Arduino Face Tracking Fan Example Code

This project creates a smart, face-tracking fan using the Gravity AI Sensor. It turns on/off with hand gestures ("OK" to start, "Open Palm" to stop) and automatically follows your face's horizontal position in real-time, keeping you cool without any physical contact.

Hardware Preparation

Software Preparation

Arduino IDE Click to download Arduino IDE
Download and install DFRobot_GestureFaceDetection
Download and install DFRobot_RTU
How to install libraries

Wiring Diagram

Other Preparation Work

Step 1: Connect the sensor, DFRduino UNO R3 controller, IO sensor expansion board, fan, and servo according to the wiring diagram, and switch the sensor's communication mode switch to the I2C side.
Step 2: Open Arduino IDE, copy the following code and upload it to the DFRduino UNO R3.

Sample Code

#include <Wire.h>
#include <Servo.h>
#include "DFRobot_GestureFaceDetection.h"

#define DEVICE_ID  0x72
#define FAN_PIN 3
#define SERVO_PIN 5

Servo myservo;
DFRobot_GestureFaceDetection_I2C gfd(DEVICE_ID);

void setup(){
    myservo.attach(SERVO_PIN);
    myservo.write(0);
    gfd.begin(&Wire);
    Serial.begin(115200);
    gfd.setFaceDetectThres(60);
    gfd.setGestureDetectThres(60);
    gfd.setDetectThres(100);
    pinMode(FAN_PIN, OUTPUT);
}

void loop(){
    //Serial.println(gfd.getGestureType());
    if(gfd.getFaceNumber() > 0){
        uint16_t gestureType = gfd.getGestureType();
        if(gestureType == 2){ 
            analogWrite(FAN_PIN, 255); 
        }
        else if(gestureType == 3){ 
            analogWrite(FAN_PIN, 0); 
        }
        uint16_t x = gfd.getFaceLocationX();
        Serial.println(x);
        myservo.write(map(x,0,620,10,170));
        Serial.println(gfd.getGestureType());
    }
}

Result

When the sensor detects a face (area above the shoulders), the system activates the following linked effects:

Gesture-Controlled Fan
- Making the "OK" gesture (corresponding to gesture type 2): The fan turns on immediately at maximum power without the need to touch a switch;
- Making the "Number 5" gesture (corresponding to gesture type 3): The fan automatically turns off, achieving contactless start-stop control.
Real-Time Face Position Tracking: The servo motor will drive the fan, adjusting the angle in real time according to the X-coordinate of the face in the camera's field of view (range 0-620):
- When the face moves left (X value decreases), the servo angle decreases synchronously (range 10°-170°), and the fan turns left;
- When the face moves right (X value increases), the servo angle increases synchronously, and the fan turns right; the entire process is smooth and continuous, achieving the precise following effect of "wherever the person goes, the fan follows".
Debugging Feedback: The serial monitor outputs the X-coordinate of the face and the currently recognized gesture type in real time (e.g., "300", "2"), facilitating observation of the device's operating status and debugging optimization.

Note: Please check the tracking fan structure file in more downloads.

Example Code for Arduino-Face-Tracking Fan