Joystick Control Car with Arduino Using Snap4Arduino: A Block-Based Coding Project

Introduction

The world of robotics is evolving quickly, and children and beginners can now easily jump into the fun of building projects thanks to block-based coding platforms like Snap4Arduino. Today, we're exploring an exciting project — controlling a car using a joystick with an Arduino board. This project is not only educational but also a fun way to introduce concepts of electronics, robotics, and block-based programming.

In this blog, we will guide you through the process of building and coding a Joystick Controlled Car using Snap4Arduino. By the end of this article, you'll have the knowledge to control your own robot car using a joystick and an Arduino!

What Is Snap4Arduino?

Snap4Arduino is a modified version of the popular Snap! programming language, which enables the use of Arduino boards in a visual and interactive environment. Instead of writing complex lines of code, Snap4Arduino allows users to drag and drop blocks to create their programs. This makes it an excellent tool for kids and beginners who are just getting started with Arduino and robotics.

Components Needed with Amazon Links

To build your joystick-controlled car, you will need the following components:

Arduino Uno – The brain of the robot.

       Link : https://amzn.to/3zjy3xS

L298N Motor Driver – To control the direction and speed of the motors.

       Link : https://amzn.to/4eoqepq

DC Motors (2) with wheels – For driving the wheels of the car.

       Link : https://amzn.to/4grXgai

      

Joystick Module – For controlling the direction of the car.

       Link : https://amzn.to/3Xsvphe

Robot Chassis – A platform to mount the motors and other components.

       Link : https://amzn.to/3zipRxQ

Battery Pack – To power the motors and the Arduino.

       Link : https://amzn.to/47v8gPR

Jumper Wires – To connect all components.

       Link : https://amzn.to/4emOtUX

Snap4Arduino software – For coding the project.

Setting Up the Hardware

Step 1: Motor Connections

• DC Motors: Attach the two DC motors to the wheels of the chassis. Connect each motor to the L293D Motor Driver. This motor driver will allow you to control the forward and backward movement of the car.

• Power Supply: Connect the battery pack to the motor driver, ensuring that it provides enough power for the motors.

Step 2: Joystick Setup

• Joystick Module: The joystick is essentially two potentiometers, one for the X-axis (horizontal movement) and one for the Y-axis (vertical movement). Connect the X and Y pins of the joystick to analog pins A0 and A1 on the Arduino.

Step 3: Arduino to Motor Driver

• The L293D Motor Driver has four control pins (IN1, IN2, IN3, and IN4). Connect these pins to the digital pins of your Arduino (e.g., D4, D5, D6, and D7)

Block-Based Coding with Snap4Arduino

Once the hardware setup is complete, the next step is coding the joystick to control the car's movement. Using Snap4Arduino, you can write the logic in blocks that make it easier to visualize.

Step 1: Install Snap4Arduino

Download and install Snap4Arduino from the official website. 

Step 2: Go to Arduino IDE 1.8.19 version

Download and install Arduino IDE 1.8.19 from the official website. Connect Arduino with Laptop, Go to Files > Examples > Firmata > Standard Firmata. Select COM port and Board, upload the Arduino code.

Step 3: Open Snap4Arduino

Open Snap4Arduino and click on connect Arduino, and make the below block code.

Step 4: Test and Fine-Tune

If the Motors are moving in opposite direction, try to interchange the motor wires from L293D motor driver.

Simple way to test motors direction is, push Joystick in forward motion ( infront of wires direction ), and check both motors are moving forward or not. 

If any motor is moving backward, interchange the wires of motors.

Watch Tutorial Video from here :

Conclusion

Building a Joystick-Controlled Car with Arduino using Snap4Arduino is an excellent project for anyone looking to learn more about robotics, electronics, and block-based programming. With a few simple components and an intuitive coding platform like Snap4Arduino, you can create a fully functioning robot car in no time.

This project not only strengthens problem-solving skills but also opens the door to more complex robotics projects in the future. So, get your components ready, fire up Snap4Arduino, and start building your own joystick-controlled car today!