Most WiFi IoT modules are designed to be integrated into products with an enclosure, but the M5Stamp Pico module based on ESP32-PICO-D4 SiP comes with a removable heat-resistant plastic shell that protects the 3D antenna and components, while leaving space to solder headers and/or a Grove connector.
The tiny module also comes with a button and RGB LED, and like other ESP32-based M5Stack hardware, M5Stamp Pico is programmable with UIFlow graphical programming platform and compatible with Arduino, MicroPython, and the ESP-IDF.
M5Stamp Pico specifications:
- System-in-Package – Espressif Systems ESP32-PICO-D4 SiP with dual-core processor @ 240MHz, 520KB SRAM, 4MB flash, and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 4 up to 150 Mbps and Bluetooth 4.2 BR/LE connectivity
- Antenna – 2.4 GHz 3D antenna
- I/Os – 2.54mm pitch header with ADC, DAC, touch sensor, SD/SDIO/MMC host controller, SPI, SDIO/SPI slave controller, EMAC, PWM, UART, I2C, I2S, IR remote controller, up to 12x GPIO, pulse counter
- Misc – User button, RGB LED (SK6812)
- Input Voltage – 5V @ 500mA
- Power consumption
- Standby – 5V @ 29mA
- WiFi station mode – 5V @ 60mA
- Bluetooth mode data sending status – 5V @ 84mA
- Deep-sleep mode: 5V @ 0.35mA
- Temperature Range – 0°C to 40°C
- Dimensions – 24 x 18 x 4.4mm; M.2 screw for heat-resistant (up to 250°C) plastic shell
- Weight – 1.6 grams
The M5Stamp Pico is sold with a sticker with clear marking to help with connections, and also offers in kits with male and female headers, a Grove connector, a hex key, and an optional USB-C to TTL board to flash the board. The module can also be soldered like an SMT component to a baseboard, and you can keep the shell on during reflow soldering.
You’ll find details in the documentation which also explains how to get started with UIFlow visual programming or Arduino. Typical applications listed by M5stack including Wi-Fi remote monitoring, Smart Home devices, fire/security intelligent integrated management, Smart Card terminals, and Wireless PoS.
The M5Stamp Pico is packed in reels during manufacturing, and the company sells cutouts with 5 pieces for $23.90 (or about $4.8 per module). There are also two kits that are currently out of stock with the $5 Pico Mate with pin header, and the $15.95 DIY kit that only adds the “ESP32 Downloader” USB to TTL board.
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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The form factor is really cool, and the fact that it’s powered from 5V as well. Less external components for regulation!
Interesting, the “M5Stack Official Store” on AliExpress says it has 15x the Pico DIY Kit and 44x the Pico Mate. I haven’t pulled the trigger because I’m a little disappointed the JTAG pins aren’t exposed, but I’m still very tempted!
I just had a look at the schematics, which confirms that they’re using a switching voltage regulator and not an LDO (this is great). However, their choice of divider resistors causes a constant 120uA power draw, which represents 1/3 of the deep sleep consumption. Very likely they could multiply them both by 10 and get that down to 12uA and get the deep sleep consumption down to 240uA. It’s likely that a good part of the remaining consumption comes from the RGB LED whose datasheet claims to draw 1mA static current (thus more than advertised here). It could be worth desoldering it to test, or powering it via an N-channel MOSFET tied to ground only when needed.
Interesting. I, for one, am definitely buying this.
I was wondering what crazy new thing a hex key might be… Until I saw on the pic it’s a super normal allen key – stupid me
It looks like “hex key” and “Allen key” terms can be used interchangeably to describe the same thing. Which term is used probably depends on the country.
I think so, wasn’t meant as a criticism, but hex to me was immediately triggering the 0x reflex.
Good it doesn’t also come with hex-standoffs…
The individual ones seem to be out of stock, but it looks like banggood would still have some: https://fave.co/38GYUTF
8 K051-B in stock a Digikey
Also in stock on https://fave.co/3h0attx?
yes though a bit more expensive (3 EUR shipping)
Any idea what material the shell is made of?