Photon Drive — Intelligent IoT-Based Solar Car

A solar-powered, IoT-enabled hybrid car built using Pico W with Bluetooth control, smart lights & custom laser-cut chassis. Programmed with Arduino IDE.

Jul 25, 2025

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Components and supplies

Li-Ion Battery 1000mAh

Acrylic Sheet

JLCPCB Custom PCB

Raspberry Pi Pico W

3mm red LED

3mm white LED

Wires

Resistor 220ohm

Solar Panel

JST Connectors

Geared DC Motor

SG90 Micro-servo motor

TP4056 with battery protection

SparkFun Motor Driver - Dual TB6612FNG (1A)

Slide Switch

Tools and machines

Laser cutter (generic)

Soldering iron (generic)

Apps and platforms

Photon Link App

JLCPCB

KiCad

Arduino IDE

Project description

Code

Intelligent IoT Based Solar Car

cpp

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1/*
2* Project Name: Photon Drive – Intelligent IoT Based Solar Car
3* Designed For: Raspberry Pi Pico W
4*
5* License: GPL3+
6* This project is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 or later.
7* You are free to use, modify, and distribute this software under the terms
8* of the GPL, as long as you preserve the original license and credit the original
9* author. For more details, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html>.
10*
11* Copyright (C) 2025 Ameya Angadi
12*
13* Code Created And Maintained By: Ameya Angadi
14* Last Modified On: July 20, 2025
15* Version: 1.0.0
16*
17*/
18
19
20#include <SerialBT.h>
21#include <Servo.h>
22
23
24// ---------- Pin Configuration ----------
25const int HeadLight = 0;
26const int BrakeLight = 1;
27const int LeftLight = 2;
28const int RightLight = 3;
29
30
31const int STBY = 17;
32const int PWMA = 18;
33const int AIN1 = 19;
34const int AIN2 = 20;
35
36
37const int SERVO_PIN = 9;
38
39
40// ---------- Servo Angles ----------
41// Change these values according to your needs
42const int LeftServoAngle = 120;
43const int RightServoAngle = 60;
44const int CenterServoAngle = 90;
45
46Servo Servo;
47
48
49// ---------- Caution Light Blink Handling ----------
50bool cautionBlinking = false;
51bool cautionLightState = false;
52unsigned long lastBlinkTime = 0;
53const unsigned long blinkInterval = 400;
54
55
56void setup() {
57Serial.begin(115200);
58
59SerialBT.setName("Photon Drive Car"); // Name of the bluetooth car
60SerialBT.begin();
61
62// Attach Servo
63Servo.attach(SERVO_PIN, 500, 2500);
64Servo.write(CenterServoAngle); // Set the servo to center position
65
66// Initialize output pins
67pinMode(HeadLight, OUTPUT);
68pinMode(BrakeLight, OUTPUT);
69pinMode(LeftLight, OUTPUT);
70pinMode(RightLight, OUTPUT);
71
72pinMode(AIN1, OUTPUT);
73pinMode(AIN2, OUTPUT);
74pinMode(PWMA, OUTPUT);
75pinMode(STBY, OUTPUT);
76
77digitalWrite(STBY, HIGH);
78digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH); // Status LED to show that the car is turned on
79}
80
81
82void loop() {
83
84
85// ---------- Bluetooth Input Handling ----------
86while (SerialBT.available()) {
87char input = char(SerialBT.read());
88
89if (input == 'H') {
90digitalWrite(HeadLight, HIGH);
91}
92
93else if (input == 'h') {
94digitalWrite(HeadLight, LOW);
95}
96
97else if (input == 'F') {
98moveForward();
99}
100
101else if (input == 'B') {
102moveBackward();
103}
104
105else if (input == 'L') {
106turnLeft();
107}
108
109else if (input == 'R') {
110turnRight();
111}
112
113else if (input == '1') {
114moveLeftForward();
115}
116
117else if (input == '2') {
118moveRightForward();
119}
120
121else if (input == '3') {
122moveLeftBackward();
123}
124
125else if (input == '4') {
126moveRightBackward();
127}
128
129else if (input == 'S') {
130stopCar();
131}
132
133else if (input == 'C') {
134cautionBlinking = true;
135}
136
137else if (input == 'c') {
138cautionBlinking = false;
139digitalWrite(LeftLight, LOW);
140digitalWrite(RightLight, LOW);
141}
142}
143
144
145// ---------- Caution Blinking Logic ----------
146if (cautionBlinking && millis() - lastBlinkTime >= blinkInterval) {
147lastBlinkTime = millis();
148cautionLightState = !cautionLightState;
149digitalWrite(LeftLight, cautionLightState);
150digitalWrite(RightLight, cautionLightState);
151}
152}
153
154
155// ---------- Movement & Light Control Functions ----------
156
157
158void moveForward() { // Function to move the car Forward
159digitalWrite(AIN1, HIGH);
160digitalWrite(AIN2, LOW);
161analogWrite(PWMA, 200);
162
163Servo.write(CenterServoAngle);
164turnOffAllLights();
165}
166
167void moveBackward() { // Function to move the car Backward
168digitalWrite(AIN1, LOW);
169digitalWrite(AIN2, HIGH);
170analogWrite(PWMA, 200);
171
172Servo.write(CenterServoAngle);
173digitalWrite(BrakeLight, HIGH);
174digitalWrite(LeftLight, LOW);
175digitalWrite(RightLight, LOW);
176}
177
178void turnLeft() { // Function to turn the car Left
179digitalWrite(BrakeLight, LOW);
180digitalWrite(LeftLight, HIGH);
181digitalWrite(RightLight, LOW);
182Servo.write(LeftServoAngle);
183}
184
185void turnRight() { // Function to turn the car Right
186digitalWrite(BrakeLight, LOW);
187digitalWrite(LeftLight, LOW);
188digitalWrite(RightLight, HIGH);
189Servo.write(RightServoAngle);
190}
191
192void moveLeftForward() { // Function to move the car Left-Forward
193digitalWrite(AIN1, HIGH);
194digitalWrite(AIN2, LOW);
195analogWrite(PWMA, 150);
196
197Servo.write(LeftServoAngle);
198digitalWrite(LeftLight, HIGH);
199digitalWrite(RightLight, LOW);
200digitalWrite(BrakeLight, LOW);
201}
202
203void moveRightForward() { // Function to move the car Right-Forward
204digitalWrite(AIN1, HIGH);
205digitalWrite(AIN2, LOW);
206analogWrite(PWMA, 150);
207
208Servo.write(RightServoAngle);
209digitalWrite(LeftLight, LOW);
210digitalWrite(RightLight, HIGH);
211digitalWrite(BrakeLight, LOW);
212}
213
214void moveLeftBackward() { // Function to move the car Left-Backward
215digitalWrite(AIN1, LOW);
216digitalWrite(AIN2, HIGH);
217analogWrite(PWMA, 150);
218
219Servo.write(LeftServoAngle);
220digitalWrite(LeftLight, HIGH);
221digitalWrite(RightLight, LOW);
222digitalWrite(BrakeLight, HIGH);
223}
224
225void moveRightBackward() { // Function to move the car Right-Backward
226digitalWrite(AIN1, LOW);
227digitalWrite(AIN2, HIGH);
228analogWrite(PWMA, 150);
229
230Servo.write(RightServoAngle);
231digitalWrite(LeftLight, LOW);
232digitalWrite(RightLight, HIGH);
233digitalWrite(BrakeLight, HIGH);
234}
235
236void stopCar() { // Function to stop the car
237digitalWrite(AIN1, LOW);
238digitalWrite(AIN2, LOW);
239analogWrite(PWMA, 0);
240
241Servo.write(CenterServoAngle);
242turnOffAllLights();
243}
244
245void turnOffAllLights() { // Function to turn off all the lights
246digitalWrite(BrakeLight, LOW);
247digitalWrite(LeftLight, LOW);
248digitalWrite(RightLight, LOW);
249}

