Project Description

Transform a basic vehicle into an intelligent, multi-feature robot car using embedded systems techniques. In this project, we developed a smart robot car by integrating safety, control, and entertainment features using Arduino Uno and Mega boards programmed in Arduino C with FreeRTOS. Our implementation follows a master/slave architecture—with the Arduino Mega handling prioritized tasks and the Uno managing the touchscreen interface—to deliver seamless real-time control.

Overview

The objective was to bring modern-day vehicle features to a physical car by leveraging embedded hardware and real-time scheduling. Key features include:

• Lane Keeping Assist (LKA): An autonomous system that monitors lane boundaries using sensors and gently steers the car back when it drifts, while providing visual alerts.

• Control Indicators: The current gear is displayed on a 7-segment display, and adaptive headlights adjust automatically based on ambient light intensity.

• Sound System (Entertainment): An integrated MP3 playback module, controlled via a 2.4″ LCD TFT touchscreen, allows the user to play, pause, and navigate through songs while driving.

Development Process

Our development process was centered around the effective prioritization and integration of all required features:

• Hardware Integration & Architecture:
  We used two Arduino boards in a master/slave configuration. The Arduino Mega, acting as the master, was tasked with managing the core features—including motor control, sensor reading, and task scheduling with FreeRTOS. The Arduino Uno, serving as the slave, handled touchscreen inputs to control the multimedia functions.

• Real-Time Task Scheduling:
  With FreeRTOS, the project was divided into multiple tasks ensuring that high-priority processes (such as lane detection and corrective steering) were executed alongside less critical ones (like media playback and gear indicator updates). This structured approach allowed for the efficient processing of multiple sensor inputs and real-time adjustments to outputs.

• Sensor & Actor Integration:
  The project combined various sensors (light sensors to gauge ambient brightness, infrared sensors for lane detection, and a joystick for gear control) with output devices (LEDs, 7-segment displays, motors for steering and movement, and an MP3 module with an external speaker). Thorough calibration and channel linking between the Arduino boards were critical for ensuring smooth communication and functionality.

• Iterative Testing & Challenges:
  Integrating multiple features posed challenges such as synchronizing code across different boards, managing hardware constraints, and ensuring stable communication between tasks. Through systematic testing and debugging, the project achieved a robust solution capable of meeting real-time demands.

Results & Impact

The final system successfully integrated safety, control, and entertainment into one cohesive embedded solution. The robot car could autonomously maintain its lane, adjust its display and headlights based on sensory input, and entertain users with a fully functional MP3 system—all running concurrently without user intervention. This project not only serves as an innovative demonstration of advanced embedded systems but also highlights practical applications of FreeRTOS in managing real-time operations in a resource-constrained environment.

What I Gained

Through this hands-on project, I deepened my expertise in embedded system design and real-time scheduling using FreeRTOS. I gained valuable experience in inter-microcontroller communication, hardware-software integration, and managing concurrent tasks within critical systems. The challenges faced during integration and debugging enhanced my problem-solving skills and prepared me for more complex embedded system projects.

You can see the video of the project here