Connect ESP32-CAM to L293D

Question

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:

1. 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.

2. 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

Answer 1

It will be convenient if you design a shield like this: https://www.pcbway.com/project/shareproject/ESP32_Cam_Motor_Driver_Shield_L293D.html It's an ESP32-Cam Motor Driver Shield based on L293D. The layout and schematic are given. There is also a full tutorial.It is easy to use. It accommodates the ESP32-CAM, the L293D and other components in a single board. You can easily attach this board to a standard robotic car chassis.