RC FPV tank rover

by Brian Brocken
Almost all the parts on this FPV tank/rover are 3D printed. The geared motors (12V brushed 1000 RPM) are currently driven by a L298N motor driver. The motor driver is being controlled by an Arduino Nano which reads out 2 channels from a Spektrum receiver. There's a chance the Arduino and the motor drivers will be replaced by the car esc, but I might leave them in so I can connect some sensors to it in the future to give the tank some autonomy. The tank is equipped with a 600mW 5.8 GHz FPV system which sends a video feed to FPV goggles. The camera is placed inside an "eye" which can tilt up and down with the help of a servo.

I designed the tank in a way that it can be almost completely 3D-printed. It's of course inevitable to truly completely 3D print the tank so there are small additional parts needed like bearings, shafts, screws, bolts and nuts. The tracks however are completely 3D-printed and don't need little shafts between every link. They are designed to snap together and stay together. It's very hard to take them apart after they snapped together, which is of course the intention. 

I initially used 2 12V 1000 RPM motors but they turned out to be to weak so I ordered some new motors which were the same size but instead of 1000 RPM they are now 100 RPM. If I wanted to put bigger motors in it, I had to completely redesign the tank which would take up to much time as I already 3D-printed all the parts. 

The 2  motors are currently being driven by a L298N motor driver which is controlled by an Arduino Nano V3. The Arduino reads the data from 2 channels on the Spektrum receiver. I might replace the Arduino and motor driver by 2 car esc's but it's also possible I keep the Arduino so I can connect some sensors to it so I can make the tank perform tasks autonomously.

In front of the tank is a camera which is placed inside an "eye" so the driver can look up and down. The up and down movement of the "eye" is obtained by a standard 9g servo. The video feed gets transmitted through a 600mW 5.8gHz transmitter and gets send to some FPV goggles.

The hatch on top of the tank gets hold on by 2 neodymium magnets (1 in the body, 1 in the hatch).

A possible upgrade in the future for this tank would be a robotic arm which would be mounted on top of it.

The tank needs about 23 - 24 treads for one side depending on your print quality.

Video:

 

STL-files and the Fusion 360 source files can be downloaded here: https://bbprojects.technology/stl-fusion-360-source-files/rc-fpv-tank-rover-files

Arduino code can be downloaded here

QUANTITY   COMPONENT NAME
1 × Arduino nanolink: https://www.banggood.com/Geekcreit-ATmega328P-Nano-V3-Module-Improved-Version-With-USB-Cable-Development-Board-For-Arduino-p-933647.html?p=E01411629100201406T1&custlinkid=255135
1 × L298N motor driverlink: https://www.banggood.com/Wholesale-Dual-H-Bridge-DC-Stepper-Motor-Drive-Controller-Board-Module-Arduino-L298N-p-42826.html?p=E01411629100201406T1&custlinkid=255131
1 × 3D-printed partslink to thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3587738
2 × 12V 100RPM geared motorslink: https://www.banggood.com/DC12V-100RPM-Mini-Metal-Gear-Motor-Electric-Gear-Box-Motor-p-1010697.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=CN
6 × M5 nuts
42 × 4.5 X 40 mm wood screwsI used about 42 4.5X40 mm screws and cut them to lenght when necessary.
2 × M5 treaded rod about 50mm long
1 × RC receiverlink: https://www.banggood.com/2_4G-6CH-S603-Receiver-Supported-JR-Spektrun-DSM-X-DSM2-Transmitter-p-961733.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=CN
1 × 9g servo motorlink: https://www.banggood.com/TowerPro-SG90-Mini-Gear-Micro-Servo-9g-For-RC-Airplane-Helicopter-p-1009914.html?p=E01411629100201406T1&custlinkid=359550
1 × FPV cameralink: https://www.banggood.com/JJA-CM1200-13-CMOS-1200TVL-Mini-FPV-Camera-2_1mm-Lens-169-PALNTSC-BlackRed-For-RC-Drone-p-1259982.html?p=E01411629100201406T1&custlinkid=669118
1 × Heat shrinkslink: https://www.banggood.com/328pcs-Heat-Shrink-Tubing-Insulation-Electrical-Shrinkable-Tube-Sleeve-Cable-21-p-1362019.html?p=E01411629100201406T1&custlinkid=669227
2 × Neodymium magnetslink: https://www.banggood.com/8pcs-N52-20x10x5mm-Neodymium-Block-Magnets-Rare-Earth-Magnets-p-977519.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=CN
4 × 5mm bearingslink: https://www.banggood.com/10pcs-685ZZ-5x11x5mm-Ball-Bearings-Miniature-Bearings-p-1148729.html?rmmds=myorder&cur_warehouse=CN

  • The wiring diagram I used

    07/05/2019 at 20:52

    This is the wiring diagram I used to wire the L298N driver, Everything is the same except for the joystick.

  • Assembly and build video is online

    04/25/2019 at 16:12

  • The RC FPV tank is fully assembled and working

    04/25/2019 at 16:08 

  • All parts have been painted and are ready for assembly

    04/17/2019 at 19:03 

    I used the heated bed of the printers to make the paint dry faster ;-)

  • All the parts have been printed and are ready to be painted

    04/15/2019 at 11:47

  • Made some renders of the tank / rover model

    04/09/2019 at 17:25


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