Sometimes last month, Espressif Systems contacted me to send a mysterious new development kit together with a 10-year anniversary T-shirt, an offer I found hard to decline 🙂
So I got a new year present this morning delivered by DHL…

The letter lists the main specifications of ESP-EYE development board:
- WiSoC- ESP32 dual core Tensilica LX6 processor with WiFi and Bluetooth
- Memory – 8MB PSRAM
- Storage – 4MB flash
- Camera – 2MP OV2640 camera
- Audio – Microphone
- USB – 1x micro USB port for power and programming
- Misc – Reset, boot and function buttons, 2x LEDs
- Dimensions – 41 x 21 mm
It reminds me of ESP32-CAM camera board, except it adds a microphone, it’s even smaller, and as an official Espressif board, software support might be better. AI features such as face recognition or detection, and voice wake-up are supported out of the box.

The board ships with a micro USB cable, and a card with a block diagram, and a quick start guide explaining you need to press the side “function” button to collect face data.

One side of the board features the 2MP camera, reset and boot buttons, two LEDs, and the microphone (top to bottom),

While the other side reveals the chips used in the design: ESP32-D0WD, 8MB PSRAM, 4MB flash, CP2102 USB to TTL chip, as well as the on-board antenna, a u.FL connector for external antenna, the micro USB port, and function button.
That’s all I know for now, as I can’t find documentation on Espressif website yet, and ESP-EYE board is not for sale at this time. The boards and T-shirt just have been sent to various members of the community, and after testing they should become available.

Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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