Car mods will cost you money, but you won't break the bank if you want to start using Arduino microcontrollers. For those just hearing about it, Arduino is every technical DIY enthusiast’s dream come true. It is a low-cost, open-hardware microcontroller that lets you design and build practical yet straightforward electronic systems.
From a biometric car entry system that gives you keyless access to an easy-to-make yet highly functional HUD display, here are some awesome DIY Arduino projects to upgrade your car.
1. Arduino-Based Collision Detection Warning System
This Arduino-based collision detection warning system features an Arduino IDE, an Arduino microcontroller, and the HR SC-04 ultrasonic sensor to detect the distance between your car and other vehicles, consequently giving you an audio warning whenever oncoming motorists are too close.
Essentially, this Arduino-based collision segments the road ahead of you into three zones. Expect no warning in zone 1. In Zone 2, it sends signals to pay attention; in Zone 3, you get audio and visual warnings to take action for safety. This Hackster.io project for the supplies and step-by-step instructions to build it. If you don't have experience, try these great Arduino projects for beginners before starting this project to familiarize yourself with the ecosystem.
2. GPS Data Logger
Are you an adventure seeker who's always on the move, and loves sharing photos of your travels? A GPS data logger would make your life incredibly easy if you answered yes.
It tracks and logs a device's position at regular intervals and calculates the movement speed and direction in real-time. It then stores this data in a memory file to be replayed as footage or shared later.
But while convenient, commercial GPS data loggers cost a pretty penny. Skip the costs and build one at home using an Arduino Proto shield, an Arduino UNO, and all the components shortlisted in this ProjectHub guide.
3. Breathalyzer With MQ-3 and LEGO Parts
If you love alcohol but are always behind the wheel, you should get a breathalyzer. It’ll help you know whether all the alcohol is out of your system before you attempt to get behind the wheel. A breathalyzer is also handy when you’ve got loved ones who tend to sip some and drive because you can play traffic cop for a minute and stop them from drunk driving.
So, where do you get a breathalyzer? You can always buy a commercial one, but walking around with the one you built is more satisfying. The best part? You’ll require some pretty easy-to-get supplies such as the MQ-3, an analog alcohol-detection sensor module, the ANAVI gas detector to monitor dangerous substances, a Mini OLED display, and the step-by-step DIY instructions in this Instructables guide.
4. Turn Signals Upgrade
Whether your turn signal bulb is old and burned out or you simply want to modify your car to inimitability, this DIY Arduino project will turn your vehicle into the coolest ride in traffic. In this project, you’ll ditch your current turn signal light bulbs for a strip of Arduino-controlled LEDs that animate whenever you hit turn signals.
The Arduino board is connected to the LED strip and programmed to activate specific lighting patterns whenever you use turn signals. It uses sensors to detect the change in voltage when you activate the turn signal switch, triggering the programmed animation on the LED strip.
With the flexibility and versatility of Arduino programming, you can customize the lighting effects according to your preferences. Whether it's a smooth fade, a pulsating pattern, or a sequential animation, Arduino allows you to unleash your creativity and make your car stand out on the road.
They make your vehicle cooler, more visible, and safer, especially at night. Check out the detailed video above for pointers on how to make this upgrade.
5. Biometric Car Entry
Biometric access is the norm for many types of devices, but not cars, which still need to catch up as far as this technology is concerned. This Arduino Nano project lets you equip your car with this cool feature without breaking the bank.
It uses a customized CAN bus shield connected to an Arduino Nano and a fingerprint reader to detect the person’s identity then give or deny access. Once completed, it allows keyless entry and is a boon to your car’s security system.
6. Remote Start Using a Laptop or Smartphone
Do you wish you could warm your car even before you get in it on those chilly winter mornings? With this fantastic DIY Arduino project, you can make your wish come true.
The technical aspect of this project involves integrating the Arduino with your car's ignition system, allowing it to send the appropriate signals to start the engine. In addition to the Arduino, you will need a Bluetooth-enabled laptop or smartphone to complete the setup and enable remote start.
Note: This is a bit technical and will involve tinkering with your car’s ignition system, so you might want to be careful or have someone well-versed with vehicle electrical systems help you out.
7. Parking Assistance
If you get sweaty palms just from thinking about parking your car, this fantastic DIY Arduino project is the perfect upgrade for your ride. It elevates your parking experience by using an Arduino Nano hooked up to an ultrasonic sensor to detect and calculate distance. It is paired with several LEDs to notify you when you should stop. This simplifies parking and minimizes the chances of scratching your car while parking in tight spaces. While at it, you can upgrade your garage on a budget using these cool DIY ideas.
8. Say Thanks to All Courteous Drivers
In a world full of inconsiderate motorists who’ll readily vent their fury at the slightest provocation, saying thanks to that courteous driver who lets you in line is the least you could do to make our roads better. And there’s no better way to say it than through this DIY Arduino project. Inspired by a James Bond movie, it uses an Arduino paired with an 8 x 32 Adafruit DotStar Matrix to display a “Thank You” message.
You can set up any message function you want while designing the Arduino code. For instance, you can code functions such as "Please Back Off," among many others. These are selected from a GUI on the phone connected via Bluetooth. The display is vivid and eye-catching, so you can be sure it’ll make your life on the road so much easier.
9. Head-Up Display for Your Windshield
A head-up display, commonly called a HUD, projects information straight onto your windshield, allowing you to keep your eyes on the road at all times. It was initially used in military aircraft but has now become a common feature in cars. Once you get used to it, driving becomes a tad easier and safer because it minimizes distractions.
Want a HUD driving experience but can’t afford to shell out hundreds of dollars on a whip that comes with one? This DIY electronics project is for you. While it uses a Teensy 3.2 running an Arduino sketch, it could easily be adapted to an Arduino board. The board is programmed with an Arduino sketch to display your ride’s speed on a segmented display collimated using a unique Fresnel lens. It projects on combiner glass instead of reflective films and is way better than standard HUDs. Everything is connected to your car through the OBD-II port.
10. Cool Interior Lighting With Bluetooth-controlled LEDs
Upgrade and tune your car’s ambiance using this simple, low-cost DIY Arduino project. Grab some RGB LED strips and hook them up to a Bluetooth module and Arduino through a couple of jumper cables, and then program Arduino so you can control the lights using your smartphone.
The best part? You will have unrivaled customization options since you can choose any color on the LED strips and even program the brightness and lighting patterns just the way you want. If you find this project exciting, there are many other stunning DIY LED projects that you can try.
11. Car Sensor Monitoring and Alarm
Tired of your car’s engine overheating and breaking down because you couldn’t keep track of its water temperature? If so, you will love this project.
As the name implies, it involves setting up a car sensor to monitor and alert you when your ride’s fuel levels, water temperature, voltage, and even oil temperature and pressure are too low. You’ll need:
- Arduino Uno
- Nextion enhanced generic 3.2” touch display
- Nokia 5110 LCD
- 52mm triple gauge kit oil temp, water temp, and pressure car meter
- Oil pressure gauge filter
- Soldering iron
The results? Pretty impressive, if you ask us, as showin in the above video.
Upgrade Your Ride Today
Whether you want to turn your whip into the coolest ride, give it a slight performance boost, or express your individuality, these eleven awesome DIY Arduino projects are a great place to start. Remember, Arduino is infinitely versatile, so feel free to put your creativity to work and tweak these projects to turn your standard vehicle into a fantastic, expensive-looking ride everyone will envy.