This ESP32-CAM Hack Puts You in the Driver's Seat of a Toy Car
Retrofit an RC vehicle with an ESP32-CAM to enable WiFi control and video streaming on your phone.
The ESP8266 module revolutionized what can be easily done with WiFi, followed by the enhanced capabilities of the ESP32. Now the ESP32-CAM, which adds a video camera to the mix, is allowing makers to take things one step further. One such possible application would be a FPV RC toy vehicle like robotzero.one has shown.
The model was purchased with the express intent to convert it to ESP32/video control, and the camera fits nicely in the car’s faux supercharger assembly. Video info is piped to the ESP32, which can then be displayed on the user’s phone over WiFi. The mobile app provides basic operation and steering, moving forward or left/right.
This fairly simple control scheme is implemented because the ESP32-CAM, for all its amazing features, appears to only have two usable output pins. One of these is implemented for PWM control for the driving motors, while the other employs PWM to control a servo that activates two switches as a sort of relay assembly to move the wheels back and forth as needed. You really have to admire the ingenuity of this method, but robotzero.one notes that this could be enhanced by using another microcontroller as a sort of output sub-module.
A more detailed explanation and the results can be seen in the video below. Although not quite as responsive as a normal RC unit, this control method is still quite functional.