📘 Hardware Assembly & Wiring
🎯 Lesson Objective
In this lesson, students will learn:
- How to assemble the robot hardware
- How to connect ESP32 with L298N motor driver
- Proper wiring techniques and safety precautions
- Understanding power supply and motor control connections
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to build the complete hardware setup of the robot.
🧰 Components Required
- ESP32 Development Board
- L298N Motor Driver
- 2 DC Motors
- Robot Chassis
- Battery (7.4V / 12V recommended)
- Jumper Wires
⚙️ Understanding the Motor Driver (L298N)
The L298N motor driver is used to control the direction and movement of DC motors.
🔹 Key Functions:
- Controls motor direction (forward/backward)
- Allows two motors to run independently
- Acts as an interface between ESP32 and motors
🔌 Pin Configuration
🔹 ESP32 to L298N Connections:
| L298N Pin | ESP32 Pin |
|---|---|
| IN1 | 26 |
| IN2 | 27 |
| IN3 | 14 |
| IN4 | 12 |
⚡ Power Connections
- Battery Positive → L298N 12V
- Battery Negative → L298N GND
- L298N GND → ESP32 GND (Common Ground)
👉 Optional:
- L298N 5V → ESP32 VIN (only if stable power available)
🔩 Motor Connections
- Motor A → OUT1 & OUT2
- Motor B → OUT3 & OUT4
🧱 Hardware Assembly Steps
- Fix motors to the robot chassis
- Mount the wheels properly
- Place the ESP32 securely on chassis
- Connect motors to L298N
- Connect ESP32 pins to L298N
- Connect battery to motor driver
- Ensure all wires are tight and secure
🧠 Important Concepts
🔹 Common Ground
All components must share the same ground for proper signal flow.
🔹 Power Separation
Motors use higher power; ESP32 uses low voltage — improper connection can damage the board.
⚠️ Safety Precautions
- Do not connect battery directly to ESP32 3.3V pin
- Double-check wiring before powering ON
- Avoid loose connections
- Ensure correct polarity of battery
❌ Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Problem |
|---|---|
| Wrong pin connections | Robot will not move |
| No common ground | Signals won’t work |
| Loose wires | Intermittent movement |
| Overvoltage to ESP32 | Board damage |
🧪 Practical Activity
- Complete full wiring of the robot
- Verify all connections
- Power ON and check if ESP32 LED turns ON
📝 Lesson Summary
In this lesson, students learned how to assemble the robot and connect all hardware components properly. They also understood the role of the motor driver and the importance of correct wiring and power management.
📌 Practice Task
- Draw the circuit diagram in your notebook
- Label all connections clearly
- Explain the role of each component