Gareth's blog

Time of Flight meets BlueTooth.....

Extensive testing with WiFi mesh networks proved to be not the way to go for this project... timing issues killed the progress.

Exit Wifi Mesh network goblins...... YAY

Enter the BlueTeethed Elves ....... YAY

The ESP32 has up its sleeve BlueTooth capabilities, it was a simple job to reconvert the data packets.

Persistance pays off , ESP8266 Mesh network begins to work, this transmits sensor data from the Time of Flight Laser distancing module and the Compass module to the basestation rover.

The latest Plan (software Workio) :-

1.ProMini + TOF + Compass +ESP8266 sits on top of the 360° rotating Stepper motor (can be any speed literally (just limited up to the max that the TOF and compass can read data))

One step further in attempt to make a wireless system between the base rover station and the spinning Laser module.

In a Nutshell :-

Thought it may be of interest to document a rover platform using Stepper Motors as drive linked to an ESP32 sporting a Web gui to control movement and display Sensor data.

Here I present a "Touch Sensor" for InMoov's finger tip

Its uses a Full Bridge Strain Gauge circuit, this consists of 4 resistive strain elements and an instrumentation operational amplifier.

Basic Full Bridge :-

[1] Two active elements (one placed on top surface , other placed on bottom surface)

Here is some test data that I am working on to check out the capabilities and speed of a CMUcam5 Pixy camera.

I am using two interfaces to set the system up :-

1. USB plugging into the Pixy allowing the PixyMon Gui to monitor,adjust & capture objects (by colour).

2. A connection between the Pixy<> Arduino on the 6pin ICSP port (aka SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface))

Introducing the Nextion Display :-

Here is the current working system.

The design 3D STL print files can be found here Chiprobots Thingiverse Channel

Below you see the Nema17 Stepper motor ,Actuator,ESP32,ramps controller birds nest.

This is a walkthrough on how to control Nema17 Stepper motors using an ESP32 Webserver.

In the example above I am using the local ESP32 webserver to control InMoov's neck screw via a Nema17 stepper motor and 3D printed Gearbox.

Controlling Stepper motors via a Wifi enabled webserver opens up an easy way to control remote devices. The information here shows how this can be done easily and at low cost.

Requirements :-