The espBerry Project

The espBerry DevBoard combines the ESP32-DevKitC development board with any Raspberry Pi HAT by connecting to the onboard RPi-compatible 40-pin GPIO header. The purpose of the espBerry should not be perceived as a Raspberry Pi alternative but as extending the ESP32's functionality by tapping into the vast offerings of RPi HATs in the market and taking advantage of the multiple and flexible hardware options. The espBerry project continues to integrate an ever-increasing number of existing RPi HATs and provide the corresponding software libraries free of charge. Furthermore, the open-source code samples take advantage of the popular Arduino IDE with its excellent programming capabilities.

espBerry Features

• Processor: ESP32 DevKitC
  • 32-Bit Xtensa dual-core @240 MHz
  • WiFi IEEE 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz
  • Bluetooth 4.2 BR/EDR and BLE
  • 520 kB SRAM (16 kB for cache)
  • 448 kB ROM
  • Programmable per USB A / micro USB B cable
• Raspberry Pi Compatible 40-pin GPIO header
  • 20 GPIO
  • 2 x SPI
  • 1 x UART
• Input Power: 5 VDC
  • Reverse polarity protection
  • Overvoltage Protection
  • Power Barrel Connector Jack 2.00mm ID (0.079"), 5.50mm OD (0.217")
  • 12/24 VDC options available
• Operating Range: -40°C ~ 85°C Note: Most RPi HATs operate at 0°C ~ 50°C
• Dimensions: 95 mm x 56 mm - 3.75" x 2.2" Complies to Standard Raspberry Pi HAT Mechanical Specifications...

Difference between the Raspberry Pi and the espBerry DevBoard

In general, the differences between these two systems are the same as with any Linux systems (e.g., Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone, etc.) and mere embedded solutions (e.g., Arduino, ESP32 boards, etc.).

The Raspberry Pi utilizes a much more powerful processor and supports more serial ports (Ethernet, USB). However, increased processor speed is required to compensate for the enormous needs of the Linux operating system. In comparison, the espBerry does not come with an operating system, contributing to speedy startup times.

After reset/power-up, the program operates virtually immediately, which is mandatory for many applications. The startup time of a Raspberry Pi depends on several factors, primarily the processor speed and the SD card access time. Consequently, it can be between ten seconds and a minute.

However, the Raspberry Pi is better suited for extensive file operations and graphical user interfaces. In turn, the espBerry is easier and faster to program and is better suited for Internet of Things (IoT) applications, especially those requiring wireless capabilities.

Electronics Projects with the ESP8266 and ESP32: Building Web Pages, Applications, and WiFi Enabled Devices

Copperhill Technologies highly recommends using this book for your wireless application projects. Yes, many good books and free online resources are available these days, but this is the book we are using. It made our approach to Bluetooth, BLE, and WIFI a breeze. Programming wireless applications without hassles was fun, and we will share them on this web page.

Projects throughout the book utilize the wireless functionality and processing power of the ESP microcontrollers. Projects are built in the Arduino IDE, so you don't need to download other programming software. In addition, mobile apps are now ubiquitous, making the app build projects of the book very relevant, as are the web page design projects.

In Electronics Projects with the ESP8266 and ESP32, you'll see how easy and practical it is to access information over the internet, develop web pages, build mobile apps to remotely control devices with speech recognition, or incorporate Google Maps in a GPS route tracking app.

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