Table of contents
▶ Introduction to ESP32
▶ Why ESP32
▶ ESP32 Specifications
▶ ESP32 vs ESP8266
▶ Pin Diagram
▶ ESP Peripherals
▶ Esp Based projects Ideas
1
Introduction
• ESP32 is a series of low-cost, low-power system on chip microcontrollers with integrated
Wi-Fi and dual-mode Bluetooth.
• It is a successor to the ESP8266 microcontroller.
2
Why ESP32
⮚ Low Cost
⮚ Low Power
⮚ Wi-Fi Connectivity
⮚ Bluetooth
⮚ Dual-Core
⮚ Compatible with Arduino Programming
3
ESP32 Specifications
❑ Wireless connectivity (WiFi): 150.0 Mbps data rate with HT40
Bluetooth: BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) and Bluetooth Classic.
Processor: Tensilica Xtensa Dual-Core 32-bit LX6 microprocessor, running at 160 or 240 MHz.
❑ ROM: 448 KB (for booting and core functions)
❑ SRAM: 520 KB (for data and instructions)
❑ Low Power: ensures that you can still use ADC conversions, for example, during deep sleep.
4
ESP32 vs ESP8266
❑ The ESP32 adds an extra CPU core, faster Wi-Fi, more GPIOs, and supports Bluetooth 4.2 and
Bluetooth low energy. Additionally, the ESP32 comes with touch-sensitive pins that can be
used to wake up the ESP32 from deep sleep, and built-in hall effect sensor.
✔ The ESP32 is faster than the ESP8266.
✔ The ESP32 comes with more GPIOs with multiple functions.
✔ The ESP32 supports analog measurements on 18 channels (analog-enabled pins) versus just
one 10-bit ADC pin on the ESP8266.
✔ The ESP32 supports Bluetooth while the ESP8266 doesn’t.
✔ The ESP32 is dual-core (most models), and the ESP8266 is single core.
✔ The ESP32 is a bit more expensive than the ESP8266.
5
Pin Diagram
6
ESP Peripherals
• 18 - Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) channels
• 3 - SPI interfaces
• 3 - UART interfaces
• 2 - I2C interfaces
• 16 - PWM output channels
• 2 - Digital-to-Analog Converters (DAC)
• 10 - Capacitive sensing GPIOs
7
Generalized Description of ESP Board Pinout
While specific pinouts vary between different ESP boards, they generally share some common
characteristics and functionalities. Here's a generalized overview:
Number of Pins:
• ESP8266 boards typically have 32 pins in a QFN package.
• ESP32 boards usually have more pins, ranging from 30 to 40 depending on the variant.
Power Supply Pins:
• Most ESP boards have separate power supply pins for digital (VDD) and analog (VDD_ANA)
functions.
• Typical voltage levels are 3.3V for VDD and 2.5V for VDD_ANA.
• Ground pins (GND) are essential for circuit stability and are often located around the
board. 8
General Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) Pins:
⮚ These are the most versatile pins, allowing for digital input, output, SPI, I2C, and PWM
(Pulse Width Modulation) functionalities.
⮚ The number of GPIO pins varies between boards, typically ranging from 8 to 32.
⮚ Each GPIO pin has a unique number and label for identification.
Bootstrapping Pins:
⮚ Some ESP boards have specific pins that need to be set to certain logic levels (high or low)
during boot for proper operation.
⮚ These pins are crucial for programming and uploading firmware.
Other Functional Pins: Some boards may have additional pins for specific functions like:
o Reset pins
o LED control pins
o ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) channels
o SPI flash memory interface 9
Pinout Diagrams:
It's crucial to consult the specific pinout diagram for ESP board, as functionalities and pin
assignments can differ.
• ESP8266 NodeMCU:
• ESP32 DevKitC:
Remember, this is a generalized overview, and the specific pinout for your board might differ.
Always refer to the official documentation or resources provided by the manufacturer for
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accurate and up-to-date information.
Dual-Core in ESP32 under Arduino IDE
ESP32 has 2 cores:
- Core 0 (PRO_CPU): WiFi, Bluetooth, system tasks.
- Core 1 (APP_CPU): Runs Arduino 'setup()' and 'loop()' by
default.
Using Arduino IDE:
- No extra setup needed for dual-core.
- Arduino code runs on Core 1 automatically.
- Core 0 handles WiFi/Bluetooth/system tasks in the
background. 11
Dual-Core in ESP32 under Arduino IDE
Manual dual-core usage needs FreeRTOS tasks:
- Use 'xTaskCreatePinnedToCore(...)' to assign tasks to Core 0 or
1.
- Not required for basic lab projects like PIR + LED+Buzzer etc
Key Points:
- ESP32 dual-core support works automatically under Arduino
IDE.
