ESP32 is a powerful chip suitable for many IoT applications. This article introduces you to the characteristics of ESP32 and its derivatives in the Internet of Things, and helps you choose the best ESP32 gateways and development boards.
What is ESP32?
In the world of embedded systems and IoT applications, the ESP32 is a well-liked microcontroller and system-on-a-chip (SoC). Espressif Systems, a Chinese business renowned for its wireless communication solutions, is responsible for its development.
You may be interested in Why Choose Wireless SoCs for IoT Hardware Development & How to Select
This new ESP32 is the replacement for the well-known ESP8266, which gained a lot of popularity due to its built-in WiFi. In addition to WiFi, ESP32 also includes Bluetooth and Bluetooth Low Energy built in. We can characterize ESP32 as “ESP8266 on Steroids” in other terms.
Get to know ESP32 BLE WiFi gateway here.
The ESP32 is a flexible platform for a variety of projects because it includes a dual-core processor, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connection, different input/output ports, and a broad set of peripherals. It utilises the Xtensa LX6 microarchitecture and runs at up to 240 MHz of clock speed.
There are now several different chip models available, including:
- ESP32-D0WDQ6 (and ESP32D0WD)
- ESP32-D2WD
- ESP32-S0WD
- And the system in package (SiP) – ESP32-PICO-D4
| ESP32 Version | Maximum CPU Frequency | Wi-Fi | Bluetooth | GPIO Pins | RAM | Flash Memory | Additional Features |
| ESP32-S2 | Up to 240 MHz | 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi | No Bluetooth | 43 | 320 KB | 128 KB | USB OTG, Secure Boot, Cryptographic Hardware Acceleration |
| ESP32-S3 | Up to 240 MHz | 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi | Bluetooth LE | 43 | 512 KB | Up to 4 MB | USB OTG, Secure Boot, Cryptographic Hardware Acceleration |
| ESP32-WROOM-32 | Up to 240 MHz | 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi | Bluetooth LE | 38 | 520 KB | 4 MB | – |
| ESP32-WROOM-32D | Up to 240 MHz | 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi | Bluetooth LE | 38 | 520 KB | 4 MB | – |
| ESP32-WROOM-32U | Up to 240 MHz | 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi | Bluetooth LE | 38 | 520 KB | 4 MB | U.FL Connector for External Antenna |
| ESP32-WROVER | Up to 240 MHz | 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi | Bluetooth LE | 38 | 520 KB | 4 MB | External SPI Flash Support |
| ESP32-WROVER-B | Up to 240 MHz | 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi | Bluetooth LE | 38 | 520 KB | 4 MB | External SPI Flash Support |
| ESP32-PICO-D4 | Up to 240 MHz | 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi | Bluetooth LE | 20 | 520 KB | 4 MB | Integrated SPI Flash, Integrated Crystal Oscillator |
| ESP32-DevKitC | Up to 240 MHz | 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi | Bluetooth LE | 38 | 520 KB | 4 MB | USB-to-UART Bridge, Buttons, LEDs, MicroSD Card Slot |
The Features of ESP32
The ESP32 architectural block diagram, which displays every functional block of the ESP32 SOC, is shown below.
From circuitschools.com
Dual-Core Processor
From circuitschools.com
The ESP32 is equipped with a dual-core Tensilica LX6 processor, offering high processing power and the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
Low Power Consumption
The gadget contains an ultra-low-power co-processor, as seen in the core block image up top, which is used to carry out analog-to-digital conversions and other tasks while the system is running in deep sleep low-power mode. It shows that ESP32 offering various power-saving modes and features to optimize energy efficiency, making it suitable for battery-powered and low-power applications.
IoT protocol supported
From circuitschools.com
The ESP32 supports Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n standards, enabling it to connect to Wi-Fi networks as a client or create its own access point. This allows for seamless integration into wireless networks and internet connectivity. It also supports both Bluetooth Classic and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocols, enabling communication with other Bluetooth devices such as smartphones, tablets, and other IoT devices.
