Not So RC Car

Inspiration

This idea was inspired by the musical instrument called the theremin. The core function of this instrument is that frequency changes by moving your hand closer or farther from the antenna. We wanted to turn this into a game, so instead of changing the sound with frequency, we used the change in frequency to send a signal to power motors and drive a robot.

What it does

Essentially it is a robot that is controlled by hand movement near an antenna.

How we built it

This was created using an Arduino, a metal sheet and various electrical components. The metal sheet acts as a capacitor with the user's hand in an RC circuit to adjust the frequency. The frequency is then used in the Arduino to determine which direction to go in.

Challenges we ran into

There were many challenges, the first of which was trying to create an oscillator circuit where the capacitive sensor antenna was sensitive enough to be read. Finding the threshold frequency for each hand position was also a significant challenge.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are very proud of the whole project. Specifically, being able to move something without touching it felt like a great accomplishment as it is super cool, it reminds us of magic.

What we learned

We learned that oscillators require a significant number of components. Arduino is very useful and has libraries for almost anything.

What's next for Not So RC Car

Adding more directions. We originally planned 3 inputs, but the added complexity made it difficult to incorporate within 24 hours, so this would be the next step.