Your challenge is to turn a colorful G-Lab Bot chassis into a working Bluetooth-controlled robot powered by an ESP32. You will assemble the hardware, create safe power rails, upload a sketch, and drive with the Dabble Gamepad.
Built for the brilliant African American and Hispanic young engineers of Imani Genius Lab.
Meet the G-Lab Bot — this is what you will build.
YOUR MISSION
From Parts Rack to Bluetooth Bot
Engineering is teamwork. You will make many of the connections yourself, while a Genius Lab Tech Leader assists with the Heat Station, battery tests, electrical checks, and troubleshooting.
01
Choose
Select your G-Lab Bot color and collect every component with a Tech Leader.
02
Assemble
Install the switch, battery holder, breadboard, caster, motors, and L298N Motor Driver.
03
Wire & Test
Create 7.4V, ground, and 5V rails; connect the ESP32; and verify the circuit safely.
04
Code & Drive
Prepare Arduino IDE, upload the sketch, connect Dabble, and take control.
Tech Leader Checkpoints: Heat Station work, temporary battery installation, voltage measurements, final circuit test, and upload troubleshooting.
THE BOT'S BRAIN
Meet the ESP32 Microcontroller
A microcontroller is a tiny programmable computer. The ESP32 reads your commands, runs the sketch, and sends control signals to the L298N Motor Driver.
Bluetooth built in — the Dabble App communicates directly with your Bot without a separate Bluetooth module.
Wi-Fi built in — future projects can connect to networks, online services, and other smart devices.
Programmable GPIO pins — pins 25, 26, 27, 14, 32, and 33 will control motor direction and speed.
Fast dual-core processor — powerful enough to handle wireless communication and real-time motor control.
Arduino IDE compatible — connect a USB data cable, choose the correct COM port, and upload your sketch.
ESP32 Development Board — handle it by the edges.
Wi-FiBluetoothGPIOUSB Programmable
CHOOSE YOUR BOT
Pick a Color That Feels Like You
Select one available G-Lab Bot chassis. Ask a Tech Leader which colors are ready at the storage rack.
Gold
Red
Cyan
Green
Orange
Purple
Pink
White
STORAGE RACK CHECKLIST
Collect Parts with a Genius Lab Tech Leader
Bring your selected chassis to the rack. Check off each item before assembly and handle every electronic component with care.
×1
Power Switch
Master ON/OFF control installed in the rear slot of the Bot.
×2
TT Gear Motors
Slide into the designated motor slots and drive the two wheels.
×1
Mini Breadboard
Distributes 7.4V, 5V, and ground without soldering.
×1
18650 Battery Holder
Holds two 3.7V cells in series for approximately 7.4V.
×1
L298N Motor Driver
Directs battery power to both motors under ESP32 control.
×1
Wheel Caster
Supports and balances the front or rear of the two-wheel Bot.
Also collect:Jumper wiresMale-to-Male DupontFemale-to-Female DupontMale-to-Female Dupont2 M3 screwsUSB data cable
CABLE GUIDE
Know Your Dupont Cables
“Male” means a metal pin sticks out. “Female” means the end has a socket. Match the connector to the component.
▶
▶
Male ↔ Male
Male-to-Male
Metal pins on both ends. Use for breadboard-to-breadboard connections and for the battery ground lead prepared at the Heat Station.
Pin + wire + pin
◀
◀
Female ↔ Female
Female-to-Female
Sockets on both ends. Use when both components already have exposed pins, such as ESP32 GPIO headers and L298N control pins.
Socket + wire + socket
▶
◀
Male ↔ Female
Male-to-Female
A pin on one end and a socket on the other. Use when connecting a breadboard hole to a component header pin.
Pin + wire + socket
Keep wires organized by destination and never force a connector.
ASSEMBLY · STEPS 1–13
Build the Hardware
Follow the steps in order. Stop at every Tech Leader checkpoint. Never insert, remove, or change wiring while batteries are installed.
Safety first: Only a Tech Leader operates the Heat Station and temporarily installs batteries for testing. Keep batteries out of the holder during all other wiring.
1
Chassis
Install the switch
Attach the power switch securely in the designated slot at the back of the G-Lab Bot.
2
Tech Leader · Heat Station
Prepare the battery leads
Bring the Bot and battery holder to the Heat Station. A Tech Leader will connect the battery holder's positive lead to the switch and connect the ground lead to a male Dupont wire. The Tech Leader will secure both connections with heat-shrink tubing.
Do not operate the Heat Station yourself.
3
Mount
Secure the battery holder
After the Heat Station connections are complete and cool, glue the 18650 battery holder into its designated location on the Bot.
4
Tech Leader Check
Test the switch and 7.4V circuit
A Tech Leader will temporarily install two 18650 batteries. Test that the switch turns the circuit on and off, then use a multimeter to verify approximately 7.4V from the circuit. The Tech Leader removes the batteries after the test.
5
Mount
Attach the mini breadboard
Peel the protective backing from the breadboard and press it firmly into the designated place on the Bot. Its adhesive backing holds it in place—no glue is needed.
6
Power Rails
Establish 7.4V and ground rails
Follow the Establishing Rails illustration. Connect the switched positive lead to the positive rail and the battery ground male Dupont wire to the ground rail. Then route 7.4V and ground from those rails to the L298N Motor Driver.
Once rails are established, power can be routed wherever it is needed. Future add-ons—such as LED headlights and tail lights—can receive a suitable voltage through additional regulation or driver circuitry.
