ESP32 Surveillance Car

It's 3rd Year, 5th Semester, Microcontroller Lab Project

Overview

The ESP32 Surveillance Car project combines the capabilities of the ESP32-CAM module and L298N motor driver to create a Wi-Fi-controlled car equipped with a camera for surveillance. The project includes pan-tilt camera control, car movement, adjustable light intensity, and a live video feed accessible via a web interface.

Features

1. Camera Stream
   • Live video stream available over Wi-Fi.
   • Adjustable pan and tilt angles for the camera.
2. Car Movement Control
   • Forward, backward, left, and right movements.
   • Adjustable motor speed using PWM.
   • Center steering control.
3. Light Control
   • Adjustable light brightness using PWM.
4. User Interface
   • Accessible web interface for control and video streaming.
   • Cross-platform compatibility.
5. Additional Controls
   • Pan-tilt camera movement.
   • Car steering and speed adjustments.

Hardware Components

1. ESP32-CAM Module
   • Wi-Fi-enabled microcontroller with camera functionality.
2. L298N Motor Driver
   • Dual H-bridge driver for motor control.
3. Servo Motors
   • Used for pan and tilt camera movement and car steering.
4. Power Supply
   • External power source for ESP32 and motors.
5. Miscellaneous
   • Jumper wires, breadboard, etc.

Pin Configuration

Component	ESP32 Pin	Description
Camera PWDN	GPIO 32	Power-down control
Camera RESET	GPIO -1	Reset (not used)
Camera XCLK	GPIO 0	External clock input
Motor IN1	GPIO 13	Motor direction 1
Motor IN2	GPIO 15	Motor direction 2
Motor ENA	GPIO 12	Motor speed control
Steering Servo	GPIO 14	Servo control
Pan Servo	GPIO 2	Pan servo control
Tilt Servo	GPIO 4	Tilt servo control
Light PWM	GPIO 16	Adjustable light PWM

Software Implementation

Libraries Used

• esp_camera.h: For ESP32-CAM camera control.
• WiFi.h: For Wi-Fi connectivity.
• esp_http_server.h: HTTP server for hosting the web interface.
• ESP32Servo.h: Servo motor control.

Key Functions

1. Web Server Initialization
   • Hosts a web page for controlling the car and viewing the video stream.
2. Camera Stream Handling
   • Captures frames from the camera and sends them to the client.
3. Car Control
   • Implements motor control for forward, backward, left, and right movements.
   • Uses PWM for speed adjustments.
4. Pan-Tilt Control
   • Adjusts the pan and tilt angles of the camera using servo motors.
5. Light Brightness Adjustment
   • Controls light intensity using PWM.

Web Interface

The web interface includes:

• Live video stream.
• Buttons for car and camera control.
• Sliders for speed and brightness adjustments.

Code Structure

1. Main File (setup and loop):
   • Configures the ESP32-CAM, initializes the web server, and sets up GPIO pins.
2. HTTP Handlers:
   • index_handler: Serves the HTML page.
   • stream_handler: Handles the video stream.
   • cmd_handler: Processes commands for car movement, camera angles, and light adjustments.

Setup and Configuration

1. Hardware Setup
   • Connect the ESP32-CAM module, L298N motor driver, servo motors, and power supply as per the pin configuration table.
2. Software Setup
   • Install Arduino IDE and configure ESP32 board support.
   • Upload the provided code to the ESP32-CAM module.
3. Network Configuration
   • Update the Wi-Fi credentials (ssid and password) in the code.

Usage Instructions

1. Power on the system.
2. Connect to the ESP32’s Wi-Fi network.
3. Open the web interface using the ESP32’s IP address in a browser.
4. Use the web interface to control the car and view the live video stream.

Troubleshooting

1. No Video Stream
   • Check the camera connections.
   • Ensure the ESP32 is connected to Wi-Fi.
2. Car Not Moving
   • Verify motor connections.
   • Check the power supply.
3. Servo Motors Not Working
   • Ensure correct GPIO pin connections.
   • Test with a known working servo.

Future Improvements

1. Obstacle Detection
   • Integrate ultrasonic sensors for autonomous navigation.
2. Battery Monitoring
   • Add battery voltage monitoring and alerts.
3. Mobile App Control
   • Develop a mobile application for enhanced user experience.
4. Additional Sensors
   • Include environmental sensors for data collection.

References

• ESP32-CAM Documentation

• Arduino Servo Library

• L298N Motor Driver Datasheet

• https://lastminuteengineers.com/esp32-cam-pinout-reference/

• https://randomnerdtutorials.com/esp32-dc-motor-l298n-motor-driver-control-speed-direction/