Introduction

The ESP32-CAM is a microcontroller module that integrates Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functionality, along with a camera interface, making it an excellent choice for building smart robots. In this project, I will show you how to construct a simple AI robot using the ESP32-CAM module, which can stream video to an Android device and perform AI task processing on the Android device.

Hardware Requirements

Based on the images returned by the camera, AI interpretation is performed, using the ESP32 to provide control signals to the L298N motor driver module, controlling the mobile platform for intelligent movement.

The hardware list required to build the ESP32-CAM AI robot is as follows:

1. 1. ESP32-CAM module

2. 2. Power adapter or battery

3. 3. An Android phone or tablet

4. 4. A computer for development

5. 5. Switches and connecting wires

6. 6. A robot chassis

7. 7. Motors, wheels, and a universal wheel

8. 8. L298N motor driver

9. If you want to create a four-wheel drive platform, you can switch to the L293D motor driver module.

   

Software Requirements

The software list required to build the ESP32-CAM AI robot is as follows:

1. 1. Arduino IDE

2. 2. ESP32 board library

3. 3. IP camera application on Android

4. 4. TensorFlow Lite model

Steps

Next, I will introduce how to build the ESP32-CAM AI robot step by step.

Step 1: Connect the ESP32-CAM

First, insert the ESP32-CAM module into the breadboard and use Dupont wires to connect it to the power adapter or battery. Then, connect the module to the control circuit of the robot chassis, ensuring all connections are secure and reliable.

Step 2: Configure Arduino IDE

Open Arduino IDE on the computer and install the ESP32 board library. Select the correct board and port in the IDE, and load the example code for the ESP32-CAM. Compile and upload the code to the ESP32-CAM module to ensure it works correctly.

Step 3: Write AI Task Code

Write code to start the ESP32-CAM’s camera and stream the video to the Android device. At the same time, write code to load and run the pre-trained TensorFlow Lite model on the Android device to process images from the video stream. If you are not familiar with Android programming, you can also use a computer to process the video stream and develop relevant program code yourself.

Step 4: Build the Robot

Install the ESP32-CAM module onto the robot chassis and ensure it is secure. Connect the motors and wheels to the chassis to ensure the robot can move and turn.

Step 5: Test

Start the IP camera application on the Android device and connect to the video stream from the ESP32-CAM module. Observe the robot’s behavior to ensure it can receive the video stream and perform AI tasks correctly.

Conclusion

By following the above steps, you have successfully built an ESP32-CAM AI robot that can stream video to an Android device and perform AI task processing on the Android device. Next, you can further customize and optimize the robot according to your needs, making it capable of more complex functions and higher performance.

In this project, we demonstrated how to leverage the powerful features and flexibility of the ESP32-CAM module, combined with the AI task processing capabilities on Android devices, to build a simple yet practical smart robot. This project can inspire more people to take an interest in the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence fields, promoting the development and application of smart robot technology. ESP32-CAM AI Robot: Build a smart robot using the ESP32-CAM module.

Project address: https://github.com/longpth/ESP32CamAI

For more content, follow: