Create your own App! Control an ESP32 (Arduino) via Bluetooth - Part 1

IMPORTANT UPDATE 30.09.2022: MIT App inventor updated the BluetoothClient without backward compatibility. As a result, the .aia file gave an error when loaded into MIT app inventor:
"A problem occurred while loading this project. No upgrade strategy exists for BluetoothClient from version 6 to 7".
I updated to the new BluetoothClient, but then I got the following error
It turned out that the code now needs to ask for permission to use Bluetooth. Both problems are now fixed on my Github page. Please download the source code from my Github page to see how this is done. The rest of the video with the communication to the ESP32 is still accurate:

Summary:
In this video I show you how to create your own Android App to control an ESP32 (Arduino platform) through Bluetooth (not suitable for IOS). Please make sure your ESP32 has Bluetooth to make this work. I used the ESP32-WROOM-32D. For creation of the app I use the MIT app inventor in combination with the MIT AI2 Companion. Note that this code will only work on Android. The reason is that BluetoothSerial does not work on an Iphone.

Source code on Github:

MIT App Inventor:

Might you have problems programming the ESP32, pls refer to:

Check out part 2 and 3 as well:
Part 2: Bi-directional communication (send info from ESP32 to phone

Part 3: How to make communication reliable

Have fun with the code and let me know in the comments below what application you are working on :-)

Correction:
09:33 NOTE that MIT App inventor updated the BluetoothClient without backward compatibility. As a result, the blocks will look slightly different in the current implementation. See the top of the comments of this video for more details.

[DavidSunshine]

Amazing!! Thank you for all the hard work you put into making these videos, I appreciate Part 1, 2 and 3. Very clear, concise, and very useful to all of us! Everyone should be using these videos to learn the basics and create awesome projects using the ESP32!

[oladunk]

Thank you very much for sharing this tutorial. I have struggled with some old examples with Bluetooth and Android Studio without success. Your example is much more easier than Java.

[altitude]

Wow! Thank you for posting this here. Worked so well after your great instructions and files. I used the onboard RGB led that was on my ESP32.

[drabodows]

Excellent video. Keep it up. I'd love to see more App Development with MIT App Inventor and ESP32. Thanks a lot.

[aofddofa]

u've no idea how much u helped me .. at least cutting few months in my studying to 1 h of your videos ! .. be blessed

[jeandeux]

Thank you so much for this tutorial! I look forward to viewing more of your content :D

[wimalmanage]

Thanks a lot. You have described every things very clearly. Highly appreciated.

[vepjylk]

Very professionel working through, Please keep posting. Thank you

[herbertpalines]

Thank you for the clear and helpful content! Keep it up!

[freesalt]

Wow thank you very much, you are a super educator. I want an app to control the speed and direction of my outdoor battery operated Locos, now i have to learn app inventor, should be a piece of cake. I will try your other videos first. Thank you again Mo

[qzorn]

this sounds so exciting... just found out about RemoteXY then came across this... let the show go begin... 😊 thanks. esp32 with onboard oled and bluetooth android-phone

[timberhoff]

Duuuude!!! This is the content that we want!!

[boultifnidhal]

That was really helpful thank you so much♥

[robertsteel]

Thank You for helping GreatScott! with his latest video!

[attariazeddine]

Excellente présentation...Merci beaucoup

[rodneysmith]

Good video, new subscriber here. I might suggest for the 1/2 of the world that uses the iPhone, an "Not for IOS warning" could be helpful. Good video though, informative and direct while still being simple in nature.

[inigovillar]

Hello mo_thunderz, thank you very much for the tutorial but I have followed all your steps and I cannot connect with the esp32, it is synchronized because the esp32_Control of the android mobile disappears from the screen but it does not mark the status and nothing is seen through the serial port of arduino ide, if you could help me thank you very much for your time.

[mustafaosman]

Hello, thank you for the content, only question I had is if the whole process can be applied for the ESP32 that uses WiFi instead of bluetooth?

[bennguyen]

Any thoughts what would be involved in writing an ESP32 application, that takes data from the uart, and passes it wirelessly either via bluetooth** (SPP) or via Wifi? One way communication is fine for now (RS232->ESP32->BT/Wifi - - - - > Mobile/PC)

For Wifi, I imagine the ESP32 could act as a web server (TCP) and display the RS232 data, but maybe there's also a UDP way of sending the data to a PC on the same network? If the receiving application (mobile or PC) is written with the flutter framework, it could display the RS232 data with style!


**I purchase some USB-bluetooth dongles (Feasycom BP102, HC-05/HC-06/CP2102 master modules, etc).. but none can connect to any android phone! For example, when a Samsung S5 tries to connect to one of the bluetooth dongles, it will stop blinking, but after a couple seconds, Android says 'Can't communicate with the FSC_BP102' or HC-05, or HC06, etc.

[Nordwelt]

Great Tutorial! I just want to figure out, wther to use the BT-Client or the Server for my similar project. Now I got a good insight into this theme. I also like the Room: It looks like my studio, Ive got exactly the same Strat Sunburst hanging on the Wall \O/ TNX.