- Default Arduino structure is sufficient for most labs.
- Advanced projects can explore FreeRTOS task handling. 12
Code of a dual core ESP32 project with PIR
sensor, LEDs
int led = 13;
int sensor = 2;
int state = LOW; 【Tracks whether motion was previously detected (LOW = no, HIGH = yes)】
int val = 0; 【Stores the current PIR sensor reading (0 = no motion, 1 = motion)】
void setup() {
pinMode(led, OUTPUT);
pinMode(sensor, INPUT);
Serial.begin(9600); 【Initialize serial communication at 9600 baud for monitoring】
}
void loop() {
val = digitalRead(sensor);
if (val == HIGH) { 【If motion is detected】
digitalWrite(led, HIGH); 【Turn ON LED to indicate motion】
delay(100); 【Short delay for stability】 13
Code of an dual core ESP32 projects with PIR
sensor, LEDs
if (state == LOW) { 【If the previous state was 'no motion'】
Serial.println("Motion detected!"); 【Print motion detected message to Serial Monitor】
state = HIGH; 【Update state to HIGH indicating motion is now detected】
}
}
else { 【If motion is NOT detected】
digitalWrite(led, LOW); 【Turn OFF LED indicating no motion】
delay(200); 【Short delay for stability】
if (state == HIGH) { 【If the previous state was 'motion detected'】
Serial.println("Motion ended!"); 【Print motion ended message to Serial Monitor】
state = LOW; 【Update state to LOW indicating no motion detected now】
}
}
}
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ESP Based Projects
❑ Smart Home & Automation Projects
1.Voice-Controlled Home Automation – Control lights, fans, and other appliances using Google
Assistant or Alexa with ESP32 and MQTT.
1.Smart Door Lock System – Use RFID, fingerprint sensor, or facial recognition to secure your
door.
1.IoT-Based Gas Leakage Detector – Detect gas leaks and send alerts via an app using an MQ-2
sensor.
1.Automatic Curtain Control – Use a servo motor to open/close curtains based on sunlight
intensity or voice commands.
1.Water Quality Monitoring System – Measure pH, TDS, and temperature of water in real-time
and display data on a mobile app.
15
ESP Based Projects
❑ Agriculture & Environmental Monitoring
6.Smart Irrigation System – Automate watering based on soil moisture levels using soil moisture
sensors and ESP32.
6.Greenhouse Monitoring System – Monitor temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels inside a
greenhouse and control ventilation automatically.
6.Weather Station – Collect real-time weather data (temperature, humidity, pressure, rainfall)
and display it on a web dashboard.
6.IoT-Based Pest Detection – Use a camera module and AI to detect pests in fields and alert
farmers.
6.Smart Aquaponics System – Monitor water pH, temperature, and oxygen levels for fish farming
and hydroponics.
16
ESP Based Projects
❑ Health & Wearable Technology
11.ESP32 Smart Health Monitoring System – Track heart rate, blood oxygen, and temperature
using sensors and send data to a mobile app.
11.Fall Detection for Elderly People – Use an accelerometer and ESP32 to detect falls and send
emergency alerts.
11.AI-Based Gesture Recognition – Detect hand gestures using an accelerometer and use them for
controlling smart devices.
17
ESP Based Projects
❑ Industrial & Security Applications
14.IoT-Based Fire Detection System – Use temperature and flame sensors to detect fires and send
alerts via Wi-Fi.
14.Smart Factory Monitoring System – Monitor machine temperature, vibrations, and power
consumption in industries.
14.IoT-Based Asset Tracking System – Track valuable assets in real-time using GPS and ESP32.
14.RFID-Based Attendance System – Track employee/student attendance using RFID and store
data in Firebase.
14.IoT-Based Air Pollution Monitoring – Measure air quality (CO2, PM2.5, NO2) and display data on
a web dashboard.
18
ESP Based Projects
❑ Transportation & Mobility
19.Smart Parking System – Detect free parking slots using ultrasonic sensors and display
availability in an app.
19.Vehicle Tracking System – Track a vehicle’s real-time location and speed using GPS and ESP32.
19.Automatic Toll Collection System – Use RFID tags for contactless toll payment and reduce
congestion.
19
ESP Based Projects
❑ Fun & Experimental Projects
22.ESP32-Based AI Camera – Use an ESP32-CAM module to recognize faces and objects using AI.
22.ESP32-Based Gaming Console – Build a retro gaming console with an OLED display and push
buttons.
22.IoT-Based Smart Mirror – Display weather, calendar, and notifications on a smart mirror
using ESP32.
22.ESP32-Powered Robot Car – Control a robot car using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi via a mobile app.
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