This project was developed at İTÜ MTAL (Istanbul Technical University Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School) as part of our Robotics Class. It represents both a technical application of our electronics knowledge and a practical reflection of the Ahi (Ahilik) system we apply in our school.
This project turns an ESP32 into a Bluetooth Mouse using the BleMouse library.
A joystick controls the cursor, a rotary encoder handles scrolling, and physical buttons perform left/right mouse clicks — all wirelessly via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
It’s our first project of the year and part of our quarterly presentations in the robotics course. Each team member contributes to design, coding, and debugging.
İTÜMTAL applies the Ahilik (Ahi) system, an ancient Turkish guild tradition that emphasizes mentorship, craftsmanship, ethics, and solidarity. In this system:
- Experienced students (Hami) teach and guide others (their “Apprentices”).
- Knowledge flows from those who know to those who learn.
- The focus is not only on technical skills but also on sharing, patience, and responsibility.
In this project, I’m acting as a Hami, teaching my friends how to use Arduino and ESP32 for robotics applications. Together, we build, learn, and present our work to others — keeping the Ahi spirit alive through modern technology.
Main Components:
- ESP32S NodeMCU – Microcontroller with BLE capability
- Joystick – Controls cursor movement (X and Y axes)
- Rotary Encoder – Scroll wheel simulation
- Push Buttons – Left and right click inputs
- BleMouse Library – Enables BLE-based mouse functionality
Features:
- Smooth joystick-based cursor control
- Encoder-based scrolling (up/down)
- Debounced button presses for stable clicks
- Automatic joystick calibration at startup
- Debug messages via Serial Monitor
#include <BleMouse.h>You can install the ESP32 BLE Mouse library via the Arduino Library Manager or from T-vK’s GitHub repository.
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Upload the code to your ESP32 board.
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Power the board and wait for the message:
🚀 ESP32 BLE Mouse başlatılıyor... Bluetooth bağlantısı bekleniyor... -
Pair your computer with “ESP32 Mouse” via Bluetooth.
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Move the joystick to control the cursor.
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Rotate the encoder to scroll.
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Use buttons for left and right clicks.
This project was built collaboratively by students in the Robotics Class at İTÜ MTAL. Under the Ahi system, I serve as a Hami (mentor) — teaching Arduino programming, circuit building, and debugging to my teammates.
“Those who know should teach; those who learn should share.” — Ahi Principle applied to Robotics
This project is only the beginning. In upcoming presentations, we plan to:
- Integrate gesture control and sensors,
- Create wireless input devices for accessibility,
- Develop smarter IoT-based control systems using ESP32.
Hidayet Erdem Hami, Robotics Student at İTÜ MTAL Guiding peers in Arduino, Electronics, and Robotics through the Ahi system.