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WiFi Controlled Robot using Arduino

Published  April 6, 2016   48
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WiFi Controlled Robot using Arduino
WiFi Controlled Robot using Arduino

There are many types of Robots, from the simple ones like a Toy car to the advanced ones like industrial Robots. We have already covered many types of Robots using different technologies, have a look at them:

And now we are adding one more Robot in our ‘Robotics Projects’ section, this time we are going to make a Wi-Fi controlled Robot using Arduino and Blynk App. This Arduino based Robot can be controlled wirelessly using any Wi-Fi enabled Android smart phone.

For demonstration of Wi-Fi Controlled Robot, we have used an Android Mobile App named “Blynk”. Blynk is a very compatible app with Arduino, to make IoT based project. This App can be downloaded from the Google Play Store, and can be easily configured.

Steps for configuring Blynk App:

1. First download it from Google Play Store and install it in Android mobile phone.

2. After this, it is required to create an account. You may use your current Gmail account.

3. Now select Arduino Board and give a name for your project.

wifi controlled mobile robot blynk-app

4. Note down the Auth Token Code or simply mail it to your Email Account and then copy and paste in Arduino sketch (Program Code).

wifi-controlled-robot-blynk-app-auth-token

5. Enter this Auth Token Code in Arduino sketch.

// You should get Auth Token in the Blynk App.
// Go to the Project Settings (nut icon).
char auth[] = "caa17a11c0124d4083d0eaa995f45917";

6. Then click on create button in Blynk app.

7. Now Select the Joystick Widget, Click on Joystick, Configure the Joystick (see the Video at the end) and hit the back button.

wifi controlled mobile robot blynk app 2 wifi controlled mobile robot blynk app 3 wifi controlled mobile robot blynk app 4

8. After it press Play button at the right top of screen.

All this process, of using the Blynk App, has been clearly explained in Video, given in the end.

Required Components:

  • Arduino UNO
  • ESP8266 Wi-Fi  Module
  • USB Cable
  • Connecting wires
  • L293D
  • DC Motors
  • Batteries
  • 10K POT   (optional)
  • Robot chassis plus wheel
  • Roller caster
  • Android Mobile phone
  • Blynk App

Circuit Explanation:

Wi-Fi Controlled Mobile Robot circuit diagram

Circuit Diagram of Wi-Fi controlled robot is given below. We mainly need a Arduino and ESP8266 Wi-Fi module. ESP8266’s Vcc and GND pins are directly connected to 3.3V and GND of Arduino and CH_PD is also connected with 3.3V. Tx and Rx pins of ESP8266 are directly connected to pin 2 and 3 of Arduino. Software Serial Library is used to allow serial communication on pin 2 and 3 of Arduino. We have already covered the Interfacing of ESP8266 Wi-Fi module to Arduino in detail.

A L293D Motor Driver IC is used for driving DC motors. Input pins of motor driver IC is directly connected to pin 8, 9, 10 and 11 of Arduino. And DC motors are connected at its output pins. Here we have used 9 Volt battery for driving the Circuit and DC motors.

Working Explanation:

wifi-controlled mobile robot block diagram

Working of the Wi-Fi controlled Robot is very easy, we just need to Drag or Slide the Joystick in the direction, where we want to move the Robot. Like if we want to move the Robot in Forward direction then we need to Drag the Joystick ‘circle’ in Forward direction. Likewise we can move the Robot in Left, Right and Backward direction by Dragging the joystick in respective direction. Now as soon as we release the Joystick, it will come back to centre and Robot stops.

Blynk App sends values from Two Axis Joystick to Arduino, through Wi-Fi medium. Arduino receive the values, compare them with predefined values and move the Robot accordingly in that direction.

Programming Explanation:

Program is almost readymade available in Arduino IDE. We just need to download Blynk Library for Arduino. And after making some modifications, user can make own Wi-Fi controlled robot.

First we have included all the needed libraries to run this code in Arduino IDE, and then entered Auth Token, from the Blynk app, in the auth string. Here we are connecting Wi-Fi serial pin with Software Serial of Arduino. Selected pin 2 as RX and 3 as TX.