Establishing Rails: red labels show positive 7.4V; black labels show ground.
7
Drive System
Attach both TT Gear Motors
Slide the two TT Gear Motors into their designated slots. If needed, add only a small spot of glue to tighten the fit. Install the wheel caster in its designated mounting location so the Bot rolls and balances smoothly.
8
Mount
Attach the L298N Motor Driver
Use two M3 screws to mount the L298N Motor Driver. Add one small drop of glue in each mounting hole only if needed to secure the fit.
9
L298N Wiring
Connect motors and main power
Wire the two motors, 7.4V input, ground input, and 5V output exactly as shown in the L298N illustration. Tighten screw terminals gently but firmly, then tug each wire lightly to confirm it is secure.
L298N Motor Driver wiring: both motors on the output terminals, 7.4V and ground from the breadboard, and 5V back to the breadboard.
10
5V Rail
Create the breadboard 5V rail
Connect the 5V output from the L298N Motor Driver to a second breadboard rail, as shown. This rail will power the ESP32. Keep it separate from the 7.4V rail.
5V Rail: L298N 5V output enters the rail and is routed to the ESP32 5V pin.
11
ESP32 Signal Wiring
Connect the L298N control pins to the ESP32
Ask a Tech Leader if you need help. Use the exact pin map below.
IN1→GPIO 25
IN2→GPIO 26
IN3→GPIO 27
IN4→GPIO 14
ENA→GPIO 32
ENB→GPIO 33
IN1–IN4 control motor direction.
ENA and ENB control motor speed using PWM.
12
ESP32 Power
Connect 5V and ground to the ESP32
Connect the breadboard's 5V rail to the ESP32 5V pin. Then connect the breadboard's ground rail to an ESP32 GND pin. The ESP32 and L298N must share the same ground reference.
13
Tech Leader Final Circuit Test
Look for two red power lights
A Tech Leader will temporarily install the batteries and switch on the circuit. If everything is correct, you should see a red power light on both the L298N Motor Driver and the ESP32.
After the test, switch off and remove the batteries. You do not need them while uploading the sketch—the ESP32 receives power through the connected USB data cable.
Do not continue if either light is missing. Switch off, remove the batteries, and troubleshoot with a Tech Leader.
PROGRAM · STEPS 14–18
Give Your Bot a Brain
A sketch is an Arduino program: a set of instructions that tells the ESP32 how to communicate with Dabble and control the motors.
14
Arduino IDE
Connect the ESP32 and remember the COM port
Open the Arduino IDE. Insert the USB data cable into the ESP32 and the computer. Go to Tools → Port, select the connected COM port, and remember that port number for uploading.
A charge-only USB cable will power the board but cannot upload code. Use a USB data cable.
15
Required Dabble Setup
Install the compatible ESP32 Core and DabbleESP32 library
This workshop's Dabble sketch requires the ESP32 Arduino Core version shown below.
A · ESP32 CORE
Arduino IDE → Tools → Board → Boards Manager
Search ESP32 by Espressif Systems
Select version 2.0.17 and install
If necessary, remove a newer version first
B · DABBLE LIBRARY
Sketch → Include Library → Manage Libraries
Search DabbleESP32
Install the library by Dabble
16
Genius Portal
Copy the Bluetooth Controlled G-Lab Bot sketch
Log in to the Genius Portal using the password provided by your Tech Leaders. Open the Genius Lab Sketch Library, then select the Bluetooth Controlled G-Lab Bot link.
A sketch is the complete program the Arduino IDE compiles and uploads to the ESP32. Copy all of the code from the Sketch Library and paste it into a new Arduino IDE sketch. Replace any starter text so the sketch contains the complete G-Lab Bot code.
17
Unique Bluetooth Name
Add your initials to the Bot's Bluetooth identity
Review the sketch and make sure it matches the Sketch Library. Then find the line near line 132:
BEFOREDabble.begin("ESP32_Vehicle");
EXAMPLE — INITIALS JRADabble.begin("ESP32_VehicleJRA");
Add your own initials immediately after Vehicle, inside the quotation marks. This creates a unique Bluetooth name and prevents conflicts with other Bots.
18
Upload & Troubleshoot
Upload the sketch
Double-check the selected board and remembered COM port, then click Upload. Wait for the IDE to finish compiling and uploading. If an error appears, read the message and troubleshoot with a Tech Leader—check the data cable, board selection, COM port, library, and ESP32 Core version.
Success signal: Arduino IDE reports that the upload is complete without errors.
DRIVE · STEPS 19–20
Connect, Drive, Then Invent
Your Bot has hardware, power, and code. Now connect your phone or tablet and bring it to life.
19
Connect with the Dabble Gamepad
Disconnect the USB cable.
Carefully install two 18650 batteries with correct polarity.
Switch on the G-Lab Bot.
Open the Dabble App on your phone or tablet.
Select Gamepad.
Tap the connect icon in the upper-right corner.
Select your uniquely named ESP32_Vehicle + initials.
Use the Gamepad to drive—and have fun!
20
Start Modifying Your Bot
The basic G-Lab Bot is only the beginning. Your established rails let you route power to carefully designed add-ons.
MODIFICATION 01 IS READYHeadlights + Tail Lights
Add two white headlights with the Mod5 attachment and two red tail lights using separate 5V and 3.3V positive rails, four 100 Ω resistors, and a shared ground.
