3. Speed Up

In addition to the digital signal (HIGH/LOW), the input of L298N can also receive PWM signal to control the speed of the output.

In other words, we can use AnalogWrite() to control the moving speed of the car.

In this project, we let the car gradually change its forward speed, first accelerating and then decelerating.

Wiring

This project is the same wiring as 2. Move by Code.

Code

Note

  • Open the 3.speed_up.ino file under the path of 3in1-kit\car_project\3.speed_up.

  • Or copy this code into Arduino IDE.

  • Or upload the code through the Arduino Web Editor.

After the program runs, the car will gradually accelerate and then gradually decelerate.

How it works?

The purpose of this project is to write different PWM values to IN1~IN4 to control the forward speed of the car.

  1. Use the for() statement to give speed in steps of 5, writing values from 0 to 255 so you can see the change in the car’s forward speed.

    void loop() {
        for(int i=0;i<=255;i+=5){
            moveForward(i);
            delay(500);
        }
        for(int i=255;i>=0;i-=5){
            moveForward(i);
            delay(500);
        }
    }
    
  2. About the moveForward() function.

    As opposed to 2. Move by Code which directly gives high/low levels to IN1~IN4, here we pass a parameter speed to where we need to give high levels.

    void moveForward(int speed) {
        analogWrite(in1, 0);
        analogWrite(in2, speed);
        analogWrite(in3, speed);
        analogWrite(in4, 0);
    }
    

The for statement is used to repeat a block of statements enclosed in curly braces. An increment counter is usually used to increment and terminate the loop.

for (initialization; condition; increment) {
// statement(s);
}
  • initialization: happens first and exactly once.

  • condition: each time through the loop, condition is tested; if it’s true, the statement block, and the increment is executed, then the condition is tested again. When the condition becomes false, the loop ends.

  • increment: executed each time through the loop when condition is true.