Our addition of a high torque motor to the steering rack changed our approach to the project significantly. It allowed us to explore the possibilities of software controlled steering via code and AI.

The steering system consists of a motor, two gears, and a chain. One gear is attached to the steering rack and the other is attached to the shaft of the motor. A chain is placed in between the two motors so that when the motor spins, the steering rack does as well. The motor being used is a motor commonly found on dump trucks as it operates the tarp that covers the materials in the back. This motor is controlled by a 43A High Power Motor Driver that is powered by a car battery.

The following video demonstrates the golf cart steering with the new motor drivers and a joystick: