All articles tagged with #esp32
Open-source ExpressLRS receivers built around an ESP32 and SX1281 demonstrate long-range drone control at 2.4 GHz using Chirp Spread Spectrum modulation, maintaining links over more than five kilometers even through a forest. Four receivers (two with additional 900 MHz antennas) showcase the system’s reliability thanks to CSS’s ~24 dB gain and inverse-chirp decoding via FFT, building on LoRa technology for extended reach.
Seeed Studio's reTerminal Sticky is a $50, magnet-mounted open-hardware e-paper display that embraces hacking: it ships with Seeed Dash but openly supports third-party firmware like CrossPoint Reader, ESPHome, TRMNL and OpenDisplay, with easy flashing via USB and microSD. The review praises its solid hardware for the price—touchscreen, mic, sensors—and a thriving ecosystem, while noting downsides like a glossy screen and no backlight, plus a few setup quirks. The bottom line is that it’s a cheap, highly hackable device aimed at makers rather than a traditional consumer e-reader.
Researchers show a ground-access PoC that taps ARINC 429 avionics with an ESP32 plugged into a Boeing 737’s maintenance port, able to freeze or overwrite the MCDU display and alter FMC data, potentially reprogramming autopilot. While pilots still retain control, the proof-of-concept highlights serious security risks in airliner avionics and the need for tighter physical access controls.
A Hackaday article demonstrates a DIY Theremin built around an ESP32, using capacitive touch sensing to detect hand proximity on two antennas to control pitch and volume, with the synthesized waveform output via the DAC to speakers for a quick, minimalist instrument.
A Hackaday article introduces Stream32, a DIY open-source stream deck built around an ESP32 with interchangeable displays (4" Waveshare or 10.1" Elecrow). The firmware emphasizes simplicity and adaptability, allowing users to tailor shortcuts, pages, and layouts to their workflow, providing a customizable, affordable alternative to commercial macro pads.
An ESP32-based CYD development board with a touchscreen hosts a charming ASCII aquarium where individual sea creatures move, respond to feeding by tapping, and the setup doubles as a desk clock; it includes a hidden configuration menu and an option to export the display as bitmaps, making it a clever weekend DIY project.
Hackaday reports on a project where Meshtastic is used beyond simple text messaging: an off-grid, long-range mesh connects a shed alarm to Home Assistant via Heltec ESP32 LoRa modules. A remote node watches an infrared beam and publishes alerts over Meshtastic, while a second module bridges to Wi‑Fi and MQTT for Home Assistant integration, showcasing Meshtastic’s potential for distributed sensing and automation beyond chat."
The Xteink X4 is a pocket-sized ESP32-powered e-reader priced around $50–$70 that trims features (no touchscreen, no backlight) but thrives on a passionate open-hardware community. Its CrossPoint Reader firmware lets Calibre syncing, Wi‑Fi transfers, and endless tinkering, making a cheap device surprisingly capable for hackers and readers alike.
The article showcases a real-time 3D room-mapping setup using ST’s VL53L5CX 8×8 multi-zone TOF sensor, an IMU for orientation, and an ESP32 that streams orientation-augmented scan data as JSON to a PC. A Python viewer and ESP32 firmware on GitHub accompany the project, leveraging the sensor’s 4 m range and 60 Hz sampling, along with noise filtering and plane fitting to generate room maps.
Nicholas Murray has developed a compact, ESP32-based test pattern generator for checking CRTs and old televisions, featuring easy pattern cycling, NTSC/PAL toggle, and a built-in display, offering a portable and efficient tool for hardware testing.
Kyle Tryon has revived the classic pager concept by building a custom ESP32-based device that receives MQTT alerts and plays tunes, serving as a modern on-call beeper with a nostalgic 90s design.
Bert Wagner created Splashflag, an IoT device that enhances pool parties by displaying notifications and raising a flag to alert guests, using an ESP32 microcontroller, a LCD display, and a servo, all controlled via a web app and MQTT broker.
A DIY shadow clock uses four seven-segment digits with solenoids to extend or retract segments, creating a physical numerical display driven by an ESP32 and DS3231 real-time clock, configurable via a web interface, offering a unique and aesthetic way to tell time.
A hobbyist named Alex has built a stylish radiation level monitor using an ESP32 microcontroller and a vintage Soviet-era plasma display, inspired by Chernobyl's exclusion zone. The device fetches sensor data via an API and includes a Geiger counter, with the display operated as a text-only matrix that can be modified for additional symbols. This project highlights the charm of vintage displays and their potential for reverse-engineering and modern applications.
Circuit Digest demonstrates how to build a budget-friendly quadcopter using an ESP32 MCU module, IMU, and four MOSFETs, with a total BOM cost of around $12 USD. The project, based on the ESP-Drone by Espressif, offers expansion options for additional modules and supports remote monitoring and control through cfclient software or a mobile app. While limited to local WiFi range and lacking a camera feed, it provides a fun and affordable DIY quadcopter experience.