Design and Implementation of a Low-Cost Autonomous Surveillance Robot Using ESP32-CAM with Real-Time Object Detection

• Author(s): Dr. Madumere Smart Onyemaechi; Ihim Kingsley
• Paper ID: 1718151
• Page: 3015-3018
• Published Date: 30-01-2026
• Published In: Iconic Research And Engineering Journals
• Publisher: IRE Journals
• e-ISSN: 2456-8880
• Volume/Issue: Volume 9 Issue 7 January-2026

Abstract

The high cost and complexity of commercial robotics platforms limit accessibility for education and rapid prototyping in developing regions. This paper presents the design, construction, and evaluation of a low-cost autonomous surveillance robot built around the ESP32-CAM module. The system integrates a dual-core ESP32 microcontroller with an OV2640 camera, L298N motor driver, ultrasonic sensor, and Wi-Fi for remote monitoring and control. The robot streams 1600x1200 MJPEG video at 10 fps over Wi-Fi while performing real-time color-based object detection using OpenCV on a remote server. Experimental results show the prototype achieves 87% navigation accuracy in indoor environments, operates for 2.3 hours on a 2000mAh Li-ion battery, and costs under $35. The design demonstrates that ESP32-CAM can serve as a viable platform for creative robotics education, IoT surveillance, and STEM outreach where budget constraints exist.

Keywords

ESP32-CAM, Robotics, IoT, Surveillance, Low-Cost Hardware, Embedded Vision, Autonomous Navigation

Citations

IRE Journals:
Dr. Madumere Smart Onyemaechi, Ihim Kingsley "Design and Implementation of a Low-Cost Autonomous Surveillance Robot Using ESP32-CAM with Real-Time Object Detection" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 9 Issue 7 2026 Page 3015-3018

IEEE:
Dr. Madumere Smart Onyemaechi, Ihim Kingsley "Design and Implementation of a Low-Cost Autonomous Surveillance Robot Using ESP32-CAM with Real-Time Object Detection" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 9(7)