Review on 🚗 VKmaker Smart Robot Car Chassis Kit with Speed Encoder, Ultrasonic Module, and Battery Box - New Avoidance Tracking Motor System 2WD. Includes Tutorial CD. by Jerry Chembola

This wasted so much time it's actually insane. I ordered it last year hoping to use the downtime to learn a little more about electronics. Coming from a software development background, they wanted something relatively cheap and simple to start with. By the time I was done with that, it wasn't the cheapest option anymore, and it wasn't easy at all. I later found that this kit is almost standard as a teaching tool for schools, not because of its price or convenience, but mainly because of its imperfect troubleshooting. and god they are right. Didn't realize it before ordering, but this "kit" required soldering, instructions for various parts, and was missing a few wires and screws. The instructions are terrible and I quickly bounced back from them looking for others as they are literally wrong. Eventually I lost the CD and had to use the PDF that can be found in the Q&A section. assembly is. relatively basic, but it's limited by many, many unfortunate choices, including the wrong size holes, a power switch that only controls the power of the motors, a battery that's too big to fit properly, and in my case, an ultrasonic device DoA sensor (I think) that kind of sets fire to anything connected to it if you wait long enough. Since I lost the instructions and can't find them anywhere online I had to find/code them myself which sucked and since either the ultrasonic sensor or the touchscreen board was setting things on fire I can only run the code without sight. which is basically useless. Overall the best use I could suggest for this kit is as donor parts for something better. Because, my god. it literally lit up. what the hell. EDIT: I was able to find a new ultrasonic sensor so I can verify mine was not only a DoA but also had a bad short.