Espressif Category - CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

June 11, 2026June 11, 2026 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Bare-metal MSX2+ Emulator for ESP32-S3 offers custom LCD_CAM VGA implementation & Z80 optimizations

Ivan Svarkovsky’s S3-MSX-PC open-source project implements a bare-metal MSX2+ emulator running on an ESP32-S3 microcontroller and outputting 64-color VGA via a simple R-2R resistor ladder. It’s a fork of the Retro-Go emulator for ODROID-GO and other ESP32 devices, but with various optimizations. It was tested on an off-the-shelf ESP32-S3 board with one core handling the game logic and the other video and audio output. VGA is implemented through a clever resistor network that converts digital data into an analog signal that any old monitor understands, while audio relies on Sigma-Delta modulation with a multi-stage PDM filter. The USB host port on the board allows for the connection of a keyboard. S3-MSX-PC firmware highlights: Emulation Core – fMSX 6.0 — Full MSX1 / MSX2 / MSX2+ support Video Output VGA 640×480@60Hz, 16-bit parallel RGB via LCD_CAM Color Depth – 64 colors (2 bits per channel: R, G, B) Audio – PDM Stereo […]

June 6, 2026June 6, 2026 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 6 Comments

Docker for Microcontrollers? AkiraOS combines Zephyr RTOS with WebAssembly (WASM) applications

AkiraOS is a Zephyr-based embedded OS that runs sandboxed WebAssembly applications on microcontrollers and lets users deploy and update firmware OTA without reflashing. In other words, it’s similar to Docker containers, but for microcontrollers. The open-source embedded platform separates the OS from the application. That means the firmware stays stable, while apps are independent .wasm binaries deployable over-the-air without touching the OS, and portable so a single binary works on ESP32-S3, nRF5x, or STM32 MCU boards. AkiraOS highlights: User space Up to 8 wasm apps can be installed Up to two apps can run at the same time Footprint: 50KB to 200KB per app Akiraz runtime – Custom WASM runtime App Manager UI Framework with 32 widgets Shell/console 18 API modules WebAssembly Micro Runtime (WAMR) – Two options: Interpreter or Ahead-Of-Time (AOT) compilation with 10 to 50x higher performance RTOS – Zephyr RTOS Scheduler Network stack HTTP for OTA updates […]

June 5, 2026June 8, 2026 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

Erqos EQSP32CE – An industrial IoT ESP32-S3 PLC with Ethernet, RS232, RS485, CAN Bus, DIN Rail support

Erqos EQSP32CE is a DIN rail-mountable industrial IoT PLC based on an ESP32-S3 WiFi and Bluetooth SoC and offering Ethernet, RS-485, RS-232, and CAN bus industrial communication interfaces. The IIoT logic controller also features several protected digital (16x) and analog (8x) inputs, eight current inputs, eight “special mode” analog inputs, and sixteen digital outputs with PWM support. A USB-C port is used for firmware flashing and monitoring, and the PLC takes a wide 7V – 26V DC input voltage and outputs 5V/1A for I/O expansion modules. Erqos EQSP32CE specifications: SoC – Espressif ESP32-S3 dual-core LX7 processor @ 240 MHz with 8MB Flash, 512kB RAM, wireless connectivity (so probably ESP32-S3FN8) Communication interfaces 10/100 Mbps Ethernet RJ45 port Wi-Fi + Bluetooth Low Energy (on ESP32-S3) with internal antenna RS232 (protected) and RS485 half-duplex (protected) with support for Modbus RTU, DMX512, and custom serial protocols CAN Bus (protected) USB – 1x USB-C power for […]

June 5, 2026June 5, 2026 by Debashis Das - 1 Comment

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

EKOS A Programmable Open Source ePaper Hub in Solid Oak

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 […]

June 2, 2026June 2, 2026 by Debashis Das - 6 Comments

Wireless-Tag ESP32P4C61-TINY board combines ESP32-P4 and ESP32-C61 SoCs (Crowdfunding)