GPIO Pins
From circuitschools.com
There are 34 digital pins in all on the ESP32. These pins resemble the digital pins on an Arduino board and let us add LED displays, OLED displays, sensors, buttons, buzzers, and other components to our projects.
The majority of these pins also support high impedance status, internal pull-up, and pull-down. This makes them perfect for applying LED control methods as well as connecting buttons and matrix keyboards.
Peripheral Interfaces
The ESP32 provides various peripheral interfaces, including UART, SPI, I2C, I2S, SD/MMC, CAN, Ethernet MAC, and more. These interfaces facilitate communication and data transfer with a wide range of external devices.
Analog-to-Digital Converter
It includes multiple ADC channels, allowing for analog sensor readings and voltage measurements.
Secure Boot and Flash Encryption
The ESP32 incorporates security features such as secure boot and flash encryption to ensure the authenticity and integrity of the firmware, as well as protect sensitive data.
Real-Time Operating System Support
The ESP32 is compatible with the FreeRTOS operating system, providing a multitasking environment for managing and scheduling tasks effectively.
Development Environment and SDK
Espressif provides the ESP-IDF (ESP32 IoT Development Framework), which is the official software development kit (SDK) for the ESP32. It includes libraries, examples, and tools for easier development and programming of ESP32-based applications.
As a result, ESP32 is popular for IoT due to its low cost, low power consumption, built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities, ample processing power, and extensive community support.
ESP32 IoT devices
The chip itself is simply known as the ESP32. There are various available formats for device makers and developers to choose from, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
ESP32 Chip
Espressif makes this basic chip, which is what it is called. It is unshielded and requires soldering to be connected to a module or board. Because doing so would make the manufacturing process even more difficult, the majority of device makers do not merely buy chips.
ESP32 Module
The chip is housed in these surface-mountable modules. The advantage of buying a module is that throughout the manufacturing process, they may be quickly installed into an MCU. Device makers don’t have to worry about including extra steps in the production process to meet some IoT device certification such as FCC compliance with relation to Wi-Fi shielding because the chip is often insulated and pre-approved by the FCC.
ESP32 Development Board
Widely accessible ESP32 development boards offer a simple entry point for ESP32-based IoT projects. These boards often have the ESP32 microcontroller built in, along with extra parts and capabilities that make IoT hardware development and prototyping easier.
ESP32 Gateway
An ESP32 IoT gateway is a gateway or edge device that includes an ESP32 microcontroller or an ESP32-based module. It connects local IoT devices or sensors to the cloud or a central server, simplifying data exchange, agg regulation, and control. ESP32 gateways find use in a variety of IoT scenarios where local data processing, networking, and bridging IoT devices with cloud or central servers are required.
They’re widespread in smart home automation, industrial IoT, environmental monitoring, smart agriculture, and a variety of other IoT implementations. Here is a list of popular ESP32 gateways:
- Dusun ESP32 Gateway Key Features: Supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity (BLE, Bluetooth 5.2), Ethernet interface, multiple GPIO pins, MQTT protocol, OTA updates, and edge computing capabilities.
- Pycom FiPy Key Features: ESP32-based IoT development board with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LoRa, Sigfox, and NB-IoT connectivity options, GPIO pins, OTA updates, and multiple communication protocols support.
- Heltec Automation WiFi LoRa 32 (V2) Key Features: ESP32-based development board with integrated LoRa transceiver, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, OLED display, onboard antenna, and multiple GPIO pins.
- TTGO T-Beam Key Features: ESP32-based development board with integrated LoRa transceiver, GPS module, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, onboard antenna, multiple GPIO pins, and external battery support.
- M5Stack ESP32 IoT Development Kit Key Features: ESP32-based modular development kit with a touchscreen display, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, multiple sensors, GPIO pins, and an expandable ecosystem of modules.
How to Choose a ESP32 Gateway?
Just like choosing an ESP32 development board, you need to consider the following aspects:
Interfaces and GPIO
Look for an ESP32 gateway that provides sufficient GPIO pins and interfaces for connecting to various sensors, actuators, and peripherals required for your IoT project. Ensure that the gateway has the necessary interfaces such as UART, SPI, I2C, Ethernet, or others, depending on your specific needs.
