Autonomous Library Assistant

Abstract

This project presents the design and development of an Autonomous Library Assistant Robot designed to help disabled people locate book sections inside a library. In large libraries, physically searching for books is difficult for people with disabilities and can take a long time without assistance. The proposed system uses an ESP32 microcontroller with WiFi communication to receive commands from a web-based interface developed using HTML. The robot moves using two 12V planetary gear motors controlled by BTS7960 motor drivers and follows predefined paths using a 5-channel IR sensor array. The user selects the required subject from the web application running on Raspberry Pi, and the robot moves forward to guide the user to the desired section. This system reduces manual effort, improves accessibility, and demonstrates the use of robotics in assistive and smart library automation.

Introduction

Large libraries make it difficult for users—especially elderly and disabled individuals—to locate books quickly, as existing digital systems only provide location details without physical guidance. To address this issue, an Autonomous Library Assistant Robot is proposed to help users navigate to book sections ?????? and independently.

The system uses an ESP32 microcontroller with WiFi communication and a web-based interface (running on Raspberry Pi) that allows users to select a book category. The robot follows predefined paths using a line-following mechanism with IR sensors and moves using DC motors controlled by motor drivers. It also includes obstacle detection for safe navigation.

The robot’s hardware and software are designed to be low-cost, reliable, and suitable for indoor environments. Testing results show that the system performs efficiently with accurate navigation, quick response time, and stable operation.

Overall, the robot improves accessibility, reduces dependency on library staff, and demonstrates an effective application of robotics in smart library automation.

Conclusion

The Autonomous Library Assistant Robot was successfully designed and developed to help disabled people locate book sections inside a library environment. The system uses ESP32 microcontroller with WiFi communication to receive commands from a web-based interface running on Raspberry Pi. The robot moves along a predefined path using a line-following method with the help of a 5-channel IR sensor array. Two 12V planetary gear DC motors controlled by BTS7960 motor drivers provide smooth and stable movement of the robot. The system was tested in an indoor setup, and the robot was able to move correctly based on the selected subject from the user interface. The main objective of the project was to reduce the difficulty faced by disabled users while searching for books in large libraries. The developed robot can guide users automatically without the need for manual assistance. The wireless control system allows easy operation, and the line-following navigation provides accurate movement. The use of low-cost components makes the system affordable and suitable for educational institutions. The results show that the proposed system is reliable, simple to operate, and useful for smart library automation. This project demonstrates the practical application of robotics, embedded systems, and wireless communication in assistive technology. The system can be further improved by adding obstacle detection, encoder-based distance control, voice command input, and database integration to make the robot fully autonomous. In the future, the same concept can be used in hospitals, shopping malls, warehouses, and smart campus environments to guide people safely to their destination. The proposed Autonomous Library Assistant Robot provides an effective solution for improving accessibility and automation in modern libraries.

References

[1] M. Schwartz, Mobile Wireless Communications, Cambridge University Press, 2005. [2] Espressif Systems, ESP32 Technical Reference Manual, Espressif Inc., 2023. [3] Cytron Technologies, BTS7960 High Current Motor Driver Datasheet, Cytron Technologies, 2022. [4] T. Braunl, Embedded Robotics: Mobile Robot Design and Applications, Springer, 3rd Edition, 2008. [5] Arduino, Arduino IDE Documentation, [Online]. Available: https://www.arduino.cc [6] Raspberry Pi Foundation, Raspberry Pi Documentation, [Online]. Available: https://www.raspberrypi.org [7] J. Borenstein, H. Everett, and L. Feng, Where Am I? Sensors and Methods for Mobile Robot Positioning, University of Michigan, 1996.

Copyright

Copyright © 2026 D. Elamaran, C. Kalpana, V. Dharunika, Dr. R. Sudhakar. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.