STEP 1 / 6ELECTRONICS

Dual Motor Control for Robots

Here, we present a basic circuit that can power two motors for a microbot, allowing it to move around obstacles. Two light-dependent resistors (LDRs) are used to see what's in the way, an…

Circuit Atlas themed schematic for Dual Motor Control for Robots
PROJECT#288
TRACKElectronics
PARTS06
STAGES06
STEP 1 / 6 · Overview

Know the mission before touching a wire.

Understand what you are making, prepare the right tools, and make the workbench safe.

01

Project details

Dual Motor Control for Robots is a electronics project. Here, we present a basic circuit that can power two motors for a microbot, allowing it to move around obstacles. Two light-dependent resistors (LDRs) are used to see what's in the way, an…

Source pages
551-553
Named parts
6
Build goal
Working, tested prototype
02

Tools you need

  • Digital multimeter
  • Wire stripper and side cutters
  • Soldering iron with a fine tip
  • Current-limited bench supply

Use eye protection, good lighting, and a clean insulated surface throughout the build.

03

Safety precautions

  • Disconnect every power source before changing a connection.
  • Check component polarity, pinout, and supply voltage twice.
  • Use a current limit for the first power-up.
  • Keep liquids, loose metal, and uninsulated wires away from the bench.
Ready to continue?
STEP 2 / 6 · Parts library

Gather, identify, and understand every part.

Use the standardized inventory, then open What's this? to learn each part's role, advantages, limitations, handling, and specifications.

NAMED PROJECT INVENTORY6 PART LINES
PARTTYPEQTYREADY
MLDRMODULE1
What's this?Image, role, pros, cons, handling & specifications
Light sensor moduleMODULE LEARNING VIEW

LDR

A sensor converts a physical condition into an electrical signal the circuit can measure.

What it does here

It provides project input as an analogue, digital, resistive, frequency, or calibrated signal.

Buy / compare this part

Advantages

  • Adds real-world awareness
  • Can usually be tested independently
  • Often supports calibration

Limitations

  • Readings can drift
  • Placement affects results
  • Some sensors need warm-up or calibration

Handling

  • Protect the sensing surface
  • Observe supply voltage and polarity
  • Keep signal leads away from noisy power wiring

Specifications to verify

  • Use the exact model, value, package, and rating listed for LDR; similar-looking parts are not always interchangeable.
  • Confirm supply range, output type, measurement range, accuracy, response time, and pin order.
SBC547SEMICONDUCTOR1
What's this?Image, role, pros, cons, handling & specifications
BC547 NPN transistorSEMICONDUCTOR LEARNING VIEW

BC547

A semiconductor stage performs switching, amplification, regulation, rectification, or logic.

What it does here

It controls current or signal flow at a defined point in the circuit.

Buy / compare this part

Advantages

  • Fast and efficient
  • Compact
  • Can control larger loads from smaller signals

Limitations

  • Pin order varies
  • Sensitive to overvoltage and reverse polarity
  • May need cooling or bias components

Handling

  • Verify the datasheet pinout
  • Avoid static and soldering heat
  • Check notch, stripe, or flat-face orientation

Specifications to verify

  • Use the exact model, value, package, and rating listed for BC547; similar-looking parts are not always interchangeable.
  • Confirm pinout, maximum voltage/current, dissipation, gain or forward voltage, and package.
SBC338SEMICONDUCTOR1
What's this?Image, role, pros, cons, handling & specifications
Circuit Atlas themed schematic for Dual Motor Control for RobotsSEMICONDUCTOR LEARNING VIEW

BC338

A semiconductor stage performs switching, amplification, regulation, rectification, or logic.

What it does here

It controls current or signal flow at a defined point in the circuit.

