Getting Started with ESP32-S3 Mini Development Board

Introduction

The ESP32-S3-Zero are ultra-compact boards with castellated holes, designed for seamless integration into other host circuits. The ESP32-S3-Zero is equipped with a Type-C USB connector, providing access to most of the unutilized pins while maintaining a small footprint. It features the ESP32-FH4R2 SoC, which supports low-power Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0, along with 4MB Flash and 2MB PSRAM. The module is also integrated with hardware-based encryption accelerators, RNG, HMAC, and Digital Signature modules, catering to the security requirements of IoT applications. With its low-power mode, the board is ideal for use in a variety of scenarios, including IoT devices, mobile gadgets, wearable technology, and smart home solutions.

Specifications

Features

• Equipped with Xtensa® 32-bit LX7 dual-core processor, operating at a maximum frequency of 240MHz.
• Supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) and Bluetooth® 5 (LE).
• Includes 512KB of SRAM, 384KB of ROM, 4MB of onboard Flash memory, and 2MB of PSRAM.
• Features a castellated module with an integrated ceramic antenna, enabling direct soldering to carrier boards.
• Supports flexible clock settings, independent power supply options for the module, and other controls to optimize power efficiency in various use cases.
• Comes with a full-speed USB serial port controller.
• Provides 24 GPIO pins offering versatile pin assignments.
• Offers 4 SPI, 2 I2C, 3 UART, 2 I2S, and 2 ADC interfaces, among others.

Hardware overview​

ESP32S3 indication diagram

ESP32S3 Pinout

ESP32-S3-Zero Pinout (Short Description):

Power Pins: 5V, GND, 3V3 for powering the board. Communication: Supports UART (TX/RX), I2C, SPI, and I2S. GPIOs: Configurable as PWM, ADC, UART, or digital I/O. Special Pins: GPIO8–15 for SPI/UART; GPIO17 as general-purpose. Programming: C-Type USB interface for uploading code and debugging.

Getting Started

Hardware Preparation

To begin working with the ESP32-S3-Mini, ensure you have the following:

• ESP32-S3-Mini Module Development Board
• USB Type-C Cable
• Computer with Windows, macOS, or Linux operating system.

Software Preparation

Install Arduino IDE:

• Download and install the latest version of the Arduino IDE.

Add ESP32 Board Support:

• Open Arduino IDE and navigate to File > Preferences.

• In the “Additional Boards Manager URLs” field, enter:

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/gh-pages/package_esp32_index.json

• Click OK.
• Go to the “Board manager” tab on the left-hand side of the screen.
• Click on the “Board Manager” button (Board icon) at the top of the Board tab.
• In the Board Manager window, type “esp32” in the search bar.
• Locate the “esp32” library click on the “Install” button next to it.
• Wait for the board to be installed.

Select the ESP32-S3-Mini Board:

• In Arduino IDE, go to Tools > Board and select “ESP32S3 Dev Module” or the appropriate option for your module.

Running Your First Program

Write or open a sample sketch, such as the RGB LED control example:

void setup() {
    pinMode(25, OUTPUT); // Red
    pinMode(26, OUTPUT); // Green
    pinMode(27, OUTPUT); // Blue
}

void loop() {
    digitalWrite(25, HIGH); // Red on
    digitalWrite(26, LOW);
    digitalWrite(27, LOW);
    delay(1000);

    digitalWrite(25, LOW);
    digitalWrite(26, HIGH); // Green on
    delay(1000);

    digitalWrite(26, LOW);
    digitalWrite(27, HIGH); // Blue on
    delay(1000);
}