ESP32-Pi: A low cost Raspberry Pi Alternative using ESP32
Emulates 24 GPIO Pins, three UART ports, I2C and SPI, 10/100 Mbps Etherner, WiFi and Bluetooth, USB-C
Overview
The ESP32-Pi is a low-cost Raspberry Pi substitute built around an ESP32 processor. It has the same dimensions as all Raspberry Pi boards equipped with the 2x20 GPIO connector, and a pin-compatible GPIO header that accepts HATs designed for Raspberry Pi — for sure all Sequent Microsystems HATs. It does not run Linux and has no operating system or HDMI port, but it emulates most Raspberry Pi GPIO functions and adds its own WiFi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, SD-card, and USB-C hardware.
- Emulates 24 out of 29 Raspberry Pi GPIO pins
- Pin compatible three UART ports
- Pin compatible I2C and SPI ports
- WiFi and Bluetooth (low energy)
- 10/100 Mbps RJ45 Ethernet port
- On-board SD-Card socket
- USB Type C port for power, programming and debug
- ESP32 processor up to 240MHz
- Power and Ethernet LEDs
- Arduino and OpenPLC programmable
- Web Server, MQTT protocols
- Best Raspberry Pi Alternative today
- ECCN Code EAR99
Works with Arduino and OpenPLC
Compatible with the Arduino IDE and OpenPLC for application development.
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INTERFACES AND I/O
| I/O's | Communication | Software Integration |
|---|---|---|
| • 24 of 29 Raspberry Pi GPIO pins emulated | • WiFi | • Arduino IDE |
| • Three pin-compatible UART ports | • Bluetooth (low energy) | • OpenPLC |
| • Pin-compatible I2C port | • 10/100 Mbps RJ45 Ethernet port | |
| • Pin-compatible SPI port | • USB Type-C (power, programming, and debug) | |
| • On-board SD-Card socket | ||
| • Power and Ethernet LEDs | ||
| Other Features | ||
| • ESP32 processor up to 240MHz | ||
| • Web Server and MQTT protocol support | ||
| • Pin-compatible GPIO connector accepts HATs designed for Raspberry Pi, for sure all Sequent Microsystems HATs | ||
| • ECCN Code EAR99 | ||
DESCRIPTION
The ESP32-Pi is a low-cost Raspberry Pi substitute for embedded applications that don't require Linux or an operating system.
The card has the same dimensions as all Raspberry Pi's equipped with the 2x20 GPIO connector. It has a pin-compatible GPIO connector, accepting all HATs designed for Raspberry Pi (well, maybe most of them. For sure all the Sequent Microsystems HATs).
The ESP32 module has its own RF antenna, supporting both WiFi and Bluetooth. It has enough IOs to emulate most of the Raspberry Pi GPIOs.
Hardware for an SD-CARD socket connected through an SPI port, a USB-C port which you can use to power the board and to upload and debug your programs, and a 10/100Mbps port for secure, wired Internet connection.
It does not run Linux, it does not have an operating system or an HDMI port, but you can use the Six-in-one LCD Adapter Kit add-on to add a four lines x 20 characters or 2 lines x 16 characters LCD add-on to input values and display variables for your embedded applications.
You can write your applications using the Arduino IDE or OpenPLC. We are in the process of developing OpenPLC blocks for all Sequent Microsystems HATs, which will work seamlessly with this HAT.
Side by Side Comparison
Raspberry Pi has surface mount components on both sides. The ESP32-Pi has SM components only on the bottom. Overall dimensions are identical. The USB port is on the bottom side, slightly moved to the right. The Ethernet port is in the same position. The SD card is on the same side, slightly lower position. The picture below shows the latest fully functional lab prototype which was used to obtain the CE certification.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
CARD LAYOUT
MECHANICAL SPECIFICATIONS
The ESP32-Pi has the same overall dimensions as a standard Raspberry Pi board with a 2x20 GPIO connector. Surface mount components are on the bottom side only (Raspberry Pi has them on both sides). The USB-C port is on the bottom side, slightly moved to the right compared to a Raspberry Pi; the Ethernet port is in the same position; the SD card is on the same side, in a slightly lower position.
GPIO PIN MAPPING & COMPATIBILITY
The ESP32-Pi emulates 24 of the 29 Raspberry Pi GPIO pins, including three pin-compatible UART ports and pin-compatible I2C and SPI ports. Its GPIO connector accepts HATs designed for the Raspberry Pi — for sure all Sequent Microsystems HATs.
POWER REQUIREMENTS
Power supply: The board is powered through its USB Type-C port, which is also used for programming and debugging — no separate power supply or connector is required.
PROGRAMMING
DOWNLOADS
| User's Guide (PDF) | Schematics (PDF) | CAD | Software & Integrations |
|---|---|---|---|
| User's Guide | Open Source Schematic | 3D Model | Arduino Library |
| OpenPLC |
COMPLIANCE
WHAT'S INCLUDED
When you purchase the card you will receive the following item:
| 1. ESP32-Pi Board |
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QUICK START
- Connect the ESP32-Pi to your computer using the USB Type-C port.
- Program the board using the Arduino IDE or OpenPLC — see the Downloads tab above for the Arduino library and OpenPLC.
This Quick Start will be expanded with a full standard walkthrough in a future update.
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