DroneBridge for ESP32

A DroneBridge enabled firmware for the popular ESP32 modules from Espressif Systems. Probably the cheapest way to communicate with your drone, UAV, UAS, ground based vehicle or whatever you may call them.

It also allows for a fully transparent serial to WiFi pass through link with variable packet size (Continuous stream of data required).

DroneBridge for ESP32 is a telemetry/low data rate only solution. There is no support for cameras connected to the ESP32 since it does not support video encoding.

Features

• Bi-directional transparent serial to WiFi & ESP-NOW link
• Support for MAVLink, MSP, LTM or any other payload
• Affordable: ~7€
• Up to 150m range using WiFi & (coming up!) up to 1km of range using ESP-NOW (sender & receiver must be ESP32 with LR-Mode enabled (ESP32 C2 is not supported))
• Weight: <10 g
• Supported by: QGroundControl, DroneBridge for Android (app), mwptools, impload etc.
• Easy to set up: Power connection + UART connection to flight controller
• Fully configurable through easy to use web interface
• Parsing of LTM & MSPv2 for more reliable connection and less packet loss
• Fully transparent telemetry downlink option for continuous streams like MAVLink or any other protocol
• Reliable, low latency, light weight
• Upload mission etc.

Blackbox concept. UDP & TCP connections possible. Automatic UDP uni-cast of messages to port 14550 to all connected devices/stations. Allows additional clients to register for UDP. Client must send a packet with length > 0 to UDP port of ESP32.

Download or Compile

Ready to use binaries for ESP32 via GitHub releases.
Or compile using esp-idf v5.1:

• ESP32 idf.py set-target esp32 build
• ESP32S2 idf.py set-target esp32s2 build
• ESP32S3 idf.py set-target esp32s3 build
• ESP32C3 idf.py set-target esp32c3 build

Hardware

Officially supported and tested boards:
Do the project and yourself a favour and use one of the officially supported and tested boards below.
These boards are very low in price, have everything you need and are also very small. Perfect for use on any drone.

• Official board for DroneBridge for ESP32 - spares from first batch, pre-installed and ready for use
  currently shipping to EU only - contact seller for non-EU shipping options

Other official options

• Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32C3 + External antenna for more range.

For further info please check the wiki!

Installation/Flashing using precompiled binaries

First download the latest release from this repository. You can find them here.

There are many multiple ways on how to flash the firmware.
For further info please check the wiki!

Wiring

1. Connect the UART of the ESP32 to a 3.3V UART of your flight controller. It is not recommended to use the ESP32s pins that are marked with TX & RX since they often are connected to the internal serial ouput. Go for any other pin instead!
2. Set the flight controller port to the desired protocol.

Check out manufacturer datasheet! Only some modules can take more than 3.3V. Follow the recommendations by the ESP32 boards manufacturer for powering the device
For further info please check the wiki!

Configuration

1. Connect to the wifi DroneBridge ESP32 with password dronebridge
2. In your browser type: dronebridge.local (Chrome: http://dronebridge.local) or 192.168.2.1 into the address bar. You might need to disable the cellular connection to force the browser to use the WiFi connection
3. Configure as you please and hit save

For further info please check the wiki!

Use with DroneBridge for Android or QGroundControl

• Use the Android app to display live telemetry data. Mission planning capabilities for MAVLink will follow.
• The ESP will auto broadcast messages to all connected devices via UDP to port 14550. QGroundControl should auto connect
• Connect via TCP on port 5760 or UDP on port 14550 to the ESP32 to send & receive data with a GCS of your choice. In case of a UDP connection the GCS must send at least one packet (e.g. MAVLink heart beat etc.) to the UDP port of the ESP32 to register as an end point.

Developers

Compile

You will need the Espressif SDK: esp-idf + toolchain. Check out their website for more info and on how to set it up. The code is written in pure C using the esp-idf (no arduino libs).

This project supports the v5.1.2 of ESP-IDF

Added mDNS via idf.py add-dependency "espressif/mdns^1.2.2" Compile and flash by running: idf.py build, idf.py flash

API

The webinterface communicates with a REST:API on the ESP32. You can use that API to set configurations not selectable via the web-interface (e.g. baud rate). It also allows you to easily integrate DroneBridge for ESP32.

To request the settings

http://dronebridge.local/api/settings/request

To request stats

http://dronebridge.local/api/system/stats

To request IP and port of active UDP connections

http://dronebridge.local/api/system/conns

Trigger a reboot

http://dronebridge.local/api/system/reboot

Trigger a settings change: Send a valid JSON

{
  "esp32_mode": 1,
  "wifi_ssid": "DroneBridge ESP32",
  "wifi_pass": "dronebridge",
  "ap_channel": 6,
  "tx_pin": 17,
  "rx_pin": 16,
  "telem_proto": 4,
  "baud": 115200,
  "msp_ltm_port": 0,
  "ltm_pp": 2,
  "trans_pack_size": 64,
  "ap_ip": "192.168.2.1"
}

to

http://dronebridge.local/api/settings/change

Testing

To test the frontend without the ESP32 run

npm install -g json-server
json-server db.json --routes routes.json

Set const ROOT_URL = "http://localhost:3000/" inside index.html and the <script> block