Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments on TinyS2 ESP32-S2 board is designed for battery operation

TinyS2 ESP32-S2 board is designed for battery operation

TinyS2 ESP32-S2 board

Unexpected Maker has launched a follow-up to the ESP32 based TinyPICO board with TinyS2 board equipped with an ESP32-S2 WiFi processor featuring 4MB flash and 2MP embedded PSRAM. The new board is still designed with a LiPo battery charging circuit, comes with an onboard RGB LED, and while it is compatible with TinyPICO form factor, it has become a little longer with a 41 x 17.8mm footprint to accommodate for extra I/Os. TinyS2 specifications: WiSoC – Espressif Systems ESP32-S2FN4R2 single-core processor @ 240 MHz with 4MP SPI flash, 2MP PSRAM Connectivity – 2.4 GHz 802.11b/g/n WiFi 4 plus 3D antenna USB – 1x USB Type-C port for power and programming Expansion – 12 + 11-pin headers for up to 17x GPIOs, SPI, I2C, UART, ADC, DAC, 5V, 3.3V and BAT signals Misc – Boot and Reset buttons, battery charging status LED, power LED, user-programmable RGB LED that can be shut down to reduce deep sleep current Power Supply 5VDC input […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment on Crowbits Master Kit Tutorial – Part 2: ESP32 intrusion scanner and visual programming

Crowbits Master Kit Tutorial – Part 2: ESP32 intrusion scanner and visual programming

Crowbits Intrusion Scanner

I started Crowbits Master Kit review last month by checking out the content, user manual, and some of the possible projects for the ESP32 educational kit including a 2G phone and a portable game console. For the second part of the review, I’ll go through one of the lessons in detail, namely the intrusion scanner to show the whole process and how well (or not) it works. Let’s go to Lesson 5 directly, although I’d recommend going through the first lessons that provide details about the hardware and visual programming basics using Letscode program, which is basically a custom version of Scratch for Crowbits The user manual introduces the project, explains it is to detect intruders, and lists the learning goals as we’ll learn how to control the servo and play music on the Crowbits kit. Kit Assembly But first, we’ll have some assembly to do, in a similar way that’s we’d assemble a LEGO robotics kit. Each assembly step […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 14 Comments on ESP32-C6 WiFI 6 and Bluetooth 5 LE RISC-V SoC for IoT devices coming soon

ESP32-C6 WiFI 6 and Bluetooth 5 LE RISC-V SoC for IoT devices coming soon

ESP32-C6

Espressif Systems introduced their first RISC-V wireless SoC last year with ESP32-C3 single-core 32-bit RISC-V SoC offering both 2.4GHz WiFi 4 and Bluetooth 5.0 LE connectivity, and while the company sent some engineering samples of ESP32-C3 boards months ago, general availability of ESP32-C3-DevKitM-1 and modules is expected shortly. But the company did not stop here, and just announced their second RISC-V processor with ESP32-C6 single-core 32-bit RISC-V processor clocked at up to 160 MHz with both 2.4 GHz WiFi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5 LE connectivity. ESP32-C6 preliminary specifications: CPU, Memory, and Storage 32-bit RISC-V single-core processor up to 160 MHz 384 KB ROM 400 KB SRAM (16 KB for cache) 8 KB SRAM in RTC SPI, Dual SPI, Quad SPI, and QPI interfaces for external flash and/or PSRAM Wi­Fi 2.4 GHz 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 with 20 MHz bandwidth, support for station interface 2.4 GHz 802.11b/g/n  WiFI 4 with 20/40MHz bandwidth, 1T1R mode with data rate up to 150 Mbps; […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 4 Comments on LilyGo sells Open-Smartwatch open-source hardware ESP32 watch by “Paul’s 3D Things”

LilyGo sells Open-Smartwatch open-source hardware ESP32 watch by “Paul’s 3D Things”

T-Open-Smartwatch

We’ve previously covered three variants of LilyGo T-Watch-2020 smartwatch based on ESP32 WiFi & Bluetooth SoC with TTGO T-Watch-2020 (V1) launched about a year ago, following by T-Watch-2020 V3 with a microphone for voice control, and T-Watch-2020 V2 with GPS. The company has recently launched a new rounded smartwatch based on ESP32-PICO-D4 SiP with a twist as they did not design it themselves and instead partnered with “Paul’s 3D Things” for the Open-Smartwatch, and just handle manufacturing and production. LilyGo Open-Smartwatch “Light Edition” specifications: Wireless module – LILYGO T-micro32 module based on ESP32-PICO-D4 module with dual-core ESP32 processor, 4MB FLASH, ceramic antenna or u.FL antenna connector Connectivity – Bluetooth 4.2 BR/EDR BLE and WiFi 4 2.4GHz 802.11 b/g/n Display –  1.3 inch circular LCD with 240×240 resolution USB – Micro USB for charging and programming Sensor – 3-axis BMA400 accelerator Debugging – USB to TTL via CH340E chip Misc -Reset button, 3x user buttons, DS323M RTC Power Supply 5V/1A power […]

