AutobotA view that moves.
The OV5640 camera sits above the chassis. Pan and tilt change where it looks, so you can adjust your view from the workspace without turning the whole robot.
Z Autobot / Z2 / the first chapter
Every part has a purpose.
A system that senses, decides, and moves.
ONBOARD SAFETY / TRACKED MOVEMENT / ONE WORKSPACE
Camera + servoLive view · pan + tilt
Controller + sensorsESP32-S3 · local safety
Tracked chassisTwo motors · bounded movement
Z2 / BUILT FOR PRESENCE
Every connection starts with a physical part.
A lens, a microphone, a speaker. A small display with something to say.
The OV5640 camera sits above the chassis. Pan and tilt change where it looks, so you can adjust your view from the workspace without turning the whole robot.
The microphone picks up the room for listening. The amplified speaker plays the voice messages you send. Sound travels between your workspace and the space around Z2.
The onboard display gives Z2 its face. A screen message takes its place for a moment, then the eyes return. A light ring and traffic signal communicate the robot’s state.
01 / READ THE ROOM
A sonar looks ahead. Three distance sensors watch nearby space. Front and rear floor sensors check for missing floor. Together, they give the controller a view of the immediate surroundings.
Sensors have limits. Keep Z2 supervised and inspect the local diagnostics when a direction is blocked.
02 / KEEP THE REFLEXES CLOSE
The ESP32-S3 reads the sensors and handles movement locally. Adaptive roaming adjusts to the available space; obstacle and floor checks can stop or pause motion. The browser asks. The controller decides what can happen.
ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N16R8 · Detailed readings are available on the local page.
03 / PUT THE DECISION IN MOTION
A motor driver translates the controller’s decision into left and right motor output. Independent tracks let Z2 move forward, reverse and turn. Its compact chassis brings the whole system into the room.
04 / MAKE THE STATE UNDERSTANDABLE
The display communicates expressions and setup information. A light ring responds to ambient light, while the traffic signal reflects safety state. Send a short text message to the display, or a recorded voice message to the speaker. The microphone brings the sound around Z2 into the experience.
05 / THE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE
Readings become decisions. Decisions become movement.
Safety stays in the loop, close to the hardware.
Regulated power supports the motor driver and peripherals. A 3.3 V supply serves the controller’s sensors and display. Each part gets the supply it needs.
The ESP32-CAM carries an OV5640 camera and pan/tilt hardware. It shares the robot identity in the workspace while keeping its own firmware and connection.
Open live view in the workspace, position the camera with pan and tilt, and save photos or recordings to your device. Keep both boards connected and their firmware current.
AI-Thinker ESP32-CAM / OV5640 / PAN + TILTZ2 / GOOD TO KNOW
Z2 brings live camera viewing, recorded voice messages, text on its display, manual control and auto driving into one workspace. Onboard obstacle and floor checks support movement; local diagnostics and Wi-Fi firmware updates help keep it ready.
The ESP32-S3 controller handles movement, local safety, sensors and outputs. A separate ESP32-CAM board carries the camera and positioning hardware. The workspace presents them as one robot, while firmware and connectivity remain independent.
Obstacle and floor checks run on the controller. The cloud sends commands and shows operating state; local firmware handles the immediate movement and safety decisions. Keep the robot supervised and use it in a suitable environment.