DIY WiFi-Controlled Car Project Using Blynk and ESP8266 NodeMCU

Introduction:

We're going to go on an exciting adventure to build our very own WiFi-controlled car in today's tutorial. This project offers a hands-on introduction to the Internet of Things (IoT) by combining the capabilities of the ESP8266 NodeMCU board with the power of the Blynk application.

Materials Needed:

1. ESP8266 NodeMCU board
2. L298N Motor Driver
3. DC motors with wheels + Chassis
4. Power source (e.g., battery pack)
5. Jumper wires
6. Smartphone with the Blynk app installed

Step 1: Motor Driver Connections:

1. Connect the positive terminal of the power source to the +12V input on the L298N motor driver.
2. Connect the negative terminal of the power source to the GND (ground) on the L298N motor driver.

Step 2: Motor Connections:

1. Connect the positive terminal of the first DC motor to the OUT1 terminal on the L298N motor driver.
2. Connect the negative terminal of the first DC motor to the OUT2 terminal on the L298N motor driver.
3. Connect the positive terminal of the second DC motor to the OUT3 terminal on the L298N motor driver.
4. Connect the negative terminal of the second DC motor to the OUT4 terminal on the L298N motor driver.

Step 3: Motor Driver Control Pins:

1. Connect the ENA (Enable A) on the L298N motor driver to a PWM-enabled pin on the ESP8266 NodeMCU (e.g., D1).
2. Connect the IN1 on the L298N motor driver to a digital pin on the ESP8266 NodeMCU (e.g., D5).
3. Connect the IN2 on the L298N motor driver to another digital pin on the ESP8266 NodeMCU (e.g., D6).
4. Connect the ENB (Enable B) on the L298N motor driver to a PWM-enabled pin on the ESP8266 NodeMCU (e.g., D2).
5. Connect the IN3 on the L298N motor driver to a digital pin on the ESP8266 NodeMCU (e.g., D7).
6. Connect the IN4 on the L298N motor driver to another digital pin on the ESP8266 NodeMCU (e.g., D8).

Step 4: Powering the ESP8266 NodeMCU:

1. Connect the Vin pin on the ESP8266 NodeMCU to the positive terminal of the power source.
2. Connect the GND pin on the ESP8266 NodeMCU to the negative terminal of the power source.

Step 5: Connection to Blynk App:

1. Open the Blynk app on your smartphone.
2. Create a new project and obtain the authentication token.

Step 6: Upload Code:

Upload the Arduino code provided in the previous response to your ESP8266 NodeMCU using the Arduino IDE.

#include <ESP8266WiFi.h> #include <BlynkSimpleEsp8266.h> // You should get Auth Token in the Blynk App. // Go to the Project Settings (nut icon). char auth[] = "YourAuthToken"; // Your WiFi credentials. char ssid[] = "YourWiFiSSID"; char pass[] = "YourWiFiPassword"; // Motor Driver Pins int motorAPin1 = D5; // Motor A direction int motorAPin2 = D6; // Motor A direction int motorBPin1 = D7; // Motor B direction int motorBPin2 = D8; // Motor B direction int motorEnableAPin = D1; // Motor A speed int motorEnableBPin = D2; // Motor B speed BLYNK_WRITE(V1) { int x = param[0].asInt(); // Get the X value from the joystick in the Blynk app int y = param[1].asInt(); // Get the Y value from the joystick in the Blynk app // Motor Control Logic int motorSpeedA = y - x; int motorSpeedB = y + x; // Set Motor A direction if (motorSpeedA > 0) { digitalWrite(motorAPin1, HIGH); digitalWrite(motorAPin2, LOW); } else { digitalWrite(motorAPin1, LOW); digitalWrite(motorAPin2, HIGH); } // Set Motor B direction if (motorSpeedB > 0) { digitalWrite(motorBPin1, HIGH); digitalWrite(motorBPin2, LOW); } else { digitalWrite(motorBPin1, LOW); digitalWrite(motorBPin2, HIGH); } // Set Motor Speed analogWrite(motorEnableAPin, abs(motorSpeedA)); analogWrite(motorEnableBPin, abs(motorSpeedB)); } void setup() { // Debug console Serial.begin(115200); // Connect to Wi-Fi Blynk.begin(auth, ssid, pass); // Motor Setup pinMode(motorAPin1, OUTPUT); pinMode(motorAPin2, OUTPUT); pinMode(motorBPin1, OUTPUT); pinMode(motorBPin2, OUTPUT); pinMode(motorEnableAPin, OUTPUT); pinMode(motorEnableBPin, OUTPUT); } void loop() { Blynk.run(); }

Replace "YourAuthToken", "YourWiFiSSID", and "YourWiFiPassword" with your Blynk authentication token and WiFi credentials.

Step 7: Blynk App Configuration:

1. In the Blynk app, add a Joystick widget to Virtual Pin V1.
2. Configure the Joystick widget to send values for X and Y axes.

Step 8: Test and Enjoy:

Power up your WiFi-controlled car and launch the Blynk app. Use the joystick in the app to control the movement of your car. Enjoy your DIY WiFi-controlled car!

Conclusion:

Well done! Using the ESP8266 NodeMCU board and the Blynk application, you have successfully constructed a WiFi-controlled car. You will learn the fundamentals of IoT through this project, which also provides access to additional customization and exploration options. Play around with extra features and sensors to improve your WiFi-enabled vehicle.

Remember to modify the code as necessary based on the specific pins you choose during the hardware setup. Double-check all connections before powering up your project.

Happy tinkering, and don't forget to share your creations!