Wireless Robotic Navigation via IoT-Enabled Wi-Fi Communication

Abstract

With the rapid convergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) and embedded robotics, Wi-Fi-driven mobile platforms have emerged as practical solutions for remote sensing, navigation, and automation. This paper presents the conceptual framework, hardware architecture, software design, and performance evaluation of a Wi-Fi-controlled robotic system built around an ESP8266/ESP32 microcontroller. The platform communicates with a user device-smartphone, tablet, or laptop-via TCP/IP over a local wireless network, enabling low-latency directional control and optional live data streaming. Compared with earlier radio-frequency (RF) or infrared (IR) paradigms, the proposed system achieves superior operating range, bandwidth, and expandability. Experimental outcomes confirm consistent command execution and stable wireless connectivity under typical indoor conditions. Potential deployment scenarios include surveillance, industrial inspection, search-and-rescue operations, and smart-home automation. The work underscores how consumer-grade Wi-Fi chipsets and open-source microcontroller frameworks can lower the barrier to building capable, network-aware robotic systems.