DIY Project To Design a Circuit to Control a Multi-directional Bot Through Switches

In this series, we will discuss on some DIY projects. This is a DIY project to design a circuit to control a Multi-directional bot through switches. Create your own bot following these steps.

In our last video of this DIY project series, we showed you how to design your own bot using a MOSFET 2N7000 on a breadboard. Today we move forward to Step 2 – An interesting update!

Let’s add direction controls to the bot! This will allow the bot to move in all directions!
Today is upgradation day, so let’s continue with the same frame. Let’s add directions to it.

So, to get started, let’s gather a few components & tools.

1) A Breadboard
2) Jumper Wires
3) 1 Piece of ULN2803
4) 2 Pieces of Toggle Switches
5) DC Power Supply (5V-9V)
6) Robot Chassis with 2 BO Motors & 2 Wheels

Circuit Diagram and Construction of Multi-directional Bot

• Overview of the components

The ULN2803 IC is the heart of the circuit. It is a Darlington transistor array IC which is capable of switching high loads with low-intensity ON-OFF signals. A Darlington Transistor is an array of the transistor which can amplify a very small signal into a large signal output.

For connecting all the modules, breadboard, jumper wires, and power supply are the key components required for the assembly. For Power Supply, you can purchase a 9V, Battery from your nearby store. Chassis includes the BO Motors fitted to the wheel. Notice that we have welded the jumper wires into the terminals of the motors. Make sure that the wires are correctly connected to the board. The battery will power the entire system.

• Main Construction

1. Place the switches on the breadboard. The switches are a fixed position switch, so you can turn it on to one side and it will operate constantly.
2. Connect the 3^rd pin of each switch to +ve Supply. This will ensure, that when the switch is pressed, current will flow through the switch into the circuit.
3. Now, let’s Connect the IC ULN2803 to the board. There is a Darlington Transistor Array IC. It consists of multiple Input and Output ports where you can use a low level signal to turn on a much higher load, in our case, the BO Motors.
4. Connect Pin 9 to ground.
5. Connect Pin 10 to +ve supply. We will set COM Pin to high.
6. Take 2 jumper wires and connect each one to the middle of each switch.
7. Now, connect the other sides of those wires to IC Pin 1 & 2.
8. Take the chassis connected with motors. Make sure the wheels are connected firmly and wired in the correct orientation.
9. Take the positive wires and connect to +ve supply.
10. Connect the other 2 wires to IC Pin 18 and Pin 17.
11. Now, let’s check the circuit, Connect the Battery & Turn on the switches.

Hope you enjoyed this additional feature on your bot. Feel free to tweak around and have fun! Follow us for upcoming videos where we add some more upgrades.