How to make an IR remote control car with Arduino

Hello, welcome back. In this tutorial, we will learn how to make an IR remote control car using the Arduino. Also, the IR receiver module is mainly used to control this car. Therefore, we can control this car using any kind of IR remotes. The car is based on the Arduino UNO board and L293D motor driver shield. Also, this tutorial shows you step by step how to make this car so you can easily make it.

The process of this car

When the car is powered on, the L293D motor shield and IR receiver module are activated via the Arduino UNO board. Also, the IR receiver receives the IR rays. Then, when the values are received from an IR remote that matches the program, the gear motors rotate forward and backward according to those values. The motor rotation is done by the motor driver shield.

The special thing you need to keep in mind while making this car is that even though we used the L293D motor driver shield, the motor 1 and motor 2 terminals could not be used. This is because these motor1 and motor2 terminals are not functional with the IR receiver library we use. Therefore, we can only use motor3 and motor4 terminals.

OK, let’s do this project step by step. The required components are given below.

Arduino UNO board x 1 — Amazon / Our Store
IR receiver module x 1 — Amazon / Our Store

L293D motor driver x 1 — Amazon / Our Store
Gear motor x 4 — Amazon / Our Store
Robot wheel x 4 — Amazon / Our Store

Li-ion battery x 2 — Amazon / Banggood
Li-ion battery holder x 1 — Amazon / Our Store
Foam board — Amazon / Banggood

Jumper wires — Amazon / Our Store

Disclosure: These Amazon links are Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Step 1

Firstly, let’s identify these components.

How to make a multi-function Arduino robot — Arduino UNO board

Step 2

Secondly, cut the foam board piece as follows.

Step 3

Thirdly, glue the gear motors as follows.

Step 4

Now, connect the motor drive shield to the Arduino board. Then, glue it to the center of the car chassis.

Step 5

Then, connect the gear motors. To do this, use the circuit diagram below.

Step 6

Now, glue the IR receiver module, After, connect it to the motor driver shield. For that, use the circuit diagram above.

Step 7

Then, glue the li-ion battery holder and connect it to the motor driver shield.

Step 8

OK, now let’s set up the program for this project. It is as follows.

Firstly, get the IR values from the IR remote. For that, you can use any type of IR remote.

IR library — Download

AFmotor library — Download
The complete program of this project – Download

/*IR remote control car with Arduino.
 * https://srituhobby.com
 */
 
#include <AFMotor.h>
#include <IRremote.h>

AF_DCMotor motor1(3);
AF_DCMotor motor2(4);

IRrecv IR(A0);
decode_results result;

int Speed = 150;

#define up 0
#define down 0
#define left 0
#define right 0
#define Stop 0

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  motor1.setSpeed(Speed);
  motor2.setSpeed(Speed);
  IR.enableIRIn();
}

void loop() {
  if (IR.decode(&result)) {
    Serial.println(result.value);
    IR.resume();
  }
  delay(100);
  if (result.value == up ) {
    motor1.run(FORWARD);
    motor2.run(FORWARD);
  } else if (result.value == down ) {
    motor1.run(BACKWARD);
    motor2.run(BACKWARD);
  } else if (result.value == Stop) {
    motor1.run(RELEASE);
    motor2.run(RELEASE);
  } else if (result.value == left) {
    motor1.run(FORWARD);
    motor2.run(BACKWARD);
  } else if (result.value == right) {
    motor1.run(BACKWARD);
    motor2.run(FORWARD);
  }
}

Code explanation

Firstly, libraries are included.

#include <AFMotor.h>
#include <IRremote.h>

Secondly, objects are created for these libraries.

AF_DCMotor motor1(3);
AF_DCMotor motor2(4);

IRrecv IR(A0);
decode_results result;

Next, the IR remote values are defined. For this, we will then enter the IR values.

#define up 0
#define down 0
#define left 0
#define right 0
#define Stop 0

In the setup function,

void setup() {
//The serial monitor is begin.
  Serial.begin(9600);
//Includes speed of motorsග
  motor1.setSpeed(Speed);
  motor2.setSpeed(Speed);
//IR module is enable.
  IR.enableIRIn();
}

In the loop function,

void loop() {
//This code retrieves IR values from the IR remote.
  if (IR.decode(&result)) {
    Serial.println(result.value);
    IR.resume();
  }
  delay(100);
//These values are checked using the IF condition and the car is moved UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, and STOP using these values.
  if (result.value == up ) {
    motor1.run(FORWARD);
    motor2.run(FORWARD);
  } else if (result.value == down ) {
    motor1.run(BACKWARD);
    motor2.run(BACKWARD);
  } else if (result.value == Stop) {
    motor1.run(RELEASE);
    motor2.run(RELEASE);
  } else if (result.value == left) {
    motor1.run(FORWARD);
    motor2.run(BACKWARD);
  } else if (result.value == right) {
    motor1.run(BACKWARD);
    motor2.run(FORWARD);
  }
}