About ESP32CAM and MEGA2560 ROBOT car

[shanren]

Hi,
there are many Arduino controlled CAR, there are many ESP32CAM controlled car, if I like the car to do lot of works, I mean it is a little more complex sketch for Arduino:

1. should I use an ESP32CAM alone to control the car, is that powerful enough ?
2. or should I use an Arduino + ESP32CAM combine to control the car where the ESP32 just works as WIFI sensor?
   Thanks
   Adam

[anon73444976]

@shanren

should I use an ESP32CAM alone to control the car, is that powerful enough ?

How can we answer that question?
Powerful enough to do what?

[shanren]

Thanks.
Seems there are not many pins on ESP32?
if I need ultrasonic obstacle sensor / floor cliff / warning LED etc.

[anon73444976]

@shanren

Seems there are not many pins on ESP32

Mine seems to have quite a few.

[Paul_B]

@shanren

should I use an Arduino + ESP32CAM combine to control the car where the ESP32 just works as WIFI sensor?

Extremely bad idea!

Very inefficient and tedious to program the communication between the two devices.

If you need more I/O, you use "Port Expanders" or interface modules for specific purposes such as motor drivers.

[shanren]

Thanks.
I missed ESP32CAM and ESP32, the former is what I like to ask.

[shanren]

Thank you Paul_B.
One more question is does ESP32CAM powerful enough to do calculation like ultrasonic sensor's data processing like MEGA2560 does ?

BTW. I didn't find any ESP32CAM pin expander yet.
I have all items listed in the picture below.

1.66AU $ 7% OFF|Wireless Module Ch340/cp2102/ch9102x Nodemcu V3 V2 Lua Wifi...

[Paul_B]

@shanren

One more question is does ESP32CAM powerful enough to do calculation ... like MEGA2560 does ?

That is a disturbingly humorous question!

It's an ESP32!

You are asking whether an Intel I7 PC can perform the same functions as a Commodore 64!

@shanren

I didn't find any ESP32CAM pin expander yet.

I really have no idea whether there are specific pin expanders for an ESP32. Pin expanders are a generic item.

[shanren]

Thanks.
how about the WiFi Version of Arduino and MEGA2560 +WiFi be used? can them work properly ?

[Paul_B]

@shanren

how about the WiFi Version of Arduino and MEGA2560 +WiFi be used? can them work properly ?

Wouldn't advise it for a multitude of reasons.

Think I answered it all in #5.

[LarryD]

The Mega is 5v logic.

ESP32 is 3.3v.

Can you guess what happens in this setup ?

GNDs ?

[shanren]

Thank you Paul_B,
yes, you answered it, it's why I like to make clear:

1. how to get Arduino / MEGA2560 work with WiFi?
2. how about the existing ArduinoWiFi products for? and even more new products coming up?

[Paul_B]

@shanren

1. how to get Arduino / MEGA2560 work with WiFi?

Neither of those have WiFi capability, better to use an ESP32.

@shanren

2. how about the existing ArduinoWiFi products for? and even more new products coming up?

The ESP32 will do the job very well. And it is an awful lot cheaper than any "new" (or existing) Arduino WiFi products and I venture to say, cleaner to program.

I can't see why you would not want to use the ESP32.

[anon73444976]

@Paul_B

I can't see why you would not want to use the ESP32.

Lack of 5V I/O compatibility?

[Paul_B]

@anon73444976

Lack of 5V I/O compatibility?

74HCT chips.

[jremington]

@shanren

ESP32CAM powerful enough to do calculation like ultrasonic sensor's data processing

I believe that the ESP32 does support floating point divide and multiply

[shanren]

@Paul_B

That is a disturbingly humorous question!

It's an ESP32!

You are asking whether an Intel I7 PC can perform the same functions as a Commodore 64!

Thanks.
I'll try to shift to ESP, actually ESP32CAM.

still the question is if I use ESP32CAM, which I2C being used by CAM, is it possibly to add IO expander?
if I use a FPC shown below, can that I2C function well when CAM stream?