Design & Study of an Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) for debris terrain

This white paper presents the design and development of an Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) intended to operate on uneven terrain and navigate obstacles. The project adopts an Arduino Uno R4 WiFi as the main controller because of its low cost, low power consumption, WiFi connectivity, and suitability for real-time control. The proposed UGV incorporates an aluminum chassis, Ackermann steering, two rear DC motors controlled by an L298N driver, and off-road wheels. Three HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensors provide obstacle detection, while an algorithm adjusts speed, stops, changes direction, or performs a U-turn according to detected obstacles. The paper also examines the vehicle’s power requirements, battery autonomy, component selection, and construction cost, estimated at €196.20. Overall, the work demonstrates a practical and cost-effective approach to designing a functional autonomous robotic vehicle.