I need some advise on how to use WiFi Arduino components to transmit simple push button commands (digital) over WiFi to an AGV (automated guided vehicle).
We must use WiFi because the AGV can be greater than 100m further than the push buttons at any given time.
What setup could I use for this?
- Purchase multiple Arduino Unos paired with MKR WiFi 1010 (supported by IoT)
- Purchase multiple Arduino Uno WiFi Rev2
I know that the push buttons (or switches) will be used at the operator and cart loading stations to wirelessly instruct the AGV actions. One of the Arduinos should be a data receiver actually mounted on the AGV. The others will be mounted with the operator buttons/switches.
All data received by the AGV arduino would be transmitted to the AGV motor controller via its own I/O board.
I dont know anything about IoT but I am more than willing to learn, I just need a good solution to transmit simple digital commands over WiFi from one arduino to another. I havent been able to find much support for this application online.
Any help would be much appreciated!
We must use WiFi because the AGV can be greater than 100m further than the push buttons at any given time.
Over what range is the WiFi required to work ?
The plant WiFi is dispersed over the entire area of each shop floor with repeaters.
So the WiFi would be expected to work anywhere in the plant, because the WiFi repeaters give reliable, industrial signal across the entire area of the shop floor.
We would need to get both arduinos talking over the plant WiFi
This sounds like it would be easier to implement using ESP8266 or ESP32 based boards with built in WiFi
So you would not suggest using Arduinos?
Or you would just suggest using ESP8266 or ESP32 based boards that connect to the arduinos instead of using the MKR WiFi?
Just think of the ESP based boards as Arduinos
As long as they have enough GPIO pins to do what you want you are in business. Boards like the Wemos D1 Mini (ESP8266) and Wemos D1 Mini ESP32 have built in WiFi, can run Arduino code including a Web server or client if that helps. They are small in size if that is a consideration and the software can even be updated OTA if that helps
So, the boards on the AGVs could each run a Web server to receive commands and act on them as well as providing feedback if required or you could use MQTT to transmit the commands with the server running on a local PC and the AGVs subscribed to it and the controlling systems publishing commands to be acted upon.
I just read up on ESP boards and they seem very capable for this. Thank you for the suggestion!
Especially since you program them with Arduino code.
I would need to learn how to create a web server for each of these to communicate, but it seems like there is quite a lot of supporting literature online for this.
Given the specs of each, I believe I want to use ESP32 rather than ESP8266 - ESP32 seems much more capable.
Why do you recommend Wemos ESP boards? Many people online are using the ESP32 DOIT DEVKIT V1 Board. It seems like it is used more frequently, but that is just from my initial research.
Why do you recommend Wemos ESP boards?
They were more in the nature of examples rather than recommendations but I have used both the 8266 and 32 variants