How to Use BTS7960 Motor Driver with Arduino Uno

The IBT2 motor driver has current monitoring pins for optional current reading: Pins 5 and 6 are labeled R and S, which provide current output for the right side (forward direction). Pins 7 and 8 are labeled L and S, which provide current output for the left side (reverse direction). These pins can be connected to the Arduino for monitoring motor current and detecting overcurrent conditions.

The BTS 7960B incorporates multiple protection and monitoring features essential for safe motor control. The module supports PWM frequencies up to 25kHz, eliminating audible motor noise. The 74HC244 buffer chip provides critical functions: signal conditioning for clean PWM output, electrical isolation protecting the microcontroller from high motor currents, and logic level interpretation. Built-in protections include thermal shutdown (cuts power at dangerous temperatures), overvoltage protection (disables at >27V), and undervoltage protection. Current monitoring pins (R_S and L_S) allow real-time current measurement for diagnostic purposes. The enable pins provide emergency shutdown capability, crucial for safety-critical applications like children's ride-on vehicles.

The current sensing circuit uses a small resistor (0.85Ω) in series with the MOSFET drain. As current flows, a voltage drop develops across this resistor according to Ohm's Law. This voltage is fed to the IC's current sense pin, which monitors output current. When the sensed voltage exceeds the IC's internal threshold (typically 0.5V), overload protection triggers, stopping the switching operation. The IC then restarts the switching process once the load is removed, creating a continuous cycle of shutdown and restart until the overload condition is resolved.

Overcurrent protection uses the current-sense pin to detect excessive load current. The controller continuously monitors the voltage across the sense resistor. If this voltage exceeds approximately 1V (indicating more than the rated current), the controller immediately shuts down the MOSFET. This protection is triggered by connecting the 5V reference to the current-sense pin through a transistor (Q3). The transistor is normally off during normal operation but activates during fault conditions to force the controller into shutdown.

The BTS 7960 is a high-current H-bridge motor driver capable of driving motors up to 43 amps, compatible with Arduino and Raspberry Pi. It operates on 6-27V with 15A continuous and 43A peak current ratings. Unlike L293D/L298N, it uses dual PWM control with 25kHz frequency and includes built-in overvoltage, overtemperature, and short circuit protection. The module features separate control and output sections with clearly labeled pins for VCC, GND, PWM inputs, enable pins, and current sense outputs. The control logic follows: HIGH-LOW on PWM pins produces forward rotation, LOW-HIGH produces reverse, and LOW-LOW stops the motor. Both PWM pins HIGH creates short circuit risk. The LIS and RIS pins provide real-time current monitoring by mapping 0-43A motor current to 0-255 analog values (0.19V per amp at 5V reference).

This video demonstrates a compact 400W AGV differential drive wheel system featuring two motors, two wheels, and a dual-channel driver that controls both motors with one controller; the system has an overall height of only 160mm, wheel diameter of 150mm, maximum load capacity of 600kg, and includes encoder feedback for precise angle detection, with spring suspension for better ground adaptation and low noise operation around 15 decibels.

Heavy-duty Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) are specialized mobile robots designed for transporting large, heavy industrial components such as transformer parts in energy facilities. These AGVs feature omnidirectional movement capabilities that enable flexible navigation through narrow industrial spaces, and they operate through either wireless remote control or automatic mode with preset paths, enhancing both operational safety and efficiency in standardized transportation processes.

Heavy-duty Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) can safely transport loads up to 500 tons while integrating with automated stations and robots through automatic docking systems that connect safety signals, emergency stops, and light curtains. These systems feature elastic safety mechanisms in high-risk areas like tooling interfaces that immediately trigger emergency stops upon contact, preventing injuries while allowing quick resumption of operations.

Heavy-duty AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) platforms with 20-ton capacity each can be synchronized to transport oversized loads exceeding 30 meters in length and 40 tons in total weight, utilizing omni-directional wheels for full mobility and mechanical lifting systems instead of hydraulics, with control systems combining manual operation and automated vision-based navigation.

Heavy-duty autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are specialized industrial automation solutions designed to transport extremely heavy loads (ranging from 10,000 lbs to 50,000 lbs or more) through manufacturing facilities, replacing traditional manual conveyance methods like carts, trolleys, and forklifts that were often inefficient and dangerous; these systems serve critical roles in industries such as electric vehicle production, aerospace manufacturing, alternative energy equipment assembly, and defense sector operations by enabling safe and efficient movement of heavy parts, work-in-progress objects, and finished products throughout complex factory environments.

When choosing between ESP32, STM32, NRF52, and RP2040 microcontrollers for your product, consider: (1) Wireless needs—ESP32 for Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, NRF52 for ultra-low power Bluetooth; (2) Battery life requirements—NRF52 or STM32L series for long battery life; (3) Budget constraints—RP2040 for lowest cost without wireless, ESP32 for best price-to-feature ratio; (4) Scalability and long-term options—STM32 offers the broadest range of part choices; (5) Development experience—ESP32 and RP2040 are easiest for beginners, while STM32 and NRF52 offer stronger professional ecosystems.

Modern microcontrollers like the ESP32 enable wireless communication through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), allowing connection to smartphones, tablets, and computers without complex programming. This tutorial demonstrates connecting an ESP32 C3 Super Mini to a robot using Remote XY application, enabling control via intuitive graphical interfaces. The approach eliminates the need for traditional remote controls or custom app development, making robotics projects accessible to beginners.

This comprehensive tutorial demonstrates building a mini soccerbot using the ESP32 microcontroller that supports both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi control. The ESP32's integrated wireless capabilities eliminate the need for external modules like nRF24L01. Key components include three 3.7V lithium batteries providing 12V power, a buck converter set to 5V for the ESP32, and a motor driver with PWM pins (14 and 32) for speed control plus four direction pins. The project covers hardware assembly, Bluetooth command parsing (F/B/L/R/S for movement, 0-9 for speed), and implementing movement functions including diagonal maneuvers. The complete system demonstrates how ESP32 serves as both microcontroller and wireless communication hub for mobile robot applications.

The ESP32 supports both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (including classic Bluetooth and Bluetooth Low Energy) simultaneously through a feature called coexistence. This allows the ESP32 to send data to the cloud via Wi-Fi while simultaneously communicating with nearby devices over BLE. This combination is ideal for smart home hubs, health monitoring devices, or industrial sensors that need to collect data from multiple BLE devices and transmit it over Wi-Fi to servers or dashboards. A demonstration shows the ESP32 connected to Wi-Fi while simultaneously broadcasting a BLE device name that appears instantly in BLE scanner apps.

This tutorial covers Bluetooth communication protocols and their implementation on the ESP32 microcontroller, explaining how to use both Bluetooth Classic (for high-bandwidth streaming) and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE, for low-power IoT applications) with the ESP32's built-in Bluetooth capabilities, including device discovery, serial communication, and GATT-based service/characteristic interactions.