esp32 News - Page 3 of 87 - CNX Software

February 12, 2025February 12, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 19 Comments

GoogleFindMyTools locates ESP32-based Bluetooth trackers using Google Find My Device network

Leon Böttger’s GoogleFindMyTools is a re-implementation of Google’s Find My Device network. It works with Android devices and commercial trackers, but experimental support for ESP32-based trackers has recently been added.

The implementation features two components. First, the main.py Python script that will list and locate devices, and then the ESP32 firmware implemented in C with the ESP-IDF. The host computer will also need several Python libraries that can be installed with “pip install -r requirements.txt” and Google Chrome web browser.

This is the output of the Python script on my Ubuntu laptop:

February 11, 2025February 11, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

Build a four-wheel RC car with ESP32-CAM board and off-the-shelf parts

ESP32 CAM robot car with off-the-shelf parts

While there are plenty of ESP32-based wireless-controlled robot cars with a built-in camera, like the PiCar-X 2.0 or Zeus Car, it might be more fun and rewarding to build something yourself. That’s exactly what Matt Sroufe did by building his own RC car using off-the-shelf parts and an ESP32-CAM board and writing firmware for it. To get started with the build, you’ll need six main components: A 4-wheel car chassis – $47.49 on AliExpress Electronic speed controller – $5.27 on AliExpress. Matt selected the 30A version with green PCB. Dual-battery holder for about $2 on AliExpress 2x 18650 3.6V cells or 7.4V batteries purchased locally ESP32-CAM board with an external antenna and the 160° FoV camera – About $14 with board, camera, and external antenna. Bluetooth gamepad such as a PS4 controller The total should be around $80 with the batteries assuming you already own a Bluetooth gamepad. You’ll need […]

February 7, 2025February 7, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

FOSSASIA 2025 – Operating systems, open hardware, and firmware sessions

The FOSSASIA Summit is the closest we have to FOSDEM in Asia. It’s a free and open-source event taking place each year in Asia, and FOSSASIA 2025 will take place in Bangkok, Thailand on March 13-15 this year. It won’t have quite as many speakers and sessions as in FOSDEM 2025 (968 speakers, 930 events), but the 3-day event will still have over 170 speakers and more than 200 sessions. Most of the sessions are for high-level software with topics like AI and data science, databases, cloud, and web3, but I also noticed a few sessions related to “Hardware and firmware” and “Operating System” which are closer to what we cover here at CNX Software. So I’ll make a virtual schedule based on those two tracks to check out any potentially interesting talks. None of those sessions take place on March 13, so we’ll only have a schedule for March […]

February 3, 2025February 3, 2025 by Tomisin Olujinmi - No Comments

Polverine – A compact, mikroBUS-compatible environmental sensing platform with PM 2.5 and gas sensors (Crowdfunding)

Polverine is a mikroBUS-compatible environmental sensing platform featuring a BMV080 PM2.5 sensor and a BME690 gas sensor, plus an Espressif ESP32-S3-MINI-1 module to add Wi-Fi 4 and Bluetooth 5 connectivity. The onboard BMV080 sensor is described as the “world’s smallest PM2.5 sensor” at 4.2 x 3.5 x 3mm. The PM2.5 particulate matter sensor is complemented by the BME690 which measures temperature, humidity, and pressure, and detects volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for complete environmental monitoring. The board offers sufficient processing power for quick data handling, with wireless connectivity for easy integration into IoT systems and smart devices. Projected applications for the sensor platform include indoor air quality monitoring, smart homes, HVAC systems, industrial monitoring (gas leak and pollution monitoring), wearables for personal air quality tracking, and anomaly detection in emergency scenarios. We have seen other ESP32-based environmental sensor platforms such as the Sensy32 board, MoreSense MS-06, and AirGradient One, but the […]

February 1, 2025February 1, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 5 Comments

Credit card-sized quad relay board runs Tasmota firmware on ESP32 module (Crowdfunding)

