New Book: The ESP32 Robot Car Project is Here!
I’m thrilled to announce that my latest book, “The ESP32 Robot Car Project,” is now available! Dive into the fascinating world of microcontrollers and robotics and build your own autonomous robot car step-by-step, based on the powerful ESP32.
This book is aimed at both beginners and advanced makers, offering detailed instructions, practical circuit diagrams, and easy-to-understand code examples. Furthermore, it is the first book of its kind to include a comprehensive prompt school. I’ll show you how to effectively use AI assistants for code generation and problem-solving to implement your projects even faster and more efficiently. Learn everything about programming the ESP32 with the Arduino IDE, controlling motors, using sensors, and implementing exciting features like obstacle detection and line following.
What can you expect in this book?
- ESP32 Fundamentals: A comprehensive introduction to the microcontroller and its applications.
- Step-by-Step Instructions: From hardware setup to software programming – everything explained in detail.
- Practical Applications: Build a fully functional robot car with various operating modes.
- Comprehensive Code Examples: Easy-to-understand and customizable example codes for all functions, supplemented by a prompt school for the effective use of AI assistants in coding.
- Troubleshooting and Tips: Help with common problems and additional recommendations for your projects.
Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of electronics and programming or want to deepen your knowledge – “The ESP32 Robot Car Project” is your ideal companion.
Donkey Car – Jetson Nano
I have been working with autonomous robot cars for some time now. Since I started using the Donkey Car framework, my model cars now drive truly autonomously with few errors. My Donkey Cars got a real boost when I switched from the Raspberry Pi to the Jetson Nano. Now I have a lot of computing power and can even train the neural network directly in the model car. This naturally simplifies usage considerably and saves a lot of time and costs with AWS & Co.
Here is a picture of the Donkey Cars I built based on the Jetson Nano. The red and yellow Donkey Cars are my own, and I built the four black ones for my employer and for training sessions we hold there.
Robot Car Competition
Date: 17.02.2018
From mid-November to the end of January, I organized a robot car competition with 25 teams at the BMW Group. The competition was accompanied by a series of events explaining the basics of the PiCar-S and its programming. The teams consisted of 3 to 6 participants who independently built and programmed the cars. The competition was based on the well-known PiWars. Each robot car, a PiCar-S from SunFounder, also used a Raspberry Pi with a camera.

BMW GROUP ROBOT Car Competition (Source: LinkedIn)
SunFounder Robot Kit Smart Video Car
Date: 12.08.2017
At the beginning of August, I bought and built the SunFounder Robot Kit for a Smart Video Car. I have to say, the kit was a lot of fun, and everything worked very well.
Artikel Übersicht SunFounder Roboter Auto-Bausatz:
SunFounder Roboterbausatz – Smart Video Car für Raspberry PiSunFounder Roboterbausatz – Smart Video Car Zusammenbau
SunFounder Roboterbausatz – Smart Video Car Verkabelung
SunFounder Roboterbausatz – Smart Video Car Software Installation
SunFounder Roboterbausatz – Smart Video Car Steuerprogramm
SunFounder Roboterbausatz – Smart Video Car Raspberry Pi Kamera Modul
Controlling Model Cars with Your Own Phone!?
Date: 18.12.2016
In Vienna, at the AHS Bildungszentrum Kenyongasse. Mater Salvatoris, I had the pleasure of building small robot cars based on a Raspberry Pi with children from a 4th grade class. The children had already prepared the chassis for the robot car and the motor wiring for our small workshop. So, we assembled the electronics together, and after 3 hours, we were able to remotely control the small cars around the school building.
It was a great pleasure for me to introduce the students to the topic of robotics.
The report can be found on the school’s website here: Controlling Model Cars with Your Own Phone!?
Raspberry Pi Magazine Issue 59 – Differential GPS Article
Date: 29.06.2016
In the current issue 59 of Raspberry Pi Magazine, there is an article about my differential GPS solution. So, if you’re interested, simply download the PDF and read it on pages 32/33.
MagPi 59: MagPi59
Kids Robot
Date: 15.06.2016
Since mid-June, I’ve been working on a children’s robot. I had the idea in my head for a long time but never had the time to start implementing it. For a few weeks now, I’ve been working on the robot’s body and functions. It should have movable arms and a movable head, as well as speakers and a Raspberry Pi Touch-Screen.
You can find out more about the children’s robot here: Raspberry Pi Children’s Robot – Introduction
Custom Build Robots on GitHub
Date: 04.06.2017
Since May, I have been working on filling the GitHub repository I created for my website Custom-Build-Robots.com with content. A variety of Python programs for the Raspberry Pi have already been uploaded by me. So, if you want to stay informed about the latest ideas and projects, you can do so at the following URL on GitHub.
GitHub Custom-Build-Robots: https://github.com/custom-build-robots
Make-Munich – Rheinwerk Verlag
Date: 07.05.2017
On the weekend of May 6th to May 7th, the Maker Faire Make-Munich will take place in Munich. Rheinwerk Verlag has its own booth at the fair and presents its books that have a thematic connection to the Maker scene. I myself was also at the booth and answered questions about my book and the Raspberry Pi robot cars.
Make-Munich talks Maker-Stage
Robot Cars with the Raspberry Pi
This talk explains how to build a robot car with a Raspberry Pi computer. The different chassis types that any maker can build themselves will be briefly presented. Then, the hardware and software will be explained in their essential components. Special attention will be paid to live video streaming and GPS navigation of the robot. The presentation will conclude with an outlook on the many possibilities a Raspberry Pi offers.
Ingmar Stapel
Rheinwerk Verlag
Saturday, May 6th, 4:30 PM
Plan, build, program
Date: 20.03.2017
For all interested in my book “Robot Cars with the Raspberry Pi“. My book is now available in print together with the e-book edition in a practical bundle. The bundle is available at the following link on the Rheinwerk Verlag website.
The RasPi learns to drive! And you are its teacher …
Raspberry Pi robot Big Rob Peak Power Pack
Date: 16.03.2017
Today I got the Victron Energy Peak Power Pack with 384 Wh, 12V and 30 Ah. That should be enough energy for my bot!
Raspberry Pi robot Big Rob with differential GPS navigation
Date: 11.03.2016
This is my Raspberry Pi robot Big Rob which navigates via differential GPS very precise.
Adafruit
Date: 03.03.2016
Adafruit published my RasPiGNSS GPS precise positioning HowTo guide on your Adafruit blog.
Webpage: Precise GPS GNSS positioning with a Raspberry Pi and the RTKLIB
Vienna
Date:18.10.2016
I did a workshop with children from an eighth grade. We assembled the robots and drove around in the school.
Webpage: Mr. Professor! Can’t we build a remote-controlled car for once?
Book – Robot Cars with the Raspberry Pi
Date: 26.09.2016
Now my book is published and available.
Webpage: Robot Cars with the Raspberry Pi Plan, build, program
Make-Munich
This is my booth at the Make Munich January 2016.
Webpage: Make Munich


























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