Implementation of Network Crane Machine using ESP32 and ESP32-CAM

Abstract

This Final Year Project (FYP) presents an implementation of a network crane machine based on ESP32 DevKitC V1 and ESP32-CAM modules. This approach transforms the traditional arcade claw machine game into online network crane machine game. Online crane machine start getting popular recently, however, the development of online crane machine is not widely been discussed from studies. Also, remote administration of machines is highly recognized in the Industry 4.0. This project is served as a mini model to demonstrate the potential of remote administration of machine using cutting-edge IoT microcontroller and served as a proposed prototype for building a commercial model for online crane machine. The designed system utilizes a commercial crane machine, a load cell with HX711 module, an ESP32 DevKitC V1 board, three ESP32-CAM modules and Wi-Fi network. The ESP32 microcontroller is wired with the motherboard of the crane machine and host a web server. The load cell sensor is placed inside the crane machine to define the success of prize acquirement via its reading and send the signal back to ESP32 through a HX711 module. The three ESP32-CAM modules are shored up by three-dimensional (3D) printed frame and used to provide three different angles of view for the crane machine users, the front view, side view and top view. The web page allows users to access and control the crane machine remotely using a browser in their smartphone or laptop. Before player entering the webpage and activating the machine, the ESP32-CAM modules are in sleeping mode which is ultra-low power consumption. The results also demonstrate the web server real-time operation of which effectively divided the control access and webcam access for the network crane machine system with low power consumption. This design approach demonstrates a possible way to transform a traditional arcade game into an e-commerce with low-cost IoT microcontrollers. It also demonstrates the potential of remote administration of machines which can be widely used in different fields, such as industrial, commercial or home applications.