Posted on by Abhishek Jadhav - No Comments on Board::mini development tools offer a complete Vehicle-Hacking Platform (Crowdfunding)

Board::mini development tools offer a complete Vehicle-Hacking Platform (Crowdfunding)

board::mini base CAN bus automotive development board

If you are looking to connect to a vehicle’s CAN bus, then the newly launched open-source board::mini development tools include a board and expansion boards that will aid your application. BMC labs have introduced a development board based on the STM32 MCU and supporting expansion boards to increase the capabilities of the baseboard via a crowdfunding project.  As mentioned earlier, the board:mini base development board features an STM32 MCU at its heart and comes with a CAN transceiver. For those who do not know what a CAN transceiver is, it just transmits and detects data on the CAN bus. The board:mini project also includes three expansion boards designed to fit on top of the base development board.  The bmc::board project was born to produce development tools appropriate for both field- and industrial-prototyping work. These boards were not designed to sit on a workbench. We ourselves have a habit of strapping them to vehicles, but…the qualities that make them suitable for […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 8 Comments on Tiny Tri-color E-Ink display for Wemos D1 Mini board sells for $10

Tiny Tri-color E-Ink display for Wemos D1 Mini board sells for $10

tri color E-Ink display for Wemos-D1 mini ESP8266 board

Wemos D1 Mini is one of my favorites ESP8266 boards with a cheap price, tiny form factor, and support for stackable expansion boards. Lolin has now launched a small 2.13-inch tri-color E-Ink display that is compatible with D1 mini, D1 mini Pro, and D32 Pro boards, and sells for just $9.90 plus shipping. Specifications: 2.13-inchTri-Color (red/black/white) ePaper/e-Ink display with 212×104 resolution Driver IC – Good Display UC8151D Connection to D1 mini, D1 mini Pro, D32 Pro via 10-pin connector Debugging – 8-pin unpopulated header with EPD signals (SPI, Reset, Busy…) 3.3V, GND You may wonder why the PCB reads “2.13 INCH e-Paper 250×122”, while the resolution is 212×104. That’s because the company probably reused the PCB from their 2.13-inch black and white e-Paper display with 250×122 resolution (IL3897 driver). The display can be programmed with Arduino using LOLIN_EPD, Adafruit_GFX, and Adafruit_BusIO libraries as explained in the Wiki. You’ll find three Arduino sketch samples on Github. Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)Jean-Luc started CNX […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 7 Comments on ESP32-C3-DevKitM-1 RISC-V WiFI & BLE board to launch for $8, modules for $1.8+

ESP32-C3-DevKitM-1 RISC-V WiFI & BLE board to launch for $8, modules for $1.8+

ESP32-C3-DevKitM-1 board

ESP32-C3 may be one of the most expected RISC-V processors in the IoT world, as it’s eventually expected to sell for the same price as ESP8266 and offers both WiFi and Bluetooth LE connectivity. Some engineering samples of the chip. modules and boards were distributed to developers shortly after the announcement at the end of the last year, but now it appears ESP32-C3-DevKitM-1 board will become available for $8 next month from distributors such as Mouser or DigiKey. Since I’ve never written about ESP32-C3-DevKitM-1 board let’s check out the specifications: Wireless module – ESP32­-C3­-MINI­-1 with ESP32-C3FH4 (105°C) or ESP32-C3FN4 (85°C) 32-bit RISC-V single-core processor, up to 160 MHz, 4 MB embedded flash,  384 KB ROM, 400 KB SRAM (16 KB for cache), 8 KB SRAM in RTC Connectivity – 2.4 GHz 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi 4 & Bluetooth LE 5.0 USB – 1x Micro USB port for power and programming via USB-UART bridge Expansion – 2x headers with GPIO, ADC, UART, SPI, […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 6 Comments on Long range ESP32 Wi-Fi development board promises up to 1.2km range (Crowdfunding)

Long range ESP32 Wi-Fi development board promises up to 1.2km range (Crowdfunding)

ESP32-M1 Reach Out

WiFi is not really designed for kilometer range transmission, but CNLohr previously demonstrated 1km range with ESP8266, and some directional antennas are sold to expand the WiFi range. Bison Science’s ESP32-M1 Reach Out WiFi development board has been specifically designed for long-range connectivity with up to 30 dBm (1W) transmit power and support for various types of antennas for a 1.2-kilometer range, even tested up to 1.5km in a clear day. ESP32-M1 Reach Out features and specifications: WiSoC – Espressif Systems ESP32-D0WDQ6 dual-core processor @ 240 MHz Storage – 32 Mbit flash Connectivity 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 4 802.11 b/g/n Bluetooth 4.2/5.x Classic and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) QPF4219 PA (Power Amplifier) and LNA (Low Noise Amplifier) Wi-Fi RF front end (RFFE) from Qorvo with 33 dB PA gain and 15 dB LNA gain Wi-Fi transmit output power adjustable from 21 to 30 dBm (1 W) conducted Wi-Fi front end bypass mode can be activated by disabling the Wi-Fi RFFE to […]