Disclaimer: I'm a programmer, not an electronics expert. I built this car using an Arduino Uno, and now I want to add a camera to it. I’ve tried researching online, but I couldn’t find much information about connecting the ESP32-CAM to an L293D motor driver shield.
Current Setup:
- The car is controlled by hand gestures detected by my laptop’s camera.
- Based on the gesture, a letter (like
F for forward, B for backward) is sent to the Arduino via HC-05 Bluetooth.
- The Arduino processes the command and controls the motors through the L293D shield.
What I Want to Add:
I’d like to attach a camera (ESP32-CAM) to turn the car into a surveillance/spy car that can stream video to my laptop.
Possible Approaches:
- Separate Camera System:
- Power the ESP32-CAM independently (with its own battery) and use it only for video streaming, while keeping the HC-05 for motor control.
- Replace HC-05 with ESP32-CAM’s Bluetooth:
- Use the ESP32-CAM’s built-in Bluetooth to receive motor commands (instead of HC-05).
- The ESP32 would then forward these commands to the Arduino via UART (Serial).
My Concerns:
- Power: Will my current two 18650 batteries (3.7V, 2600 mAh each) be enough, or will I risk frying something?
- Compatibility: Can the ESP32-CAM handle both WiFi (video streaming) and Bluetooth (motor control) at the same time?
- Wiring: I have no idea how to connect everything. If someone can explain the exact wiring (ESP32-CAM → Arduino → L293D), I’d greatly appreciate it!
- Safety: How do I avoid overloading the Arduino or L293D?
Since this is my first big robotics project, I’d really appreciate some guidance on:
- Which approach makes more sense?
- How to power everything safely?
- Any potential pitfalls I should avoid.
Schematic diagram
Here’s the schematic of my current setup for reference:
Schematic diagram