Deo: A Low-Cost Modular RC Car

Building your first RC car can be a daunting task, scaring many potential hobbyists away. We solved this problem by making a fully modular RC car using easy-to-print 3D models and standard parts.

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Inspiration

Two members of our team had never touched an RC car due to the intimidating challenge of controlling and making them from scratch. We wanted to make the hobby more accessible by creating an affordable, 3D-printable RC car that anyone could assemble, understand, and modify.

What it does

It features Front Wheel Ackermann steering, independently powered and controlled rear wheels, and a flexible rear suspension. Its modular design allows easy replacement of individual components and experimentation with different configurations.

How we built it

We designed the car around 3D-printed parts and standard hardware. A single servo controls the front steering linkage, allowing the inside wheel to turn more sharply than the outside wheel during cornering. Each rear wheel has its own motor.

For suspension, we connected the separate tiltable rear module to the main chassis using a 3D-printed TPU block, replacing a conventional spring design. We also used printed pivots and designed replaceable component mounts to simplify part interfaces.

Challenges we ran into

Our biggest challenge was minimizing complex hardware needs while maintaining functionality. Instead of using conventional springs, we designed a flexible TPU suspension connection. We also carefully adjusted clearances in printed pivots so they could rotate without separate pins or dowels.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud of integrating a functioning suspension system into an RC car of this size with a limited timeframe for development. Our team members worked hard to get prototypes working early on Saturday so we could be ready today.

What we learned

We learned how to work on the same CAD file simultaneously and maintain a good understanding of part connections. We also learned about designing around hardware constraints.

What's next for Deo: A Low-Cost Modular RC Car

We hope to expand Deo's library of custom parts and modular design examples so more people can plug and play with the design.

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