Modifying RC car using fly sky Fs i6 transmitter and Arduino

Building an Arduino-Based RC Car with FS-i6 Transmitter

Introduction

Have you ever wanted to build your own remote-controlled (RC) car from scratch? In this project, I’ll show you how I built an Arduino-based RC car, controlled using an FS-i6 transmitter. This car features PWM-based speed control, precise steering, and a relay-controlled LED indicator for better user feedback.

The best part? It’s fully customizable and can be upgraded with features like obstacle avoidance, Bluetooth control, and more!

Components Used

Before we dive into the build process, here’s a list of components I used:

Arduino (Uno/Nano) – The brain of the car

• Arduino (Uno/Nano) – The brain of the car

FS-i6 Transmitter & Receiver – Remote control system

• FS-i6 Transmitter & Receiver – Remote control system

L298 Motor Driver – Controls motor speed and direction

• L298 Motor Driver – Controls motor speed and direction

DC Motors (x3) – Two for movement, one for steering (optional)

• DC Motors (x3) – Two for movement, one for steering

Relay Module – Activates LED when moving forward(optional)

• Relay Module – Activates LED when moving forward

LED – Lights up when the car moves forward(optional)

• LED – Lights up when the car moves forward

Battery Pack – Power source

• Battery Pack – Power source

Jumper Wires – For wiring connections

• Jumper Wires – For wiring connections

Circuit Diagram & Wiring

To get everything working smoothly, here’s how I connected the components:

Code Implementation

#include <Servo.h>

#define MOTOR_A_PWM 6   // Speed control for Motor A (left/right)
#define MOTOR_A_IN1 4   // Motor A forward
#define MOTOR_A_IN2 5   // Motor A backward

#define MOTOR_B_PWM 11  // Speed control for Motor B (forward/backward)
#define MOTOR_B_IN3 7   // Motor B forward
#define MOTOR_B_IN4 8   // Motor B backward

#define CH1_PIN 9  // FS-i6 CH1 (Steering)
#define CH2_PIN 10 // FS-i6 CH2 (Throttle)

// Receiver signal reading
int readChannel(int pin) {
    int pulseWidth = pulseIn(pin, HIGH, 25000);
    return pulseWidth == 0 ? 1500 : pulseWidth;  // Default to 1500 if no signal
}

void setup() {
    pinMode(MOTOR_A_PWM, OUTPUT);
    pinMode(MOTOR_A_IN1, OUTPUT);
    pinMode(MOTOR_A_IN2, OUTPUT);
    
    pinMode(MOTOR_B_PWM, OUTPUT);
    pinMode(MOTOR_B_IN3, OUTPUT);
    pinMode(MOTOR_B_IN4, OUTPUT);

    pinMode(CH1_PIN, INPUT);
    pinMode(CH2_PIN, INPUT);

    Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
    int throttle = readChannel(CH2_PIN);  // Speed control
    int steering = readChannel(CH1_PIN);  // Direction control

    // Convert PWM signals to motor values
    int speed = map(throttle, 1000, 2000, -255, 255);
    int turn = map(steering, 1000, 2000, -255, 255);

    // Serial.print("Speed: "); Serial.print(speed);
    // Serial.print("  Turn: "); Serial.println(turn); 

    // Motor A (Steering)
    if (turn > 50) { 
        digitalWrite(MOTOR_A_IN1, HIGH);
        digitalWrite(MOTOR_A_IN2, LOW);
        analogWrite(MOTOR_A_PWM, abs(turn));
    } else if (turn < -50) {
        digitalWrite(MOTOR_A_IN1, LOW);
        digitalWrite(MOTOR_A_IN2, HIGH);
        analogWrite(MOTOR_A_PWM, abs(turn));
    } else {
        digitalWrite(MOTOR_A_IN1, LOW);
        digitalWrite(MOTOR_A_IN2, LOW);
        analogWrite(MOTOR_A_PWM, 0);
    }

    // Motor B (Throttle)
    if (speed > 50) { 
        digitalWrite(MOTOR_B_IN3, HIGH);
        digitalWrite(MOTOR_B_IN4, LOW);
        analogWrite(MOTOR_B_PWM, abs(speed));
    } else if (speed < -50) {
        digitalWrite(MOTOR_B_IN3, LOW);
        digitalWrite(MOTOR_B_IN4, HIGH);
        analogWrite(MOTOR_B_PWM, abs(speed));
    } else {
        digitalWrite(MOTOR_B_IN3, LOW);
        digitalWrite(MOTOR_B_IN4, LOW);
        analogWrite(MOTOR_B_PWM, 0);
    }

    delay(20);
}

How It Works:

1️⃣ Throttle Control (CH2): Controls forward & backward movement

2️⃣ Steering Control (CH1): Rotates an additional motor for turning

The code is optimized for low latency by removing unnecessary print statements, ensuring fast response times.

🔗Github link

Testing & Demo

Once everything was wired up and programmed, I tested the car’s movements using the FS-i6 transmitter. The car responded smoothly to throttle and steering inputs. The LED correctly lit up when the car moved forward, and speed adjustments worked flawlessly!

📌 Youtube link

Future Improvements

This project is just the beginning! Here are some ideas for enhancements:

Obstacle Avoidance: Add an ultrasonic sensor to detect objects and prevent collisions.

• Obstacle Avoidance: Add an ultrasonic sensor to detect objects and prevent collisions.

Bluetooth App Control: Control the car using a mobile app when needed.

• Bluetooth App Control: Control the car using a mobile app when needed.

Upgraded Motors: Swap out brushed motors for brushless ones for better performance.

• Upgraded Motors: Swap out brushed motors for brushless ones for better performance.

Conclusion

Building this Arduino RC car was an exciting experience! The FS-i6 transmitter integration allowed for precise control, and the relay-controlled LED added a great visual indicator.

If you're interested in building your own version, check out my GitHub repository for the full code and wiring details. Feel free to experiment and customize it! Let me know your thoughts and improvements in the comments.

👉github.com

Happy making! 🔥