Smart Car Washing System Using Edge Impulse for Object Detection

The Smart Car Washing System operates by combining edge artificial intelligence, microcontroller processing, and electromechanical actuation to clean a toy car safely and efficiently. At the core of the perception system is an ESP32-CAM module running an object detection model built with Edge Impulse. This camera module captures visual input of the washing zone and analyzes it locally at the edge to detect the presence of humans or objects. The ESP32-CAM interfaces with an Arduino UNO R4 WiFi, which serves as the central logic controller for coordinating the system hardware. When a wash cycle is triggered, the Arduino uses an A4988 stepper motor driver to precisely control a NEMA17 stepper motor coupled with an 8mm lead screw and two 8mm stainless steel rods. This mechanical gantry system moves the adjustable spray nozzles along the washing zone. Simultaneously, the Arduino triggers a 5V relay module to switch on the 12V DC water pump, drawing water through the 6mm pipes to spray the vehicle via the connected nozzles. The system boundaries and homing positions are tracked using two micro limit switches, while 5mm LEDs provide visual status indicators and 220-ohm resistors protect the circuitry. For operational safety, if the ESP32-CAM's Edge Impulse model detects an unauthorized human entering the washing zone, the system immediately halts mechanical movement and sounds an alarm via a buzzer. Electrical isolation between the low-voltage control logic and higher-voltage or inductive components is maintained using PC817 optocouplers. The entire assembly is powered by an SMPS (Switched-Mode Power Supply) and constructed on a durable 10mm fiberglass base.