ESP32 DC Motor Controller with L298N Driver

This project provides a complete solution for controlling a DC motor using an ESP32 microcontroller and an L298N motor driver. The system features on/off control, speed control via PWM, and direction control with a web-based interface for remote operation.

Features

• On/Off control of DC motor
• Speed control using PWM (0-255 range)
• Direction control (forward/reverse)
• Web-based interface for remote control
• Real-time status monitoring

Hardware Requirements

• ESP32 development board
• L298N motor driver module
• DC motor
• Power supply for the motor (compatible with your motor's voltage requirements)
• Jumper wires for connections

Wiring Diagram

ESP32 Pin    ->    L298N Pin
GPIO 18      ->    ENA (Enable A - PWM)
GPIO 19      ->    IN1 (Input 1 - Direction)
GPIO 23      ->    IN2 (Input 2 - Direction)
VCC (3.3V)   ->    VCC (Logic power)
GND          ->    GND (Common ground)

Motor Power Supply:
L298N VCC    <-    External power supply positive (for motor)
L298N GND    <-    External power supply negative (common ground)

DC Motor:
L298N OUT1   ->    Motor terminal 1
L298N OUT2   ->    Motor terminal 2

Software Setup

1. Install the Arduino IDE with ESP32 board support
2. Install the following libraries:
   • WiFi.h (included with ESP32 core)
   • WebServer.h (included with ESP32 core)
3. Open the esp32_dc_motor_controller.ino file in Arduino IDE
4. Modify the WiFi credentials in the code:

   const char* ssid = "your_wifi_ssid";
   const char* password = "your_wifi_password";

5. Upload the code to your ESP32 board

Pin Configuration

• ENA_PIN (GPIO 18): PWM signal for speed control
• IN1_PIN (GPIO 19): Direction control input 1
• IN2_PIN (GPIO 23): Direction control input 2
• ENB_PIN (GPIO 17): Enable B (for dual motor mode)
• IN3_PIN (GPIO 16): Input 3 (for dual motor mode)
• IN4_PIN (GPIO 4): Input 4 (for dual motor mode)

Web Interface

Once the ESP32 is connected to WiFi, the controller creates a web server accessible through the IP address shown in the serial monitor. The interface includes:

• Start/Stop buttons
• Speed control slider (0-255)
• Direction control buttons (Forward/Reverse)
• Real-time status display

API Endpoints

The controller also provides REST API endpoints for programmatic control:

• GET / - Main web interface
• GET /control?cmd=start - Start the motor
• GET /control?cmd=stop - Stop the motor
• GET /control?cmd=speed&value=[0-255] - Set motor speed
• GET /control?cmd=dir&value=[0|1] - Set motor direction (0=reverse, 1=forward)
• GET /status - Get current motor status

Usage Examples

Manual Control

1. Power on the ESP32 and L298N board
2. Connect to the same WiFi network as the ESP32
3. Open a web browser and navigate to the ESP32's IP address
4. Use the interface to control the motor

Programmatic Control

Send HTTP GET requests to control the motor from other devices:

http://[ESP32_IP]/control?cmd=start
http://[ESP32_IP]/control?cmd=speed&value=200
http://[ESP32_IP]/control?cmd=dir&value=0
http://[ESP32_IP]/control?cmd=stop

Safety Considerations

• Ensure proper power supply ratings for both the ESP32 and motor
• Make sure all grounds are properly connected
• Monitor motor temperature during operation
• Implement emergency stop procedures in your application
• Use appropriate fuses/circuit protection for the motor power supply

Troubleshooting

• If motor doesn't respond, check all connections
• If WiFi connection fails, verify SSID and password
• If speed control doesn't work, ensure ENA pin is connected to a PWM-capable GPIO
• Check serial monitor for error messages

Customization

The code can be easily modified to:

• Add multiple motors
• Implement speed feedback
• Add acceleration/deceleration profiles
• Include additional sensors
• Create scheduled operations