#define BLYNK_PRINT Serial    // Comment this out to disable prints and save space
#include <ESP8266_SoftSer.h>
#include <BlynkSimpleShieldEsp8266_SoftSer.h>

// Set ESP8266 Serial object
#include <SoftwareSerial.h>
SoftwareSerial EspSerial(2, 3); // RX, TX

ESP8266 wifi(EspSerial);

// You should get Auth Token in the Blynk App.
// Go to the Project Settings (nut icon).
char auth[] = "caa17a11c0124d4083d0eaa995f45917";

Then we defined output pins(8,9,10,11) for motors and wrote some direction functions to move the Robot in particular direction: void forward(), void backward(),void right() and void left()  

After this, in setup function we initialise all the required devices, like giving direction to motor pins, begin serial communication, providing Wi-Fi username and password.

void setup()
{
  // Set console baud rate
  Serial.begin(9600);
  delay(10);
  // Set ESP8266 baud rate
  // 9600 is recommended for Software Serial
  EspSerial.begin(9600);
  delay(10);

  Blynk.begin(auth, wifi, "username", "password");  // wifi username and password
  pinMode(m11, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(m12, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(m21, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(m22, OUTPUT);
}

Now we have checked some conditions for controlling the robot. Here we have selected virtual pin 1 (V1) for taking input from Blynk App to control the robot. As we have used marge option in app so we will get x and y axis values at same pin.

BLYNK_WRITE(V1) 
{
  int x = param[0].asInt();
  int y = param[1].asInt();
  if(y>220)
  forward();
  else if(y<35)
  backward();
  else if(x>220)
  right();
  else if(x<35)
  left();
  else
  Stop();
}

At last we need to run blynk function in loop, to run the system.

void loop()
{
  Blynk.run();
}

Complete Project Code


#define BLYNK_PRINT Serial    // Comment this out to disable prints and save space

#include <ESP8266_SoftSer.h>

#include <BlynkSimpleShieldEsp8266_SoftSer.h>
// Set ESP8266 Serial object

#include <SoftwareSerial.h>

SoftwareSerial EspSerial(2, 3); // RX, TX
ESP8266 wifi(EspSerial);
// You should get Auth Token in the Blynk App.

// Go to the Project Settings (nut icon).

char auth[] = "caa17a11c0124d4083d0eaa995f45917";
#define m11 8

#define m12 9

#define m21 10

#define m22 11
void forward()

{

  digitalWrite(m11, HIGH);

  digitalWrite(m12,LOW);

  digitalWrite(m21,HIGH);

  digitalWrite(m22,LOW);

}
void backward()

{

  digitalWrite(m11, LOW);

  digitalWrite(m12,HIGH);

  digitalWrite(m21,LOW);

  digitalWrite(m22,HIGH);

}
void right()

{

  digitalWrite(m11, HIGH);

  digitalWrite(m12,LOW);

  digitalWrite(m21,LOW);

  digitalWrite(m22,LOW);

}
void left()

{

  digitalWrite(m11, LOW);

  digitalWrite(m12,LOW);

  digitalWrite(m21,HIGH);

  digitalWrite(m22,LOW);

}
void Stop()

{

  digitalWrite(m11, LOW);

  digitalWrite(m12,LOW);

  digitalWrite(m21,LOW);

  digitalWrite(m22,LOW);

}
void setup()

{

  // Set console baud rate

  Serial.begin(9600);

  delay(10);

  // Set ESP8266 baud rate

  // 9600 is recommended for Software Serial

  EspSerial.begin(9600);

  delay(10);
  Blynk.begin(auth, wifi, "username", "password");  // wifi username and password

  pinMode(m11, OUTPUT);

  pinMode(m12, OUTPUT);

  pinMode(m21, OUTPUT);

  pinMode(m22, OUTPUT);

}
BLYNK_WRITE(V1) 

{

  int x = param[0].asInt();

  int y = param[1].asInt();
  // Do something with x and y

/*  Serial.print("X = ");

  Serial.print(x);

  Serial.print("; Y = ");

  Serial.println(y);*/

  if(y>220)

  forward();

  else if(y<35)

  backward();

  else if(x>220)

  right();

  else if(x<35)

  left();

  else

  Stop();

}
void loop()

{

  Blynk.run();

}
Video

Tags
arduino
arduino uno
WiFi Module
robotics
Arduino Robotics
embedded
ESP8266
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Comments

Submitted by sawas on Sun, 07/03/2016 - 21:03

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i cant finde my network from esp8266
i cant anderstand how it work please help me

Submitted by oyie on Thu, 02/09/2017 - 10:27

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you need to find the network using your mobile phone, if the wifi network provided by your esp is not showing there are alot of possible reason for that

Submitted by Stephen Kramer on Sun, 11/13/2016 - 01:01

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I have a program for controlling a robot that is 1000 lines of code that runs on a Mega2650. Can I use Blynk to add smartphone inputs to the program? I see there is nothing else running in loop so I'm wondering what else can be done if you use blynk. Thanks.

