Remote Controlled F1 Racecars

For our project, we are creating remote-controlled F1-style race cars to be raced on a track which we will build ourselves. We want to create this project because we are long-time F1 fans who want to experience the same joy in racing that we always watch online. In addition, it’s a fun, hands-on game that might even inspire our friends to get into F1!  This project will fulfill two niches—F1 fans and toy car gamers, encompassing a range of ages. We realised this was needed as, as a kid, we gradually got bored of playing with the same Hot Wheels, missing the feeling of winning. Also, as F1 fans, we cannot actually drive supercars but can still race in a competition with this project.

Brainstorming Sketch

Our cars will be built with a wooden chassis and a 3D-printed cover, which will enclose the electronic components of the car inside. The materials we will need to complete our project are: wood to build the chassis and track; servos/motors to control the wheels; electronic components; wheels for the size of the car we design (to be purchased); mechanical components (i.e. nails, glue, etc.). We hope to utilize the laser cutters and circuit printer for our design. We will also need to purchase a Bluetooth module/device to be able to control our cars remotely. Also, for our track, we want to be able to connect LEDs to an IR sensor (to be purchased), so when the cars go over the sensor within the track, the LED color corresponds to the number of laps completed. We do plan on manufacturing most (if not all) of our components using GCAD materials and the GCAD space. Lastly, we expect our project to cost a maximum of $30 (not including use of GCAD materials and GCAD-supplied wood). 

We hope to be finished with the remote-controlled cars around interims because this gives us enough time to make changes, test our cars, etc. In the next two weeks, we hope to code and wire our cars. Then, we will spend time making our chassis to accommodate the electronic components. Following the completed creation of our cars, we will then build our track. By designing our track after the cars are complete, we will make sure the track accommodates the size of the cars. We will spend the few weeks of track work designing the track, then we will focus on coding lap counter/LED race lights circuitry.

We are excited to get started!