Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AJGM4H2/ref=biss_dp_t_asn
Assembly Instructions: http://www.sainsmart.com/zen/documents/20-011-922/4WD.pdf
Wiring Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oekNebt7Q9o
Arduino Software: https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software
Rover Code: http://codemahal.com/video/building-a-4wd-autonomous-car-with-arduino/
The kit does not come with instructions and may be missing some parts. I was missing a 9 volt battery plug, female to female jumper wires, a mounting bracket for the sensor, and circuit board spacers. You will also need 6 AA batteries for the motors and a 9 volt battery for the Arduino. In addition to the tools in the instructions, you will also need a soldering iron.
The case is sturdy, but the screws are threaded into the metal and are not secure at all. When you have completed the wiring, do not worry if it does not run as per the video. You need to upload the code to activate the motors. I did not hook up the charging socket, but the external switch is handy to turn the motors on and off without having to reach into the box.
Download the Arduino software from the website, copy and save the rover code in the Arduino GUI, plug the rover’s Arduino into a USB port on your computer, and upload the code. Make sure that that Arduino software recognizes the rover’s USB port. If you receive a serial port permission error, the following Linux command line statement should fix it: sudo usermod -a -G dialout . Replace with your Linux username.
Plug the 9V battery into the Arduino and switch on the motors. The rover should go forward until it senses an object at which point it will back up, turn right, and go forward again. I had to switch forward and reverse in the code because I mounted the sensor on the “back” of the rover. I also increased the sensing distance from 15 cm to 30 cm and the right turn in the avoid function from 360 to 750 which seemed to help a bit with the crashing.
Please refer to the robot_bluetooth repository to add Bluetooth and the robot_wifi repository to add Wifi.
Have fun!