The Dusun DSGW-092 ESP32 IoT Gateway offers various interfaces to connect with IoT devices and peripherals. It includes GPIO pins, UART, SPI, I2C, and Ethernet ports, providing flexibility for connecting a wide range of sensors, actuators, and other devices to the gateway.
Processing Power and Memory
Evaluate the processing power and memory capabilities of the ESP32 gateway. Consider the complexity of your IoT application and the amount of data processing and storage required. A more powerful gateway may be needed for applications that involve intensive data processing or running edge computing tasks.
The ESP32 microcontroller used in the Dusun gateway provides high-performance processing capabilities. It features a dual-core processor, ample RAM and flash memory, which enables efficient data handling, real-time analytics, and edge computing tasks.
Gateway Protocols
Verify the ESP32 gateway’s capabilities for bespoke APIs or popular gateway protocols like MQTT and HTTP. For smooth integration with your IoT devices and cloud platforms, it’s essential that your chosen communication protocol be compatible with them. Depending on the particular needs of your IoT devices and infrastructure, determine if it supports the required wireless protocols such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or LoRa.
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, BLE, and Zigbee are just a few of the wireless communication standards supported by the Dusun ESP32 gateway. This wide variety of connection choices enables flexible and scalable deployments by allowing easy integration with different IoT devices and sensors.
Development Ecosystem
For the ESP32 gateway you are considering, check the availability of development tools, software frameworks, and community support. It might be simpler to create and debug your IoT applications if you have access to tools, libraries, and examples from a strong and active development environment.
The Dusun gateway’s central ESP32 microcontroller is built on open-source hardware and software, giving you the freedom to create your own firmware and applications. You can program the ESP32 and make use of its capabilities thanks to the extensive collection of tools, libraries, and examples provided by the ESP-IDF.
You may modify the Dusun ESP32 Bluetooth WiFi Gateway’s capabilities to match the needs of your particular project by using the ESP-IDF or other compatible programming frameworks. Creating unique communication protocols, putting data processing techniques into practice, connecting with cloud platforms, and other things fall under this category.The Dusun ESP32 Bluetooth Gateway supports the most recent Bluetooth 5.2, which is worth highlighting.
Customers can control smart home appliances using the Tuya app by connecting the DSGW-092 ESP32 gateway to the Tuya platform. Manufacturers of smart home appliances can utilize Tuya directly since the process is quite straightforward rather than creating a cloud and part application to manage the product.
It will allow you to reduce spending. Manufacturers and suppliers can easily activate their products for either Tuya Smart Life or Tuya Smart by registering them on the Tuya platform.
Additionally, Dusun IoT provides a range of Tuya products, such as sensors (PIR, smoke, gas, or water leakage, door or window opening, Siren, humidity/temperature, and SoS), security monitoring tools (cameras), and valve controllers. Meanwhile. You may check for the Tuya router gateway and the Tuya Zigbee gateway for smart homes here. Please contact us via side form or chat, Dusun IoT engineer team will follow up your needs ASAP.
ESP32 IoT FAQs
Is ESP32 better than Raspberry Pi?
ESP32 Has A Slightly Better Performance Compared to Raspberry Pi Pico as the CPU CLOCKS AT 240MHz Compared to Rasperry PICO Which Offers CLOCK SPEED UP TO 13 3MHz. The ESP32 Has A Faster Instrument Rate as Compared to Raspberry Pi PICO. High performance Raspberry Pi alternative. For more information, you can visit Smart Home Automation Projects Using Raspberry Pi, is there a better alternative?
Is the ESP32 suitable for industrial use?
A powerful and versatile board, ideal for industrial monitoring, control, and automation solutions. The ESP32 board has a dual core, which allows you to divide the functions into inputs and outputs.
What is the ESP32’s operating range?
The ESP32 can operate reliably in industrial conditions with operational temperatures ranging from -40°C to +125°C. ESP32 can dynamically erase exterior circuit defects and react to changes in external conditions thanks to improved calibration circuitries.
