop at a specified distance.

Arduino UnoEncoder FeedbackMotor ControlMechanical DesignDrivetrainTesting

HERO / 01Target-Distance Run

HERO / 02Final Vehicle

01 / OVERVIEW

Encoder feedback controls target-distance stopping.

An Arduino Uno converts quadrature-encoder counts into wheel travel and commands the 12 V drivetrain through an L298N motor driver.

02 / VEHICLE + DRIVETRAIN

CAD model of the autonomous electric vehicle chassis and drivetrain — 02 / 01Vehicle CAD

Landscape view of the assembled autonomous electric vehicle prepared for testing — 02 / 02Assembled Vehicle

Built the mechanical chassis and drivetrain around a 12 V 4.4:1 25D metal DC gearmotor. The two vehicle configurations reflect different season requirements: the first season used a straight-line course, while the second used a curved track.

03 / CONTROL + ELECTRONICS

Landscape view of the early electric vehicle prototype with Arduino Uno, motor driver, and wiring — 03 / 01Prototype Electronics

25D metal DC gearmotor with quadrature encoder — 03 / 02Motor + Encoder

An Arduino Uno commands the motor through an L298N motor driver while a 48 CPR quadrature encoder provides motion feedback, within the event's eight-AA-battery limit.

04 / ENCODER FEEDBACK

Landscape view of the final vehicle showing the integrated motor, driver, Arduino, wiring, and chassis — 04 / 01Integrated Vehicle Electronics

04 / 02Build + Testing Timelapse

Wheel-distance calibration converts encoder counts into vehicle position during each run.