Remote-control, or RC, devices have been a steady, enjoyable hobby for many people over the years. The cars can range in scope from simple, homemade vehicles to expensive, multifunctional creations.
Building a simple RC car has never been easier, thanks to the availability of cheap, miniaturized consumer hobby electronics available at most well-stocked electronics or hobby stores. Those, combined with some basic tools, will allow you to construct your own simple RC car in a matter of minutes.
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read)
The "brains" of any RC car is the radio control transmitter and receiver electronics, available at low cost at many hobby electronics outlets.
- Plastic index card box
- Electric drill
- Two 9-volt DC motors & detachable rubber wheels
- Double-sided sticky tape
- 9-volt battery pack
- Soldering iron & 2-percent silver solder
- 2-channel radio receiver
- Remote control
Drill two small holes on opposite sides of the index card box - across from one another, not through the lid of the box. The holes should be not much bigger than the shafts of the motors themselves, to limit vibration during operation; so using a 1/8-inch or 1/4-inch sized drill bit should work.
Detach the motor's rubber wheels and thread the motor's shafts through the drill holes from inside the box. This means that the body of the motors should sit inside the box with the shafts poking through the drilled holes.
Mount the motors in place with a strip of double-sided sticky tape underneath each one. Press down firmly to secure the connection.
Solder the power wires from the battery pack to the power inputs of the 2-channel remote receiver, positive to positive and negative to negative.
Solder the wires from the motors to the outputs of the radio receiver, positive to positive and negative to negative.
Place the battery pack and radio receiver into the card box carefully, and secure them in place with more strips of double-sided sticky tape.
Attach the rubber wheels to the protruding shafts, and test your construction with your remote control. Your RC car should be able to scoot along on its two wheels forward and backward, and turn left and right.
Things You'll Need
References
Tips
- Without another set of wheels, one end of the box will be dragging along the ground. While this is not a problem for the spunky little 9-volt DC motors, it can be visually unappealing. Consider adding a free-rotating two-wheeled axle to the opposite end of the box if you want to make a four-wheeled RC vehicle.
About the Author
Jordan Gaither is a degree-holding communications major with a successful freelance career. He's been writing professionally for over a year, and has just recently made the jump to full-time freelancer. Among others, he's been published by Internet Brands, Apartment Ratings, eHow, CV Tips and the Examiner.