The ESP32: Quick and Inexpensive Platform for Your Next IoT Device

Do you have an idea for an IoT device, but you don’t know where to start?

Do you think you need a microcontroller, but you’re not sure which one you should use?

Are you looking for a well-supported solution that won’t break the bank?

Meet the ESP32.

ESP32 Solution

[caption id="attachment_16433" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] The ESP32 features 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 BR/EDR + BLE connectivity.[/caption]

Espressif Systems is the company behind the low-cost and popular ESP8266 Wi-Fi module that enabled hobbyists and developers to connect devices to Wi-Fi networks back in 2014. The ESP32 module, released in September 2016, is the successor to that module, and it offers more in the way of CPU speed, memory, connectivity, and security capabilities. This module offers:

• Xtensa dual-core CPU
• 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 BR/EDR + BLE capability
• A host of peripheral interfaces
• Secure boot
• Flash encryption
• Cryptographic hardware acceleration
• Power management capabilities

The ESP32 makes for a very decent starting point for your next IoT project.

IoT Expertise

Finding a design partner that could handle various technical requirements as well as the means to build a testable prototype is crucial to a project’s success.

You might be wondering what makes the ESP32 the right choice for a low-cost proof-of-concept. For starters, development kits featuring this microcontroller exist in abundance, and can typically be found for $15 or less. In addition, the manufacturer provides a development framework that is free to use and easy to reference, making it easy to get a kit up and running with a simple program. The microcontroller provides many capabilities to potentially tap into, making it a great choice for all sorts of projects.

If you’re weighing your options for your next IoT project specifically, the ESP32 will not disappoint.

Connectivity capability

From the ability to interface with all kinds of sensors and controls to the standard connectivity options of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Bluetooth Low Energy to the built-in security and cryptography capabilities, you can be assured that the ESP32 has the ability to do what you need it to do while delivering its feedback to the right place securely. In addition, you can tailor the amount of power consumed to fit your application using power management functionality.

Embedded Engineer Raymond Smith works with an ESP32 module.

So you think you might want to use the ESP32 for your next great idea? Let us know if you have any questions in the comments!

Written by Raymond Smith, Embeddded Engineer at DornerWorks