Engineering Notebook
Google Python Certification (Coursework Completed July 2026 – Certificate Processing)
Carly Menchaca
July 17th, 2026
4WD Smart Robot Car
Highlights
- Knolling image of all circuitry parts.
- Line tracking module array, copper cylinders, DC motors, and wheels were installed.
- All circuitry parts were accounted for, knolling image is shown below in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Knolling Image of Circuitry Parts
- Installed line tracking module array by screwing in properly. The tracking module allows the robot to follow a specific path through infrared sensors (Cirkit Designer). The line tracking modules work best with color contrast by sensing the difference, then sending signals to the control system.
- Screwed in copper cylinder parts along edges of robot body, to later connect the other robot body to circuitry.
- Installed DC motors by screwing them in properly. DC Motors function by converting electrical energy into rotational motion, using electrical current to energize internal electromagnets, which turns the motor and spins the wheels.
- Lastly, all four wheels were connected through DC motors, shown in Figure 2 below.
Figure 2: Tracking modules, copper cylinders, DC motors, and wheels were installed.
Carly Menchaca
July 19th, 2026
4WD Smart Robot Car
Highlights
- Mechanically screwed and secured the H bridge motor driver to the main robot chassis, positioning it for motor and wiring.
- Installed the H-bridge to the main chassis of the robot. According to Techietory, (2026), controlling DC motors requires “circuitry that can take a fixed-polarity power supply and route current through a motor in either direction based on digital control signals”. The H-bridge provides this bidirectional movement by flipping current flow, allowing the motors to drive in different directions. Additionally, the H-bridge can supply high power to the motors, unlike a microcontroller which only supplies low-voltage control signals.
Figure 3: H bridge was installed securely.
Carly Menchaca
July 20th, 2026
4WD Smart Robot Car
Highlights
- Installed battery holder to supply power for the robot.
- Screwed in the IR obstacle avoidance sensor modules securely.
- Installed the battery holder to provide a dedicated power supply to drive the chassis and electronics.
- Screwed in the IR obstacle avoidance sensor modules to enable object detection. The module uses an IR transmitter LED to emit infrared light and an IR receiver (photodiode) to pick up reflected light from nearby objects. When an obstacle is detected, the sensor outputs a LOW signal, and outputs a HIGH signal when the path ahead is clear. (Arduino Get Started, 2026).
Figure 4: Battery holder and IR obstacle avoidance sensor module installed.
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