/*
* Project Name: Photon Drive – Intelligent IoT Based Solar Car
* Designed For: Raspberry Pi Pico W
*
* License: GPL3+
* This project is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 or later.
* You are free to use, modify, and distribute this software under the terms
* of the GPL, as long as you preserve the original license and credit the original
* author. For more details, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html>.
*
* Copyright (C) 2025 Ameya Angadi
*
* Code Created And Maintained By: Ameya Angadi
* Last Modified On: July 20, 2025
* Version: 1.0.0
*
*/


#include <SerialBT.h>
#include <Servo.h>


// ---------- Pin Configuration ----------
const int HeadLight = 0;
const int BrakeLight = 1;
const int LeftLight = 2;
const int RightLight = 3;


const int STBY = 17;
const int PWMA = 18;
const int AIN1 = 19;
const int AIN2 = 20;


const int SERVO_PIN = 9;


// ---------- Servo Angles ----------
// Change these values according to your needs
const int LeftServoAngle = 120;
const int RightServoAngle = 60;
const int CenterServoAngle = 90;

Servo Servo;


// ---------- Caution Light Blink Handling ----------
bool cautionBlinking = false;
bool cautionLightState = false;
unsigned long lastBlinkTime = 0;
const unsigned long blinkInterval = 400;


void setup() {
Serial.begin(115200);

SerialBT.setName("Photon Drive Car"); // Name of the bluetooth car
SerialBT.begin();

// Attach Servo
Servo.attach(SERVO_PIN, 500, 2500);
Servo.write(CenterServoAngle); // Set the servo to center position

