• Automotive Technology
How Lectec Teaches Automotive Technology
What if students could learn real EV systems by building one? Find out how Lectec turns hands-on assembly into a launchpad for programming, AI, and diagnostics, enhancing classroom learning with real-world technology.
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Written by
Edison Chen
The Future of Automotive Technology is Rolling Into Classrooms
Electric vehicles aren’t just the future of transportation, they represent a shift toward intelligent, connected, and software-defined systems. As EVs become more complex, today’s students need more than traditional automotive knowledge; they need hands-on experience with advanced skills like systems integration, CAN Bus diagnostics, programming, regenerative technologies, and AI-powered safety features. That’s where Lectec comes in, bridging the gap between emerging technologies and real-world learning through accessible, low-voltage training tools.
What might look like only a rideable DIY platform is actually a compact, modular system packed with the same principles found in real automotive engineering. From drivetrain assembly to embedded programming, from sensor-based automation to live system analytics, every component offers a hands-on lesson in how modern vehicles are designed and built.
But what does it really mean to teach automotive technology through a Lectec build? Let’s take a closer look.
Building the Foundation
The learning journey begins the moment students unbox their Lectec EV kit. Each step of the assembly process has been carefully designed to teach STEM, while also tapping into EV automotive technology.
Students start by assembling the front and rear trucks, including mounting the hanger and installing wheels. This introduces them to the basics of chassis alignment, suspension geometry, and the structural components that support motion and stability in a vehicle.
As they move to the motor and drivetrain, things really get exciting. Students examine how the brushless motor connects to the wheel via a pulley and belt system, learning firsthand about mechanical power transmission. Installing the motor pulley, aligning and tensioning the belt, and understanding the idler layout provide insight into real-world concepts like torque transfer, gear ratios, and driveline efficiency. These are the same systems used in full-sized EVs—just scaled down for education.
Then comes the electrical and control systems. Students install the electronic speed controller (ESC) and battery, connect the motor wires, and route cables safely through the vehicle frame. These steps teach how power flows through an EV and how components communicate. It’s an introduction to vehicle electronics, battery management, and signal integration.
They also install LED lights, which are later used as part of programming exercises through the ESC, Raspberry Pi module and Arduino module. This becomes a gateway to vehicle customization, lighting control, and embedded coding—all real skills used in automotive diagnostics and design.
Finally, students pair the wireless remote and review a dedicated safety training video, helping them understand how modern vehicles use remote input, fail-safes, and driver training systems to promote secure operation.
Raspberry Pi: Where AI Meets the Road
To introduce students to ADAS, artificial intelligence and real-time decision-making, Lectec offers a Raspberry Pi Add-On Pack. This add-on pack includes
1x Raspberry Pi Zero 2W
1x Raspberry Pi AI Cam
1x RailCore Case
1x Camera Extension Cable
1x SD Card
Raspberry Pi AI Examples & Tutorials
AI + Raspberry Pi
Compatible
Unlock advanced capabilities with a Raspberry Pi module running AI/ML onboard! Use real-time object detection with a camera to make your vehicle smarter—like slowing down when a car is ahead or sounding a buzzer for obstacles like potholes. Experience the future of coding and control as your ride adapts intelligently to its surroundings.
With this module, students can turn their EV into a smart vehicle that responds to its environment. The AI camera acts like the eyes of a real ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System), enabling the vehicle to detect colors, objects, lines, or symbols. Students write Python code that tells the vehicle how to react—maybe slowing down for a stop sign, flashing lights when detecting red, or tracking a specific lane.
Each experiment introduces core concepts in computer vision and embedded programming, helping students understand how real vehicles use AI to stay aware and make safe decisions.
Arduino: Real-Time Control and Custom Hardware Integration
Right alongside the Raspberry Pi module, Lectec’s Arduino Add-On Pack adds another layer of control. Through simple browser-based tools, students program the board in Python or C++ and connect directly to the vehicle’s main controller. The Arduino Add-On Pack includes:
1x ESP32 Dev Kit (Arduino)
1x RailCore Case
1x Small Breadboard
Assorted Breadboard Components
Arduino Examples & Tutorials
Arduino
Compatible
Take control of your ride by integrating an Arduino module that communicates directly with the main controller! Access real-time data and add custom peripherals, like turning on a relay when you reach a set speed or using sensor feedback to adjust your ride. Experiment with endless possibilities to make the vehicle truly your own.