Buy / compare this part

Advantages

  • Fast and efficient
  • Compact
  • Can control larger loads from smaller signals

Limitations

  • Pin order varies
  • Sensitive to overvoltage and reverse polarity
  • May need cooling or bias components

Handling

  • Verify the datasheet pinout
  • Avoid static and soldering heat
  • Check notch, stripe, or flat-face orientation

Specifications to verify

  • Use the exact model, value, package, and rating listed for BC338; similar-looking parts are not always interchangeable.
  • Confirm pinout, maximum voltage/current, dissipation, gain or forward voltage, and package.
SBC327SEMICONDUCTOR1
What's this?Image, role, pros, cons, handling & specifications
Circuit Atlas themed schematic for Dual Motor Control for RobotsSEMICONDUCTOR LEARNING VIEW

BC327

A semiconductor stage performs switching, amplification, regulation, rectification, or logic.

What it does here

It controls current or signal flow at a defined point in the circuit.

Buy / compare this part

Advantages

  • Fast and efficient
  • Compact
  • Can control larger loads from smaller signals

Limitations

  • Pin order varies
  • Sensitive to overvoltage and reverse polarity
  • May need cooling or bias components

Handling

  • Verify the datasheet pinout
  • Avoid static and soldering heat
  • Check notch, stripe, or flat-face orientation

Specifications to verify

  • Use the exact model, value, package, and rating listed for BC327; similar-looking parts are not always interchangeable.
  • Confirm pinout, maximum voltage/current, dissipation, gain or forward voltage, and package.
PNEITHERPART1
What's this?Image, role, pros, cons, handling & specifications
Circuit Atlas themed schematic for Dual Motor Control for RobotsPART LEARNING VIEW

NEITHER

A named project component whose exact role is defined by the source circuit and build guide.

What it does here

It performs a documented electrical, control, interface, or construction function in this project.

Buy / compare this part

Advantages

  • Selected for this project
  • Can be checked independently
  • Supports modular troubleshooting

Limitations

  • Substitutes may differ
  • Generic names can hide variants
  • Pinouts and ratings vary

Handling

  • Compare the received part with the source
  • Keep it labelled
  • Do not force connectors or adjusters

Specifications to verify

  • Use the exact model, value, package, and rating listed for NEITHER; similar-looking parts are not always interchangeable.
  • Confirm dimensions, ratings, connection method, polarity, and environmental limits.
ST1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, T11, T12 - transistor stages identified in the circuitSEMICONDUCTOR1
What's this?Image, role, pros, cons, handling & specifications
Circuit Atlas themed schematic for Dual Motor Control for RobotsSEMICONDUCTOR LEARNING VIEW

T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, T11, T12 - transistor stages identified in the circuit

A semiconductor stage performs switching, amplification, regulation, rectification, or logic.

What it does here

It controls current or signal flow at a defined point in the circuit.

Buy / compare this part

Advantages

  • Fast and efficient
  • Compact
  • Can control larger loads from smaller signals

Limitations

  • Pin order varies
  • Sensitive to overvoltage and reverse polarity
  • May need cooling or bias components

Handling

  • Verify the datasheet pinout
  • Avoid static and soldering heat
  • Check notch, stripe, or flat-face orientation

Specifications to verify

  • Use the exact model, value, package, and rating listed for T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, T11, T12 - transistor stages identified in the circuit; similar-looking parts are not always interchangeable.
  • Confirm pinout, maximum voltage/current, dissipation, gain or forward voltage, and package.
Ready to continue?
STEP 4 / 6 · Source code

Confirm the hardware-only control path.

This project does not include firmware in the source. The circuit itself provides the required behaviour.

01

How to connect

  1. Match every controller label to the circuit view and source pin map.
  2. Join grounds before signal wires when separate low-voltage supplies are used.
  3. Keep motors, relays, pumps, and other loads on a suitable driver and external supply.

Common mistakes

Reversed VCC/GND, board-label versus GPIO-number confusion, missing common ground, and charge-only USB cables.

Troubleshoot

Disconnect loads, continuity-test one path at a time, then test with a current limit.

