Author(s):
Somay Sharma, Tanishk Vishnoi, Surender Kumar
Email(s):
somaysharma690@gmail.com, tanishk.vishnoi.97@gmail.com, skladhoria88@gmail.com
Address:
Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, IIMT College of Engineering, Gretaer Noida, UP, India.
Published In:
Volume - 6,
Issue - 1,
Year - 2026
DOI:
10.55878/SES2026-6-1-4 
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ABSTRACT:
The design, implementation, and performance evaluation of a low-cost autonomous vehicle capable of real-time obstacle detection and collision avoidance. The proposed system integrates an ultrasonic sensor (HC-SR04) as the primary sensing element, infrared (IR) sensors for supplementary short-range detection, an Arduino UNO microcontroller as the central processing unit, and an L298N motor driver for precise actuation control. A servo motor is incorporated to enable directional scanning of the ultrasonic sensor, thereby expanding the vehicle's field of view and improving navigation decision-making. The system operates on a simple yet effective control algorithm that processes sensor data to determine optimal movement directions—forward, left, or right—without human intervention. The complete hardware prototype was assembled using a four-wheel chassis, TT gear motors, and 18650 lithium-ion batteries, with a total component cost of approximately ₹1,840 (INR). Experimental results demonstrate reliable obstacle detection within a range of 2–40 cm and successful avoidance manoeuvres under various test conditions. The proposed system serves as an accessible educational platform for understanding fundamental concepts in embedded systems, robotics, and autonomous navigation, with potential for further enhancement through artificial intelligence-based algorithms and wireless communication modules.
Cite this article:
Somay Sharma, Tanishk Vishnoi, Surender Kumar, Obstacle Detection and Avoidance Using an Arduino-Based Autonomous Car, Spectrum of Emerging Sciences, 6 (1)1-6 10.55878/SES2026-6-1-1, DOI: https://doi.org/10.55878/SES2026-6-1-4
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