🚗 Surveillance Car using ESP32-CAM | Wi-Fi Controlled Robotic Camera Car

Remotely control. Stream live video. Explore and secure your surroundings. All from a compact Wi-Fi powered car.

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📝 Project Overview

This repository presents a Wi-Fi Controlled Surveillance Car built using the ESP32-CAM module, designed to offer real-time remote monitoring and mobility. Whether you want to secure your home, monitor your pets, or explore robotics and IoT, this project is a hands-on gateway to embedded systems and computer vision.

Built by: Maanasa Prathap Chander · Sahana S · Akshaya A · Neeraja A

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🛠️ Features

• 📷 Live Video Streaming from the ESP32-CAM module via a browser-based interface.
• 🕹️ Remote Car Control using a simple and responsive web page.
• 🌐 Wi-Fi Enabled – connect and operate from any device on the same network.
• 🧠 Expandable Architecture for adding motion detection, object tracking, or sensors.

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🔧 Components Used

Component	Purpose
ESP32-CAM	Camera + microcontroller for streaming and control
L298N Motor Driver Module	Controls motor direction and speed
4WD Car Kit	Base chassis with 4 DC motors
7–12V DC Battery (LiPo 3S)	Power supply for motors and ESP32
Arduino Uno	Used to upload code to ESP32-CAM
Breadboard & Jumper Wires	Wiring and prototyping
Glue Gun & Double-sided Tape	Mounting components securely

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🧩 How It Works

1. Initialization: ESP32-CAM powers on and connects to Wi-Fi.
2. Web Interface Hosting: A local web server is launched by the ESP32.
3. Remote Control: Users access a web page with control buttons (Left, Right, Forward, Reverse, Speed, and Light).
4. Motor Control: Commands are relayed to the L298N module to move the car.
5. Live Streaming: The camera feed is served in real-time through the same interface.
6. Surveillance: The car becomes your eyes on wheels, ready to monitor and explore.

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🖼️ Circuit Diagram & Hardware Assembly

Refer to the detailed diagrams and images in the PDF of the project added as a file in this repository.

Assembly Steps:

• Solder wires to gear motors and fix them to the chassis.
• Connect motor driver to the motors and power supply.
• Interface ESP32-CAM with the motor driver (refer to wiring chart).
• Mount all modules using glue and secure components.
• Attach wheels and ensure all circuits are stable and isolated.

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Perfect! Thanks for confirming the contents of the /scripts/ folder. Here's your fully revised and accurate 💻 Code Structure section for your README.md, reflecting the actual files and purpose of each directory:

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💻 Code Structure

This project supports both Arduino IDE and PlatformIO, and the codebase is organized for easy setup, compilation, and execution of the ESP32-CAM-based surveillance car.

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📂 Root Directory

• camera_car.ino The main Arduino sketch that powers the ESP32-CAM-based surveillance car. Responsibilities include:

  • Initializing the camera
  • Connecting to Wi-Fi
  • Launching a web server
  • Handling directional commands via HTTP requests
  • Streaming live video to the browser

• esp32_board.json Custom board definition for ESP32-CAM, useful when configuring custom settings or using PlatformIO for uploading code.

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📂 /src/

• AsyncTCP.cpp & AsyncTCP.h These files enable asynchronous TCP communication between the ESP32 module and the client browser.

  • Ensures smooth, non-blocking video streaming
  • Improves command responsiveness over the web interface

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📂 /scripts/

Helper scripts to set up the development environment:

• install-arduino-ide.sh Installs the Arduino IDE and its required dependencies on supported systems.

• install-arduino-core-esp32.sh Installs the ESP32 board core (by Espressif) required to compile and upload code via Arduino IDE.

• install-platformio.sh Sets up PlatformIO — a cross-platform embedded development environment — typically used with Visual Studio Code for building and uploading the project.

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🔄 Code Summary

This code integrates camera streaming, motor control, and web interface into a cohesive system as follows :-

1. ESP32-CAM Setup: Initializes camera and connects to Wi-Fi.
2. Web Server Launch: Hosts a browser-accessible interface with direction controls.
3. Motor Commands: Sends GPIO signals to the L298N motor driver to control movement.
4. Live Feed: Streams video to the user over MJPEG via an asynchronous TCP server.

With this structure, the code is modular, scalable, and beginner-friendly — whether you're uploading via Arduino or using advanced tools like PlatformIO.

How to Upload:

• Use Arduino Uno as a bridge to program the ESP32-CAM.
• Baud rate: 115200 | Board: AI Thinker ESP32-CAM | Upload using FTDI or Uno.

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🚀 Applications

Use Case	Description
🏡 Home Security	Monitor your home while away using a moving camera.
🧪 Educational	Great for learning robotics, embedded programming, and IoT.
🛠️ Remote Site Monitoring	View areas like construction zones or warehouses.
🐾 Pet Watching	Keep track of pets and their activity indoors.

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📸 Gallery

Check /images/ for real pictures of our working prototype in action! You’ll find assembly images, the ESP32-CAM feed UI, and the complete mounted setup.

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🧠 Learnings and Takeaways

• Integration of hardware with software logic.
• Control over HTTP using embedded web servers.
• Real-time video streaming via IP.
• Basics of DC motor control and L298N configuration.
• Handling power and voltage challenges in embedded systems.

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📎 Additional Resources

• ESP32-CAM Documentation: Espressif Docs
• Motor Driver Guide: L298N H-Bridge Tutorial
• Web Controlled Car Reference: Random Nerd Tutorials

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🤝 Contributing

Feel free to fork this repo and extend functionality! Ideas include:

• Motion Detection with OpenCV
• Firebase Cloud Integration
• Autonomous Navigation
• Android App Interface

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📜 License

This project is open-source under the MIT License. Feel free to use, modify, and enhance it!