RC Car Gets Force Feedback Steering
Indeterminate Design has taken remote-controlled (RC) cars to the next level by adding force feedback steering to the car’s remote control. This innovation bridges the gap between the tactile experience of driving a real car and controlling an RC car, especially with fast, high-performance models where reacting purely by sight is challenging.
The key to this project is overcoming the data transfer challenge. Using ESP32 microcontrollers, which each have dual cores, and the ESP-NOW wireless protocol, sufficient data is transmitted between the car and the controller to enable real-time feedback. However, this requires precise timing and careful filtering to prevent steering jitter without losing important high-frequency force data. As a result, to physically realize the concept, the controller was 3D-printed and equipped with motors that provide the haptic feedback.
On the car side, detecting the forces to send back to the controller was tricky. Initial attempts to model these forces mathematically proved unsuccessful. The solution came by integrating a bi-directional load cell into the car’s steering mechanism, which could sense the forces accurately. Therefore, the system allows the driver to feel sensations like bumps, understeer, and the effects of drifting or driving on uneven surfaces, bringing a new level of realism to the RC experience.
This project offers a more immersive driving experience, making it possible to feel the car’s behavior in real-time, just like a full-sized vehicle.
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