EKOS – An ESP32-S3 ePaper dashboard housed in an oak-aluminum enclosure (Crowdfunding)

Designed by StillFixing in Normandy (France), the EKOS is a local-first, low-power ePaper dashboard built around an ESP32-S3 SoC. It operates without any cloud dependency, subscriptions, or external accounts, offering full privacy, faster response times, and direct local control.

The device comes in two variants: the EKOS Pure is a minimalist, non-touch version with two physical buttons for basic control, and the EKOS Sense adds a capacitive touch layer for smart home control, such as toggling devices, triggering scenes, or managing tasks. Both models feature a repair-friendly design with no adhesives, using four screws for assembly and a user-replaceable lithium-polymer battery. Additionally, the dashboard can be updated entirely over your home network without needing the internet. You can push data to the screen using a local API from a phone or PC, link it straight to Home Assistant, or use it to control other ESPHome devices around your house.

EKOS specifications:

• Wireless Module – ESP32-S3-WROOM-1
  • SoC – Espressif Systems ESP32-S3
    • CPU – Dual-core Tensilica LX7 up to 240 MHz with vector extension for AI/ML workloads
    • RAM – 512KB SRAM; 8MB PSRAM
    • Storage – 16MB flash
    • Wireless – WiFi 4 and Bluetooth LE 5
  • Antenna – PCB antenna
• Storage Expansion – Onboard MicroSD card slot for holding localized UI assets, fonts, telemetry logs, and optional backup firmware partitions.
• Display – 7.5-inch reflective ePaper Display with an 800×480 resolution; optional capacitive touch layer (EKOS Sense variant only)
• Sensor – Bosch Sensortec BME280 sensor for ambient temperature, relative humidity, and barometric pressure
• Expansion – 16-pin exposed Pogo pin connector on the back for future modular hardware accessories and custom maker extensions
• Power
  • 5V via USB-C port
  • 4,000 mAh Lithium-Polymer (Li-Po) cell connected via JST connector
  • Internal charging IC management circuitry
  • System-level light-sleep and deep-sleep scheduling to maximize battery autonomy up to several weeks per charge cycle
• Dimensions – TBD
• Enclosure
  • CNC-machined solid Normandy Oak wood chassis treated with natural VOC-free oils
  • 3mm structural matte-anodized aluminum front/rear faceplates

In terms of software support, the firmware driving EKOS is built on the official ESP-IDF v5. x framework rather than Arduino, for better power optimization and low-level peripheral control. The user interface and widget rendering are handled by the LVGL graphics library, optimized for clean 1-bit and grayscale output on the ePaper display.

The system follows a fully local, non-cloud architecture, using an asynchronous event loop to manage sleep cycles, power states, and display updates. It also runs an internal HTTP server exposing a documented local REST API (OpenAPI/Swagger), allowing developers to send updates, modify configurations, or trigger partial screen refreshes via simple curl commands without requiring a mobile app.

Widgets are structured using JSON templates that define layout, parameters, and update intervals, and are rendered via C-based implementations in LVGL. For home automation, built-in widgets can communicate directly with platforms like Home Assistant via local HTTP or webhook calls. A companion mobile app for iOS and Android is in development for visual widget management, but remains entirely optional.

The project is fully open-source, and all the firmware source code, schematics (PDF), Gerber files, and BoM have been released in the firmware repository on GitHub under the GNU General Public License v3.0 (GPL-3.0), and the KiCAD schematics and PCB layout, 3D CAD models, and STEP files will be released under the CERN-OHL-S-2.0 license in the future. Documentation, API references, and user guides are published separately under the Creative Commons CC-BY-SA 4.0 license, ensuring full transparency and allowing users to study, modify, and redistribute every aspect of the project.

Over the years, we have covered many low-power ePaper displays that work perfectly as smart home dashboards. If you are looking for alternative options, you can check out the paper.ink 4.2-inch ESP32-based e-Paper display, the large Inkplate 13SPECTRA, or the M5Paper ESP32 IoT development kit. More recent alternatives include the M5Stack PaperColor ESP32-S3 devkit and the reTerminal E1001/E1002, for which we have made a detailed review. However, the  EKOS’s touchscreen function is harder to find due to the long refresh time of some e-Paper displays.

The EKOS project is live on Kickstarter with a funding goal of $17,410, running until early July 2026. Early-bird “First Batch” pricing starts at €169 (~$197) for the non-touch EKOS Pure and €189 (~$220) for the touch-enabled EKOS Sense, increasing to €199 and €219 after those tiers sell out. Multi-unit bundles are also available, including the Harmony Set (two EKOS Pure units for €339), the Synergy Set (one Pure and one Sense for €359), and the Ecosystem Set (two EKOS Sense units for €379). Manufacturing and assembly will take place in Normandy, France, with the first units expected to ship in December 2026. Final shipping costs and taxes will be calculated later through a pledge manager.

Debashis Das

Debashis Das is a technical content writer and embedded engineer with over five years of experience in the industry. With expertise in Embedded C, PCB Design, and SEO optimization, he effectively blends difficult technical topics with clear communication

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