// Initialize output pins
pinMode(HeadLight, OUTPUT);
pinMode(BrakeLight, OUTPUT);
pinMode(LeftLight, OUTPUT);
pinMode(RightLight, OUTPUT);

pinMode(AIN1, OUTPUT);
pinMode(AIN2, OUTPUT);
pinMode(PWMA, OUTPUT);
pinMode(STBY, OUTPUT);

digitalWrite(STBY, HIGH);
digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH); // Status LED to show that the car is turned on
}


void loop() {


// ---------- Bluetooth Input Handling ----------
while (SerialBT.available()) {
char input = char(SerialBT.read());

if (input == 'H') {
digitalWrite(HeadLight, HIGH);
}

else if (input == 'h') {
digitalWrite(HeadLight, LOW);
}

else if (input == 'F') {
moveForward();
}

else if (input == 'B') {
moveBackward();
}

else if (input == 'L') {
turnLeft();
}

else if (input == 'R') {
turnRight();
}

else if (input == '1') {
moveLeftForward();
}

else if (input == '2') {
moveRightForward();
}

else if (input == '3') {
moveLeftBackward();
}

else if (input == '4') {
moveRightBackward();
}

else if (input == 'S') {
stopCar();
}

else if (input == 'C') {
cautionBlinking = true;
}

else if (input == 'c') {
cautionBlinking = false;
digitalWrite(LeftLight, LOW);
digitalWrite(RightLight, LOW);
}
}


// ---------- Caution Blinking Logic ----------
if (cautionBlinking && millis() - lastBlinkTime >= blinkInterval) {
lastBlinkTime = millis();
cautionLightState = !cautionLightState;
digitalWrite(LeftLight, cautionLightState);
digitalWrite(RightLight, cautionLightState);
}
}


// ---------- Movement & Light Control Functions ----------


void moveForward() { // Function to move the car Forward
digitalWrite(AIN1, HIGH);
digitalWrite(AIN2, LOW);
analogWrite(PWMA, 200);

Servo.write(CenterServoAngle);
turnOffAllLights();
}

void moveBackward() { // Function to move the car Backward
digitalWrite(AIN1, LOW);
digitalWrite(AIN2, HIGH);
analogWrite(PWMA, 200);

Servo.write(CenterServoAngle);
digitalWrite(BrakeLight, HIGH);
digitalWrite(LeftLight, LOW);
digitalWrite(RightLight, LOW);
}

void turnLeft() { // Function to turn the car Left
digitalWrite(BrakeLight, LOW);
digitalWrite(LeftLight, HIGH);
digitalWrite(RightLight, LOW);
Servo.write(LeftServoAngle);
}

void turnRight() { // Function to turn the car Right
digitalWrite(BrakeLight, LOW);
digitalWrite(LeftLight, LOW);
digitalWrite(RightLight, HIGH);
Servo.write(RightServoAngle);
}

void moveLeftForward() { // Function to move the car Left-Forward
digitalWrite(AIN1, HIGH);
digitalWrite(AIN2, LOW);
analogWrite(PWMA, 150);

Servo.write(LeftServoAngle);
digitalWrite(LeftLight, HIGH);
digitalWrite(RightLight, LOW);
digitalWrite(BrakeLight, LOW);
}

void moveRightForward() { // Function to move the car Right-Forward
digitalWrite(AIN1, HIGH);
digitalWrite(AIN2, LOW);
analogWrite(PWMA, 150);

Servo.write(RightServoAngle);
digitalWrite(LeftLight, LOW);
digitalWrite(RightLight, HIGH);
digitalWrite(BrakeLight, LOW);
}

void moveLeftBackward() { // Function to move the car Left-Backward
digitalWrite(AIN1, LOW);
digitalWrite(AIN2, HIGH);
analogWrite(PWMA, 150);

Servo.write(LeftServoAngle);
digitalWrite(LeftLight, HIGH);
digitalWrite(RightLight, LOW);
digitalWrite(BrakeLight, HIGH);
}

void moveRightBackward() { // Function to move the car Right-Backward
digitalWrite(AIN1, LOW);
digitalWrite(AIN2, HIGH);
analogWrite(PWMA, 150);

Servo.write(RightServoAngle);
digitalWrite(LeftLight, LOW);
digitalWrite(RightLight, HIGH);
digitalWrite(BrakeLight, HIGH);
}

void stopCar() { // Function to stop the car
digitalWrite(AIN1, LOW);
digitalWrite(AIN2, LOW);
analogWrite(PWMA, 0);

Servo.write(CenterServoAngle);
turnOffAllLights();
}

void turnOffAllLights() { // Function to turn off all the lights
digitalWrite(BrakeLight, LOW);
digitalWrite(LeftLight, LOW);
digitalWrite(RightLight, LOW);
}

Downloadable files

Circuit Diagram

Use this circuit diagram to assemble the car

Circuit Diagram.png

PCB Gerber Files

Use this file for manufacturing the PCB

Intelligent IoT Based Solar Car.zip

Car Chassis

Use this file to laser cut the acrylic sheet

Car_Chassis.ai

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