Instead of writing code in isolation, students use live data—like speed or throttle position—to control external peripherals. For example, they might activate a relay when the vehicle hits a certain speed, or trigger a buzzer if the voltage drops below a safe threshold. These applications make embedded programming tangible and teach how sensor feedback and automation shape modern mobility.
What’s more, Lectec allows the Arduino and Raspberry Pi to run side by side on the same vehicle. Linked through a daisy-chained network, students can combine high-level logic from the Pi with real-time, low-latency responses from the Arduino. It’s a brilliant way to mirror real-world multi-system automotive architecture.
Power+: Engineering Performance in Motion
For those exploring the physics of motion, Lectec’s Power+ Upgrade Pack brings another level of realism. Here’s what comes in the pack:
1x Extra Battery (2x Total)
1x 5065 Motor (+20% Power)
1x Speed Pulley (30T | 14mph)
This upgrade lets students ask and answer real engineering questions: What happens when we add more power? How does doubling the battery capacity affect range and acceleration? How does changing pulley size impact torque and top speed?
By experimenting with these changes and measuring their effects, students learn about mechanical advantage, efficiency, energy storage, and system design. It turns theory into performance—and it’s a thrill to test in action.
Advanced Control & Live Analytics with VESC®
Lectec vehicles aren’t just smart—they’re insightful. Thanks to the integrated VESC®-based smart controller, students can monitor live performance stats like speed, battery voltage, motor efficiency, and current draw in real time. Whether on a tablet or laptop, they get a live dashboard showing exactly what’s happening under the deck.
But it doesn’t stop at monitoring. Students can use the system to adjust vehicle behavior—customizing acceleration curves, fine-tuning regenerative braking, or optimizing energy use based on rider needs. These tools transform the EV into a fully programmable platform, giving learners the same level of control and feedback found in modern electric vehicles.
Advanced Control & Live Analytics
Lectec Instructor ESC
Our VESC® based smart controller brings precision and customization to your electric ride. Monitor live performance stats like speed, battery level, motor efficiency, and more in real time. Unlock programming features to adjust settings, optimize energy use, and customize your ride. It's not just about riding—it's about understanding and improving how it all works.
RailCore & the CAN Network: Real-Time Sync Across Modules
Lectec’s modular ecosystem is tied together by its patent-pending RailCore system, which includes an expandable CAN (Controller Area Network) backbone—the same kind of communication infrastructure found in cars from Ford to Ferrari. Each module contains a CAN chip allowing them to communicate in real time, share data, and trigger actions across the system. For example, the AI camera might detect a stop sign, send that signal over the CAN network, and instantly tell the controller to cut motor power. Or the ESC might detect a voltage drop, prompting the system to reduce performance and conserve energy—just like energy management systems in modern EVs.
This architecture teaches students how real automotive subsystems stay in sync, make decisions, and adapt dynamically based on shared data.
CAN Network
Advanced Learning
Our patent pending RailCore features an expandable CAN Network! Each module is equipped with a CAN chip, just like in automotive systems, allowing real-time data exchange across modules. This means each module knows what the others are doing and can act on shared data—creating a fully synchronized system.
A Complete Platform for the Engineers of Tomorrow
Lectec is a launchpad for the next generation of automotive innovators. By combining mechanical assembly with programming, AI integration, live performance analytics, and real-time system communication through a CAN network, it turns hands-on learning into a high-tech experience that reflects how today’s smart vehicles are actually built.
Students don’t just assemble a ride—they engage with real vehicle systems. They design drivetrains, monitor power usage, program hardware behaviors, and analyze data to understand energy efficiency, embedded electronics, and system dynamics firsthand.
If you're looking to expand your program with tools that excite students and build advanced EV and tech skills, Lectec is ready to support your next step.
👉 Book a demo or request a quote today at lectec.com and discover how Lectec can help you bring tomorrow’s automotive technology into today’s classroom.
