Building your DeepPiCar

I. Bill of Materials

• For this project you will need the following materials

II. Construction

III. Software Setup

IV. Test

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

1. Raspberry Pi Won’t Boot

• Check power supply: Ensure your power adapter provides enough current (at least 2.5A for most models).
• SD card issues: Re-flash the SD card with a fresh image. Make sure the card is properly inserted.
• Loose connections: Double-check all cables and connectors.

2. Motors Not Responding

• Wiring: Verify all motor wires are connected to the correct pins on the motor driver and Raspberry Pi.
• Power: Ensure the battery or power source for the motors is charged and connected.
• Code: Test with a simple motor control script to isolate hardware vs. software issues.

3. Camera Not Detected

• Connection: Make sure the camera ribbon cable is fully inserted and oriented correctly.
• Enable camera: Run sudo raspi-config and enable the camera interface.
• Test: Use raspistill -o test.jpg to check if the camera works.

4. Wi-Fi/Network Issues

• Credentials: Double-check your Wi-Fi SSID and password in the configuration.
• Signal: Move closer to the router or use a Wi-Fi dongle with better reception.
• IP Address: Use ifconfig or hostname -I to find the Pi’s IP address.

5. Software Installation Errors

• Dependencies: Run sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade before installing packages.
• Python packages: Use pip3 install --user <package> to avoid permission issues.
• Permissions: Use sudo only when necessary.

6. Car Not Driving Straight

• Calibration: Adjust motor calibration values in your control script.
• Mechanical: Check for obstructions or misaligned wheels.

7. Unexpected Shutdowns or Freezes

• Overheating: Ensure the Pi has proper ventilation or a heatsink.
• Power: Use a reliable power supply and check for voltage drops.

8. No Video Stream

• Firewall: Ensure no firewall is blocking the streaming port.
• Browser: Try a different browser or clear cache.
• Service: Restart the streaming service or check logs for errors.

If you encounter other issues, consult the DeepPiCar GitHub Issues page or relevant forums for assistance.