Submitted by Akshay on Thu, 12/01/2016 - 17:10

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Hello,

I really appreciate that project you did, infact i'm doing same for my final year project.
Can you please help me add the following, i'm having lot of troubles with the libraries and Arduino code.

I need to add the followings:

2 sliders for 2 servo motors (for pan & tilt camera)
2 buttons for switching LED on/off
Video Streaming

Any help would be really appreciated.

Submitted by Suraj N R on Sun, 12/18/2016 - 12:37

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Tried to run the code with the BLYNK library latest version v0.4.2 but it said the <ESP8266_SoftSer.h> was missing !!! Tried downloading v0.3.4 but still throwing error !!!
Please let me know which library version you all are using and also give me the link where I can download.
Thanks in advance

Submitted by Amantu Khan on Tue, 01/03/2017 - 18:37

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Can you modify the code for me? I've 4 wheeler , L293D Shield and CC3000 Wifi Shield.

Submitted by mohit on Wed, 01/04/2017 - 23:03

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Esp8266_softSer.h: No such file or directory
#include <ESP8266_SoftSer.h>
Compilation terminated
Error compiling for board Arduino /genuino Uno
What I will do for???

Submitted by swapnil on Thu, 01/12/2017 - 09:01

Permalink

Sir I need library Esp8266

Esp8266_softSer.h: No such file or directory
#include <ESP8266_SoftSer.h>
Compilation terminated
Error compiling for board Arduino /genuino Uno
What I will do for???

Submitted by Aljay on Sat, 01/28/2017 - 08:55

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Why I cant control it wireless?
I can control it while my arduino port is connected to laptop. But when I am changing the source or I transfer the source to battery, I am not able to control it. I think it is because the wifi shield is turning off.

I am using guizduino uno, wifi shield esp8266 and blynk

Submitted by santosh yadav on Mon, 01/30/2017 - 14:44

Permalink

showing error
Tried to run the code with the BLYNK library latest version v0.4.2 but it said the <ESP8266_SoftSer.h> was missing !!!
what to do??

Submitted by krishna on Mon, 02/27/2017 - 21:19

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how can we add extra motors or switches for lights or any other function

Submitted by prithvi on Wed, 03/15/2017 - 19:40

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can u send a link for library BlynkSimpleShieldEsp8266_SoftSer.h

Submitted by prithvi on Sat, 03/18/2017 - 17:20

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i've no library for that plz send the download link of that library

Submitted by Tony Hoang on Tue, 04/04/2017 - 05:54

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I was reading the L293D datasheet... on the Vcc1 (Pin 16) only 5V supply for internal logic translation and the Vcc2 Power for drivers 4.5 V to 36 V . So from your schematic shouldn't that be PIN 8 and PIN 16 reverse?

Submitted by shubhanm anand on Wed, 04/19/2017 - 09:33

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Sir I m working on this project done all connections and portals according to this site but still on blynk app it's showing the device is offline ..And reconnecting to the server .... The phone is connecting to the WI Fi module BT it cannot receive input from blynk as device is coming offline... Can u suggest something plz it's urgent

Submitted by prithvi on Thu, 06/08/2017 - 09:10

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Arduino: 1.8.1 (Windows 10), Board: "Arduino/Genuino Uno"

C:\Users\prithvi\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_modified_sketch_891604\sketch_jun08a.ino:2:29: fatal error: ESP8266_SoftSer.h: No such file or directory

#include <ESP8266_SoftSer.h>

^

compilation terminated.

exit status 1
Error compiling for board Arduino/Genuino Uno.

This report would have more information with
"Show verbose output during compilation"
option enabled in File -> Preferences.

Submitted by Bhavani on Mon, 07/24/2017 - 10:53

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Useful to me.i like it. Would u provide some more information about it to my mail

Submitted by sudarsan on Wed, 06/13/2018 - 00:33

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i tried all the possible ways to resolve this error
but I cant fix it
it shows that the esp8266soft ser not found
but iincluded all the blynk librarieris

"motor_wifi_bot.ino:2:29: fatal error: ESP8266_SoftSer.h: No such file or directory
compilation terminated.
Error compiling."

Submitted by Ady on Sun, 09/09/2018 - 17:25

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Hi. Im doing a project using nodemcu , mdd10a driver and 2 power window motors. i tried the code but whenever i tried to upload it, it says espcomm_failed. could you please help me?