02

Software preparation

No IDE, board package, library, or firmware upload is required for this project.

If you add a programmable controller as an extension, document its pin map separately.

03

How to upload code

The original design is implemented entirely in hardware, so proceed after verifying the circuit and supply.

Ready to continue?
STEP 5 / 6 · Build

Assemble, deploy, test, and troubleshoot.

Use the complete source notes in build order, then pass the final checks before calling the project finished.

ASSEMBLY

Build in functional stages

  • Power and regulation
  • Controller or processing stage
  • Inputs and sensors
  • Outputs and loads
  • Enclosure and strain relief
TEST

Power up safely

  • Inspect unpowered continuity first
  • Apply the lowest safe current limit
  • Measure supply rails before signals
  • Add one load at a time
  • Record expected and actual results
TROUBLESHOOT

Work from simple to complex

  • Confirm power, ground, polarity, and orientation
  • Compare each pin with the source
  • Test inputs separately from outputs
  • Replace only one variable at a time
  • Power off before every correction
PROJECT-SPECIFIC BUILD NOTES

Follow the documented instructions.

These notes come from this project's source and remain in their original order.

01

Project overview

Project build note

Here, we present a basic circuit that can power two motors for a microbot, allowing it to move around obstacles. Two light-dependent resistors (LDRs) are used to see what's in the way, and the motors are then driven in the right way to automatically avoid the obstacles. With two H-bridge motor circuits, each motor can be driven forward, backward, or stopped on its own. Circuit and how it works Figure shows the circuit for controlling two motors at once. The circuit is made up of a four-channel multiplexer (IC1), two light-sensitive resistors (LDR1 and LDR2), four BC547 npn transistors (T1 through T4), four BC338 transistors (T7, T8, T11, and T12), four BC327 pnp transistors (T5, T6, T9, and T10), and a few other parts. As was already said, the two motors are driven by two H-bridge circuits. The left side is driven by motor M1, and the right side is driven by motor

M2. As shown in Figure, each H-bridge circuit is made up of a pair of npn and pnp transistors. Between the collector and the emitter of each driving transistor is a diode that protects against the motor's back EMF spikes when the transistor is "off." The output of IC1 drives the motor-control transistors (T1 through T4) through the diodes (D1 through D6). The light-sensitive resistors LDR1 and LDR2, which are attached to the front of the robot, control IC1. On the left side is LDR1, and on the right side is LDR2. When light hits both sensors, their resistances drop, which pulls the A0 and A1 inputs of IC1 towards 0V. In this case, IC1 connects output ZA to Y0A and output ZB to Y0B, letting current flow through diodes D1 and D3. This turns on both transistors T1 and T2, which makes both motors move forward. This is when neither of the sensors picks up anything and the robot can move forward without stopping. When both sensors see an obstacle, the resistances of both LDRs go up, which pulls the A0 and A1 inputs of IC1 up. In this case, output ZA is connected to Y3A and output ZB is connected to Y3B. This lets current flow through diodes D5 and D6. This turns on transistors T3 and T4, which turn both motors in the opposite direction and move the robot away from the obstacle in front of it. If something blocks a lot of light from getting to LDR1 on the left side of the robot, the A0 input of IC1 goes high. ZA is linked to Y1A, and ZB is linked to Y1B. Since T1 is still on, the motor M1 keeps moving forward. But when the flow of electricity stops through D1, T2 turns off and motor M2 stops. So, the robot turns to the right and moves away from the obstacle. In the same way, if the robot sees an obstacle on the right, it will turn to the left. How the circuit works is easy to understand. The robot can move forward without stopping as long as it doesn't sense

anything in its way. It moves away from any obstacle and uses the information from the LDR sensors to find its way.

Ready to continue?
PROJECT ACHIEVED

You built Dual Motor Control for Robots.

You followed the full workflow from understanding the mission to testing the finished project. That is a real engineering achievement - well done.

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