Remote Controlled Autorickshaw ( Tuk Tuk ) From Toy

The objective of this project is to build a 3-wheeled RC Tuk-Tuk using a Wi-Fi-enabled microcontroller (ESP8266 D1 Mini). The vehicle utilizes a single front wheel for steering and two rear wheels for propulsion.

The circuit is designed to be compact, rechargeable, and controllable via a smartphone, featuring programmable LED lighting.

Source Code: View on GitHub

Here are the required electronic components based on the circuit schematic for the RC Tuk-Tuk:

1. ESP8266 D1 Mini — The Wi-Fi enabled "brain" of the vehicle that receives commands.
2. Lipo Battery (3.7V 1000mAh) — The primary power source for the entire system.
3. TP4056 Module — Handles safe charging of the LiPo battery via micro-USB.
4. DC-DC Boost Converter (5V) — Steps up the 3.7V battery voltage to a stable 5V for the logic board and LEDs.
5. TB6612FNG Motor Driver — Takes low-current signals from the ESP8266 to provide high-current power to the drive motor.
6. N20 Micro Gear Motor (3V, 200RPM) — Drives the rear wheels for forward and reverse propulsion.
7. SG90 Micro Servo (9g) — Controls the steering mechanism for the single front wheel.
8. WS2812B 5V LED Strip — Addressable LEDs for programmable lighting effects.

Before moving on to the physical assembly, take a moment to review the complete circuit diagram.

It is highly recommended to lay out all your components on a table and do a "dry run" of the wiring using jumper wires before soldering everything permanently into the Tuk-Tuk chassis.

Complete Wiring Summary:

1. Power Supply: 3.7V Lipo ➔ TP4056 ➔ Boost Converter (5V) ➔ ESP8266 (5V & GND).
2. Motor Driver Power: TP4056 OUT+ ➔ TB6612FNG (VM & VCC).
3. Motor Driver Logic: ESP8266 Pins D1, D2, D3, D4 ➔ TB6612FNG (PWMA, AIN1, AIN2, STBY).
4. Drive Motor: TB6612FNG (AO1, AO2) ➔ N20 Micro Gear Motor.
5. Steering Servo: ESP8266 Pin D6 ➔ SG90 Servo Signal (Orange wire).
6. Lighting: ESP8266 Pin D7 ➔ WS2812B LED Data-In (Blue wire).

Note: Please refer to the attached circuit diagram image at the top of this step for the exact visual layout and wire paths.

Proper power distribution is critical to ensure the motors do not draw too much current away from the ESP8266, which could cause it to reset during operation.

1. Battery & Charging: Connect the 3.7V LiPo battery directly to the B+ and B- pads of the TP4056 charging module. The separate USB breakout board is wired to the input (+ and -) of the TP4056 for charging.
2. Power Distribution: Route the OUT+ (Pink wire) from the TP4056 to the Vi (Voltage in) of the Boost Converter. This same OUT+ line also routes directly to the VM (Motor Voltage) and VCC (Logic Voltage) of the TB6612FNG Motor Driver.
3. Boosting to 5V: The Boost Converter steps the voltage up to a stable 5V. Route this 5V line (Vo, Dark Red wire) to power the ESP8266 D1 Mini (5V pin), the SG90 Servo motor, and the WS2812B LEDs.
4. Grounding: Tie all ground connections (Brown wires) together to complete the power circuit.

For the body and chassis of this RC Tuk-Tuk, we are modifying a standard plastic toy model (easily found online on Amazon or in local toy stores). To convert it into a smart RC vehicle, we first need to gut the original internal parts to make room for our custom electronics.

1. Dismantle the Toy: Carefully unscrew or unclip the bottom chassis from the main body of the toy shell. Keep the screws safe in a small container!
2. Remove the Stock Mechanics: Most of these toys come with a basic pull-back friction motor attached to the rear axle. Remove this mechanism completely to clear out space for our N20 Micro Gear Motor.
3. Prepare the Rear Axle: Depending on the specific toy you purchased, you may need to use a craft knife or a Dremel tool to widen the rear wheel housing so the N20 motor can sit flat and securely connect to the rear wheels.
4. Modify the Front Steering: Remove the fixed front wheel assembly. You will need to modify the front fork so it can attach directly to the horn of the SG90 Servo, allowing the ESP8266 to actually turn the wheel left and right.
5. Clear the Cabin Space: Cut away any unnecessary plastic tabs inside the passenger cabin or underneath the seats to ensure there is enough room to safely house the ESP8266, TP4056, Lipo Battery, and Motor Driver.

Tip: Take pictures with your phone while you take the toy apart! It makes it much easier to remember how the plastic shell fits back onto the base once you finish wiring.

With the power system wired, the next step is connecting the locomotion and steering components to the ESP8266.

Steering (Front Wheel):

1. The SG90 Servo motor handles the left/right steering. Connect the servo's signal wire (Orange) to pin D6 on the ESP8266.

Drive (Rear Wheels):

The N20 gear motor handles forward and reverse propulsion. Connect the yellow and green wires to the AO1 and AO2 outputs on the TB6612FNG motor driver.

Wire the logic connections from the motor driver to the ESP8266 as follows:

1. D1 ➔ PWMA (Controls motor speed via PWM)
2. D2 ➔ AIN1 (Motor Direction 1)
3. D3 ➔ AIN2 (Motor Direction 2)
4. D4 ➔ STBY (Standby pin; must be pulled high to enable the driver)

The Tuk-Tuk features programmable WS2812B LEDs for customizable lighting, which can be used for headlights, taillights, or underglow effects.

1. Connect the Data-In pin of the WS2812B LED strip (Blue wire) to pin D7 on the ESP8266.
2. Ensure the LED strip is powered by the 5V line and grounded from the Boost Converter (as wired in Step 1).

Now that the hardware is assembled, it is time to upload the code to the ESP8266 D1 Mini so you can control the Tuk-Tuk via Wi-Fi.

1. Download the source code for this project from the GitHub repository: RC-Auto-Rickshaw Source Code.
2. Open the code in the Arduino IDE. Ensure you have the ESP8266 board definitions installed in your Boards Manager.
3. Install any required libraries mentioned in the code (such as libraries for servo control or WS2812B LEDs like FastLED/Adafruit_NeoPixel).
4. Connect your ESP8266 to your computer via micro-USB.
5. Select the correct board (e.g., Wemos D1 R2 & mini) and COM port in the tools menu, then hit upload!