Wireless-Tag has launched a Kickstarter campaign for the ESP32P4C61-TINY, a compact open-source AIoT development board based on their WT01P461-S1 module, which combines ESP32-P4 (general-purpose) and ESP32-C61 (wireless) RISC-V SoCs. Like other ESP32-P4 boards, including the ESP32P4C5 Core Board, the M5Stack Stamp-P4, or ESP32-P4-Pi-VIEWE, this one also uses a separate SoC (ESP32-C61) for wireless connectivity. Additionally, it features built-in MIPI CSI and DSI for camera and display support, along with a microSD card slot for storage, making it suitable for AIoT and edge computing applications. ESP32P4C61-TINY Specifications Wireless Module – Wireless-Tag WT01P461-S1 (25 x 25mm) Microcontroller – ESP32-P4 MCU Dual-core RISC-V microcontroller @ 360/400 MHz with AI instructions extension and single-precision FPU Single-RISC-V LP (Low-power) MCU core @ up to 40 MHz GPU – 2D Pixel Processing Accelerator (PPA) VPU – H.264 and JPEG codecs support Memory – 768 KB HP L2MEM, 32 KB LP SRAM, 8 KB TCM, 16/32MB PSRAM Storage – 128 KB HP […]

May 30, 2026 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 11 Comments

PCMFlow722 library enables two-way real-time HD voice over ESP-NOW with G.722 audio codec

Tanaka Masayuki’s PCMFlow722 library enables (half-duplex) two-way real-time HD voice over ESP-NOW on ESP32 boards with a speaker and a microphone, effectively transforming them into walkie-talkies. The library implements a G.722 wideband codec add-on for PCMFlow lightweight audio decode and PCM flow library for Arduino, which already supports uncompressed PCM, MP3, and FLAC audio codecs. PCM and FLAC take too much bandwidth over ESP-NOW, and MP3 is not suitable for real-time audio, so the legacy G.722 audio codec was selected instead. The keyword here is “HD voice,” since two-way audio over ESP-NOW was previously implemented in projects such as Atomic14’s esp32-walkie-talkie (5 years ago) and, more recently, the well-documented Adafruit ESP-NOW Walkie-Talkie project, but these typically rely on lower-quality G.711 audio or compressed audio. The PCMFlowG722 library and G.722 codec enable HD voice with “7 kHz audio at 16 kHz sampling using the same 64 kbps wire budget as G.711 […]

May 28, 2026 by Debashis Das - No Comments

Gesture HW1 is a 10-DOF ESP32-S3 robotic hand with high-dexterity manipulation (Crowdfunding)

Gesture HW1 — A 10 DOF Robotic Hand and Wrist

The HW1 by Gesture Platforms is a 10-degree-of-freedom (DOF) high-dexterity robotic hand and wrist built around an ESP32-S3 wireless MCU. It’s primarily designed for researchers, educators, and hobbyists; it bridges the gap between basic DIY robotic hands and expensive industrial models. The device weighs just around 500 grams but can handle a 1kg dynamic load and a 3kg static load. It communicates via USB-C or Bluetooth 5.0 and comes with a companion desktop app as well as Python and C++ SDKs for custom development. Gesture HW1 specifications: Microcontroller – Espressif Systems ESP32-S3 dual-core LX7 microprocessor with WiFi 4 and Bluetooth 5.0 LE connectivity Degrees of Freedom (active) – 10 DOF Finger Flexion – 0° – 90° (at each joint) Finger Adduction/Abduction – -10° – 40° Thumb Flexion/Extension – 0° – 120° Thumb Adduction/Abduction – 20° – 90° Thumb Distal Flexion – 0° – 90° Wrist Flexion/Extension – -50° – 50° Wrist […]

May 27, 2026 by Debashis Das - No Comments

LichtBit’s open-source ESP32 Art-Net/sACN NeoPixels controller can drive up to 2,720 RGB LEDs

Untitled Artnet sACN LED Strip Pixel Controller 16 universe

Dutch hardware designer LichtBit has launched a fully open-source ESP32-based Art-Net/sACN NeoPixels LED strip controller designed for large-scale lighting installations and custom stage design. Built around an ESP32, the hardware routes lighting data over wired Ethernet or Wi-Fi to manage up to 16 universes of addressable LEDs across 4 dedicated outputs. We have previously written about various NeoPixel LED controllers, such as the xcrhom WLED Type-C, the Adafruit Sparkle Motion Stick, the full-featured Adafruit Sparkle Motion, and others, which are designed for portable lighting setups and standalone animations. But LichtBit’s board targets the professional event industry by bridging the gap between commercial live-performance software (such as Resolume Arena, MadMapper, or xLights) and low-cost digital LED strips. LichtBit’s Art-Net and sACN LED controller specifications: Development Board – Generic ESP32 based developmt board with ESP32-WROOM-32 MCU Display – 128×32 I2C OLED display for real-time device configurations, status, and IP mapping Network 10/100Mbps Ethernet via WIZnet W5500 […]