ESP32 2WD Robot
|
This ESP32 2WD Robot project aims to be a simple 'plug replaceable' upgrade to the existing ESP8266 2WD Robot so that many of the limitations with that design's use of the more basic ESP8266 (small number of GPIO pins etc.) can be overcome.
By 'plug replaceable' we mean that the ESP8266 microcontroller module can be simply removed from the motor controller and replaced by a ESP32 mounted on a custom PCB that acts as an adaptor between the motor controller connectors, that are designed for a ESP8266, and the 38-pin connector of the ESP32 module.
All the robot's 3D printed components are the same as the earlier project and are downloadable from here.
The custom PCB 'redirects' the motor, slide switch and ultrasonic sensor connections that are made to the motor controller board in the earlier ESP8266 design, connecting them through to designated GPIO pins on the ESP32. Additional connectors on the PCB then allow further components and options to be added to extend the robot's functionality.
The top left image shows an existing 2WD Robot assembly with its replacement ESP32/PCB assembly being bench tested, where the ultrasonic sensor has also now been fitted to a servo which is one of the extra PCB features.
The front and back views of the custom PCB are shown top right and the annotated schematic below shows some of the additional connectors that provide further robotic options.
As can be noted, the PCB has a number of further (not annotated) connectors that expose all the unassigned ESP32 GPIO pins, plus some power connectors that will allow some different power supply options to be explored.
Further images are shown below, and whilst the project is still to some extent a 'work in progress', a preliminary development of the revised software is now complete. Both the software and the custom PCB design files can be downloaded from this GitHub repository.
ESP32 2WD Robot developments:
Robotics projects:
All the currently available maker project information: