ESP32-S3 Gesture Controlled Robot Kit with ESP32 + Sensor
Build a 6-Gesture AI Glove Controlled Robot with ESP32-S3 and On-Device TFLite
Every part needed, pre-tested for compatibility, with an AI build companion trained on this exact project. Shipped from Bengaluru in 3-5 days.
Control a 4WD robot with natural hand gestures — no joysticks, no push buttons. A glove fitted with the APDS9960 sensor reads up/down/left/right/push/pull movements. Those signals stream over BLE to an ESP32-S3 on the rover, where a TensorFlow Lite model classifies the gesture and drives four TT gear motors through an L298N driver, all in real time. It’s a compact, self-contained system that demonstrates on-device machine learning and wireless control in one integrated build.
What You'll Build
You’ll assemble a wearable sensor glove on a PCB prototype board, pairing it with a 4WD chassis that responds instantly to six distinct gestures. The ESP32-S3 Dev Board runs inference locally — no cloud, no phone app — so the robot remains responsive even without a Wi‑Fi network. The finished system is a show-ready prototype for college expos, Smart India Hackathon demos, or robotics club showcases.
What You'll Learn
- Soldering APDS9960, resistors, and capacitors onto a proto‑board to build a reliable gesture sensor glove
- Configuring ESP32‑S3 BLE services and characteristics for low‑latency gesture data transmission
- Training a TensorFlow Lite multiclass classifier using gesture luminance and proximity patterns
- Integrating L298N dual H‑bridge with four TT gear motors on a balanced 4WD chassis
- Managing power with 18650 Li‑ion cells, LM2596 buck regulation, and decoupling techniques
Kit Contents
| Component | Quantity |
|---|---|
| ESP32-S3 Dev Board | 1 |
| APDS9960 Gesture Sensor | 1 |
| L298N Driver | 1 |
| TT Gear Motor | 4 |
| 4WD Chassis | 1 |
| 18650 Cell | 2 |
| 18650 Holder | 1 |
| LM2596 Buck Converter | 1 |
| 4.7kΩ Resistors | 5 |
| 100nF Caps | 10 |
| PCB Prototype Board | 2 |
| Velcro Glove | 1 |
| Soldering Iron | 1 |
| Solder Wire | 1 |
Why Buy This Kit Instead of Sourcing Parts Separately
| Factor | Sourcing Separately | Compoden Kit |
|---|---|---|
| Compatibility checks | You verify every part | Pre-tested as a system |
| Build support | Forums and scattered tutorials | AI companion trained on this exact project |
| Time to first working build | Days of debugging | Hours, with step-by-step guidance |
| Shipping coordination | Multiple sellers, multiple delays | One shipment from Bengaluru in 3-5 days |
Who This Kit Is For
This advanced kit is built for B.Tech ECE/EEE students tackling capstone projects, Smart India Hackathon prototypes, or e‑Yantra robotics challenges. It also fits ATL Tinkering Lab mentors running college‑level AI‑robotics workshops, and engineering enthusiasts who want to go beyond basic Arduino builds into embedded ML and BLE. If you’ve worked with ESP32 before and are comfortable soldering, the provided AI companion will handle the TFLite and BLE heavy lifting.
Built and Backed by Compoden
Every Compoden kit ships with an AI build companion trained on this exact project — accessible via a QR code on the box, with WhatsApp and email backup. We've spent 10 years building projects for makers, schools, and institutions across India. If a part fails because of a manufacturing defect, replace it free within 7 days.
What if I get stuck during the build?
Scan the QR code on the box to open the AI build companion trained on this gesture robot. It can debug wiring, code, and even BLE connection issues in real time. You can also send photos over WhatsApp for human help.
Does the glove require sewing or complex assembly?
No sewing needed. The APDS9960 sensor, resistors, and caps are soldered onto the included PCB prototype boards and attached to the velcro glove with simple slots. You’ll have a working sensor glove in about an hour.
Can I extend the gesture set beyond the six provided?
Absolutely. The TFLite model is trained on six default gestures, but the AI companion shows you how to collect new gesture data and retrain a custom model. You can map any hand pattern to motor commands.
Do I need prior experience with BLE or TensorFlow Lite?
Some experience with ESP32 programming in Arduino IDE is helpful, but not mandatory. The AI companion walks you through every BLE profile and TFLite conversion step with commented code and wiring diagrams.
APDS9960 glove detects 6 gestures. ESP32-S3 TFLite classifies and drives 4WD chassis via L298N over BLE.
What's in this kit
Choose your assembly option:
- Soldering Kit — 25W soldering iron, 60/40 solder wire, flux, and small perfboard for permanent assembly.
- Breadboard Combo — 800-point full-size breadboard with 65-piece jumper wire pack for solderless prototyping.
Shipping Information
- Prepaid Orders: ₹75 for orders up to ₹999, FREE shipping above ₹999
- COD Orders: ₹125 shipping + ₹50 COD fee = ₹175 total
- Delivery Timeline: Dispatch in 1-2 days, delivery in 2-7 days depending on location
Returns & Warranty
- 7-Day Return: Manufacturing defects only (approval required)
- Warranty: 7 days from delivery
- Non-Returnable: Batteries, consumables, cut wires, clearance items