ESP32-S3-Remote-Controller

An ESP32-S3 based remote controller for controlling FPV drones and other various remote controller applications. This custom pcb reads analog inputs of two joysticks and joystick button presses. There is also a small RGB-LED installed to quickly test device functionality. This will be used to send commands to a flight controller in a future project.

Hardware features

• SoC: Espressif ESP32-S3 System-On-Chip dual core with clock speeds up to 240 MHz + Wi-Fi with in buiilt USB CDC with speeds up to 12 Mbit/s
• External Memory: 8 MByte QSPI NOR-Flash, 8 MByte QSPI PSRAM
• RGB LED common anode (ASMB-MTB1-0B3A2)
• 2x THB001P Joysticks
• 2.54 mm pitch connector for connecting an additional I2C device
• 2.54 mm pitch connector for plugging in an USB to FTDI adapter
• USB Type C connector

Applications

• Remote Controller for FPV drones or EDF Planes
• Game controller
• Smart home
• Other Remote controller Applications

Absolute Maximum Ratings

Supply Voltage: +5V0 to +5V5 (recommended: +5V0) USB supplied. On board Texas Instrumaents Switching Voltage regulator regulating voltage down to +3,3 V. Digital logic levels: +3,3 V.

Manufacturing Information

• Length = 40mm, Width = 100mm, Thickness = 1.6 mm
• Layers = 4
• Min. Via Hole diameter = 0.3 mm
• Via-Type: Plugged
• Impedance Control: JLC04161H-3313
• Surface Finish: LeadFree HASL
• Material Type: FR-4 TG135-140

Progress

• Schematic design: complete
• Layouting: complete
• Manufacturing & assembly: complete
• Bring-Up: PSRAM untested and desoldered for hardware debugging reasons and yet to be teseted, Wi-Fi yet to be tested (Waiting for Antennas and IPX connector order), Joystick, RGB-LED successfully tested

Difficulties and guide for bring up

• Uploading / Flashing from Arduino IDE does not work
• Used and working IDE: Visual Studio Code with PlatformIO (Arduino Serial Monitor + Plotter working when reading serial data, note: Close serial monitor in PlatformIO in order to work with other serial terminals)
• While Hardware bring-up the vdd_sdio Voltage was set to +1.8 V by factory default. The used QSPI NOR-Flash (W25Q64JVZEIQ) has a minimum operating voltage of +2.7 V (so +3.3 V Logic levels). The vdd_sdio voltage needs to be changed. Download the ESPtool from Espressif repository. Navigate trough command window (CMD) to the ESPtool directory and input following:

python -m espefuse --chip esp32-s3 --port COM3 set_flash_voltage 3.3V

It is recommended to power reset the device to apply the vdd_sdio changes.

• You can also erase the flash by writing following line:

python -m esptool --chip esp32-s3 --port COM3 erase_flash

• For PlatformIO following configurations worked for my custom hardware for the platformio.ini:

[env:esp32s3]
platform = espressif32
board = esp32-s3-devkitc-1
framework = arduino
monitor_speed = 115200
upload_speed = 921600
board_build.flash_mode = qio      ; QIO für schnelle Übertragung
board_build.flash_size = 8MB     ; 8MB Flash
board_build.partitions = default_8MB.csv
upload_port = COM3
monitor_port = COM3

build_flags =
   -DARDUINO_USB_MODE=1
   -DARDUINO_USB_CDC_ON_BOOT=1

• Note to configure the COM-Port according to device manager and how it is recognized by the End device

Examples

Developed custom pcb

Serial plotter curves of the moved joysticks

I make no guarantees as to device funtionality. Please review the components, schematics before production. Make sure all connections are soldered properly!