Credit card-sized ESP32 quad relay board

The “ESP32 IoT Relay Board” is a credit card-sized ESP32 board with four small 250VAC/30VDC 7A relays that runs Tasmota open-source firmware and supports Alexa & Google Assistant for voice control. There are so many ESP32-based relay boards on the market that I don’t usually feel the need to cover new ones, but Igor Mileshin’s ESP32 IoT Relay Board is smaller than most so I thought it might be interesting to some. The smallest quad-channel relay board I’ve seen so far is the one by Seeed Studio using an STM32 MCU and solid-state relays that measures just 60 x 40mm, but the relays only support up to 2A. ESP32 IoT Relay Board specifications: Wireless module – ESP32-WROOM-32D SoC – Espressif ESP32-D0WD dual-core Tensilica LX6 processor @ 240 MHz Storage – 32Mbit SPI flash Connectivity – Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n up to 150 Mbps, Bluetooth 4.2/5.x LE Relays 4x “industrial-grade” relays supporting […]

January 30, 2025January 30, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

ACMER P3 48W laser engraver review with ACMER AP220 Smoke Air Purifier, LightBurn software, MKSLaser app

Today, we’ll review the ACMER P3 48W laser engraver suitable for engraving and cutting various materials such as wood, acrylic, leather, and coated thin metals. It has a fully enclosed design protecting against laser light and reducing smoke in the room for better safety. The laser engraver also supports air filtration through the ACMER AP220 air purifier which we received for review as part of a full kit. Additionally, the P3 48W comes with a built-in camera for precise work positioning and previewing before engraving or cutting begins. Other safety features include automatic operation shutdown when the machine cover is opened. Users can import files through USB, Wi-Fi, or SD card, and the machine is compatible with popular software like LightBurn and LaserGRBL, as well as the ACMER mobile app, making it easier to use with file formats such as PNG, JPG, SVG, and DXF. ACMER P3 48W laser engraver […]

January 30, 2025 by Debashis Das - No Comments

FluidNC-compatible CNC controller supports 6 stepper drivers, web-based configuration

6x CNC A FluidNC compatible CNC controller

US-based CNC and motion control developer Bart Dring has designed the 6x CNC Controller FluidNC-compatible CNC controller board built around an ESP32 (pre-programmed with FluidNC) module and including 6 external stepper motor drivers with 5V signals. It allows configuration, upgrades, and control via a web browser. The controller also includes individual step/direction controls and LED indicators for easy setup. It offers eight input ports for limit switches, probes, and controls, along with multiple spindle control options, including RS485 VFD, 0-10V, PWM, relay-based, brushless motor (BESC), and laser PWM with enable signals. Additionally, it has two 3A MOSFETs for relays or solenoids, a MicroSD card slot for local G-code storage, and an expansion socket for GPIO extenders or pendant interfaces. 6x CNC Controller specifications Wireless module – Espressif Systems ESP32-WROOM-32E ESP32 dual-core microcontroller 4MB flash 2.4 GHz WiFi and Bluetooth LE connectivity, built-in PCB antenna Storage – MicroSD card socket for […]

January 29, 2025 by Tomisin Olujinmi - No Comments

Tobor open-source, modular robotic arm features two ESP32 modules (Crowdfunding)

Tobor robotics platform with pen plotter toolhead

Tobor (robot spelled in reverse) is a modular and open-source robotic arm platform powered by the ESP32-WROVER-I and ESP32-WROOM-32 (FluidNC CNC Controller core) modules. It is described as a “fully-featured robotic system that can fit on your desktop and is capable of helping you automate your workflow.” Tobor is billed as a customizable assistant for complex tasks such as assembly line help, CNC design, and rapid prototyping. The Tobor ecosystem includes several open-source components, including robotic arms, motion platforms, sensors, and actuators, that can be combined to create a unique system for “almost any desktop automation.” The Tobor Robot Arm supports multiple toolhead options such as the pen plotter toolhead, z-stage toolhead with 4th axis and suction cup, and the pick and place expansion pack. We have seen other open-source robotic platforms such as the SO-ARM100 AI robotic arm kit, CYOBot v2, and MIKRIK V2 Robot Car. Tobor Robot Arm […]