A good 2.5 inch RC car is 30 bucks on AliExpress now, A standalone 5.8 GHz analog camera is 25 bucks.
Just for those that may be more interested in the outcome than just a fun project to do
Show HN: ESP32 RC Cars
31–40 of 66 posts
Re: Show HN: ESP32 RC Cars
#32The big issue with FPV, and the reason it stayed on analog tech for so long is because of latency. How is the latency for this project?
Hi, thanks for checking out the project. I don't really have anything to gauge by like experience with FPV drones but latency hasn't been an issue on my wireless network even with all the other household devices connected. I think the frame rate is mostly limited by how quickly the esp32 can capture images. In my python script I measure FPS and was receiving about 50 fps from the esp32s. I recently bought a travel router that I want to try it with outside the house.
Re: Show HN: ESP32 RC Cars
#33What are the battery requirements for such feed combo (RC + FPV + servo)? From experience, how does this translate to play time?
I've never tried running for a really long time but when I was doing testing I would not recharged the batteries for days. I would say an easy 15 to 30 minute. But like I say, I'e never tested. Now I think I will. Thanks
Re: Show HN: ESP32 RC Cars
#34What is the approximate price of the car components?
Hi, I update the README with the components:
Hi, thanks for the feedback. I have updated the README with the materials I used:
I bought everything for this kit from aliexpress:
Car chassis: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32830665408.html Electronic speed control: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007716682815.html Battery holder: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006283625827.html 2 18650 3.6v cells or 7.4v battery pack (I have used both, cells are more flexible for other projects) ESP32-CAM: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001468076374.html (Very important to get one with external antenna and and I used the 170 degree fisheye camera) Bluetooth Gamepad (I used a PS4 controller)
Re: Show HN: ESP32 RC Cars
#35before you get a ESP32 CAM (I love em) consider one with an external antenna it may be wise to read this https://www.reddit.com/r/esp32/comments/r7kqtt/esp32cam_supe... I got fairly bad frame rate until I tried some of the advise
Yes, from my experience with this project the external antenna is a must. I've update the README with a link to the one I used.
Re: Show HN: ESP32 RC Cars
#36Thanks everyone for the feedback on the project. I hope to keep it going and would love to see some PRs.
Just one last thing, if you like the project, the coolest thing you can do for me is let anyone you know looking for a remote developer to hit me up. I am a Ruby-on-Rails developer at heart but would also consider robotics gigs. Thanks!
Re: Show HN: ESP32 RC Cars
#37It would be quite nice to add a 4G module, allowing you to drive around the city (:
Re: Show HN: ESP32 RC Cars
#38Earlier quoted context omitted.
FPV today is largely using ExpressLRS[0], an open protocol for running FPV quads' control links (also using esp32 usually) Video for FPV quads on the other hand is divided: some use analog (mostly because when you lose signal, it's a gradual loss rather than complete loss + a reconnection process), while others use 802.11-based communication which is actually quite competitive. Walksnail Goggles for example use 802.1…
Walksnail is not 802.11 based. If anything it is loosely 802.16 based. Likewise DJI OcuSync is more like LTE than anything else. 802.11 is not a good fit for FPV video and trying to use it has held non-proprietary-Chinese video systems back quite a lot.
You mean like OpenHD? What other options do they have while still being able to use COTS hardware?
Re: Show HN: ESP32 RC Cars
#39before you get a ESP32 CAM (I love em) consider one with an external antenna it may be wise to read this https://www.reddit.com/r/esp32/comments/r7kqtt/esp32cam_supe... I got fairly bad frame rate until I tried some of the advise
Can you recommend an exact model?
Re: Show HN: ESP32 RC Cars
#40The big issue with FPV, and the reason it stayed on analog tech for so long is because of latency. How is the latency for this project?
FPV today is largely using ExpressLRS[0], an open protocol for running FPV quads' control links (also using esp32 usually) Video for FPV quads on the other hand is divided: some use analog (mostly because when you lose signal, it's a gradual loss rather than complete loss + a reconnection process), while others use 802.11-based communication which is actually quite competitive. Walksnail Goggles for example use 802.1…
I think graceless degradation isn't an inherent property of digital radio. You definitely could have some kind of digital modulation that takes advantage of FEC etc. but gracefully degrades.
I'm sure it exists, there probably just not much market for it.