Gesture-Controlled Robot - Electronic Engineering Guide
1. Introduction
A Gesture-Controlled Robot is a wireless robot that can be controlled using hand gestures. This system uses an accelerometer sensor to detect hand movements and sends corresponding commands to a microcontroller on the robot to move in the desired direction.
2. Objectives
• To design a robot that responds to human gestures.
• To use wireless communication for command transmission.
• To implement motor control based on gesture input.
• To demonstrate a hands-free control method for robotics.
3. Components Required
• Arduino Uno or Nano (2 units - Transmitter and Receiver)
• MPU6050 Accelerometer Sensor
• RF Transmitter and Receiver Module / nRF24L01
• Motor Driver Module (L298N or L293D)
• DC Motors and Robot Chassis
• Battery pack and connectors
• Jumper wires, breadboard or PCB
4. Working Principle
The MPU6050 detects tilt and acceleration in the X and Y axes. These readings are mapped to specific movements like forward, backward, left, and right. The sensor data is transmitted wirelessly to the robot, where a receiver Arduino processes the data and drives motors accordingly.
5. System Architecture
• Transmitter Unit: MPU6050 + Arduino + RF Transmitter
• Receiver Unit: RF Receiver + Arduino + Motor Driver + Motors
The transmitter captures hand motion data and sends signals wirelessly. The
receiver interprets these signals and activates the motors to move the robot.
6. Sensor Integration
The MPU6050 provides real-time acceleration and gyroscope readings. These are read using the I2C interface. Threshold values are used to determine movement direction (e.g., forward if Y-axis tilt > +X).
7. Motor Driver and Robot Chassis
The motor driver (L298N or L293D) is used to control the direction and speed of the robot's motors. The chassis includes wheels, DC motors, and battery housing, forming the robot base.
8. Microcontroller and Wireless Communication
The Arduino reads gesture input and transmits it using RF or nRF24L01 modules. At the receiver end, another Arduino decodes the signal and controls the motor driver to execute movements.
9. Circuit Diagram and Working
• Connect MPU6050 to Arduino's SDA/SCL pins (A4/A5 on Uno).
• Connect RF Transmitter to digital pins (TX) and power.
• Receiver Arduino receives signal and controls motor driver inputs (IN1-IN4).
• Power the system using 7.4V or 12V battery packs.
10. Software and Code Explanation
Transmitter Code Snippet (Arduino):
#include <Wire.h>
#include <MPU6050.h>
MPU6050 mpu;
void setup() {
Wire.begin();
mpu.initialize();
}
void loop() {
int x = mpu.getAccelerationX();
int y = mpu.getAccelerationY();
if (y > 10000) sendCommand('F');
else if (y < -10000)
sendCommand('B');
else if (x > 10000)
sendCommand('R');
else if (x < -10000)
sendCommand('L');
}
11. Applications
• Robotics and automation projects
• Assistive technology for disabled individuals
• Gaming and gesture-based control systems
• Educational kits for embedded systems
12. Challenges and Enhancements
• Sensitivity tuning of MPU6050 required.
• RF interference and range limitations.
• Improvements can include Bluetooth/Wi-Fi control, PID control for precision.
• Add obstacle detection with ultrasonic sensors.
13. Conclusion
A Gesture-Controlled Robot provides an intuitive and interactive way to control robotics systems. It serves as a great project to explore sensor integration, wireless communication, and embedded control.