Electric Go-Kart

A remote-controlled electric go-kart built from scratch over a week, combining custom-fabricated parts with electronic control systems. The project covers the full development process from CAD design through fabrication, wiring, and programming.

Overview

The goal of this project was to design and build a working electric go-kart that can be driven remotely over Bluetooth. The vehicle uses an Arduino-based control system to manage steering, motor speed, and braking. All mechanical components were 3D printed, and the frame was constructed from wood.

What I Did

I handled every stage of this build:

• CAD Design - Modeled the full assembly in Fusion 360, including custom motor mounts, steering geometry, and a drive sprocket sized to match the chain.
• Fabrication - Cut and assembled the wooden chassis using CNC machine, then 3D printed the custom gears and mounting brackets.
• Wiring - Designed and installed the electrical system, connecting a brushless DC motor controller, a steering servo, and a 3-channel relay setup used for braking.
• Programming - Wrote the Arduino code in C++ to handle Bluetooth input, control motor speed through a DAC output, manage direction switching, and automatically brake if the signal is lost.

How It Works

The kart receives commands over Bluetooth (or USB) in the format angle;speed;direction. The Arduino parses these values and controls three systems:

1. Steering - A servo motor turns the front wheels. The input angle is mapped to a calibrated range to account for mechanical offset.
2. Motor - Speed is sent to the motor controller as an analog voltage using the Arduino's DAC. The value is scaled from a minimum threshold up to full output.
3. Braking - Three relays act as a braking system. When the kart should stop, the relays cut power and apply braking. A short delay prevents the brakes from toggling too quickly.
4. Safety Timeout - If no input is received for 1.5 seconds, the kart automatically centers the steering, kills the motor, and engages the brakes.

Drivetrain Specifications

The drivetrain uses a custom 3D-printed sprocket designed with the following parameters:

Parameter	Value
Chain Pitch	20 mm
Number of Teeth	14
Roller Diameter	5 mm
Sprocket Thickness	4 mm

File Structure

car.ino              Main Arduino code
configble/
  configble.ino      Utility sketch for configuring the Bluetooth module via AT commands
pictures/            Project photos documenting the build process
README.md            This file

Project Gallery

Design Phase

CAD models created in Fusion 360, showing the frame layout and steering geometry.

Build Process

Initial construction of the wooden frame and chassis.

Wiring and Electronics

The electronic setup, including the Arduino, relay modules, motor controller, and cable routing.

Completed Build

The fully assembled go-kart.

Tools and Technologies

• Fusion 360 (CAD)
• Arduino (C++)
• 3D Printing
• Brushless DC Motor and ESC
• Bluetooth Serial (HC-05 / HM-10)
• Relay Modules
• Servo Motor