ESP32 product development
ProtoMakers develops ESP32-based products for companies in Israel: the board, the firmware and the connection to the server and the app. ESP32 fits when the product needs Wi-Fi or Bluetooth at low cost, and with the right design it suits commercial and industrial products, not only prototypes.
What we do with ESP32
- Firmware in ESP-IDF, Espressif's official framework, with FreeRTOS
- Connecting the product to a server over Wi-Fi: MQTT, HTTPS and WebSocket
- BLE for setup and control from a phone
- Graphical user interfaces on the ESP32-S3 with LVGL
- Remote updates (OTA) with two memory partitions and rollback if something fails
- Security: Secure Boot and flash encryption
- A bridge between a local network, such as LoRa or RS485, and a cloud server
- Designing the board around the module: antenna, a stable power supply and protection
When ESP32 is the right choice
- The product needs Wi-Fi or BLE, and the part cost matters
- The product connects to a server or an app
- You need a graphical display and a friendly user interface
- You want to reach a working prototype quickly, with a ready-made radio module
When something else fits better
- Hard real-time timing, many fast interfaces or safety logic: STM32 fits better. The two are often combined in one product
- The product has to run for months or years on a small battery: a dedicated BLE chip such as Nordic nRF52 fits better
- The product needs Linux, a camera or heavy processing: a small Linux computer fits better
- The project needs a large team working on many parts in parallel: a large development company is a better fit than us
Who does the work
The same engineer designs the board, writes the firmware and connects it to the server. With ESP32 this matters a lot, because Wi-Fi and radio problems look like code bugs, but often come from the antenna, the power supply or the component placement on the board. With one engineer responsible for the whole chain, there is no argument between teams about whose bug it is. And in a small company you talk directly to the engineer, with no project manager in between, which is both faster and cheaper.
FAQ
Who develops ESP32-based products in Israel?
ProtoMakers, a development company in Kiryat Tivon, develops ESP32-based boards and firmware for companies across Israel: IoT products, controllers that connect to a server, and devices with a graphical display. One engineer is responsible for the hardware, the code and the server connection.
ESP32 or STM32?
It depends on the product. ESP32 fits when you need Wi-Fi, BLE, a display or a server connection. STM32 fits when you need hard real-time timing, many interfaces or safety logic. They are often combined: the ESP32 handles communication and the STM32 handles control.
Which ESP32 should we choose?
The classic ESP32 suits most products with Wi-Fi and BLE. The ESP32-S3 suits products with a graphical display or heavier processing. The ESP32-C3 and ESP32-C6 are cheaper and suit simpler products, and the C6 also supports Wi-Fi 6 and Thread. The choice is made during specification.
Is ESP32 suitable for a commercial product, or only for prototypes?
It suits commercial and industrial products too, if designed properly: a stable power supply, a well-placed antenna, protected inputs, firmware in ESP-IDF rather than Arduino, and remote updates that never leave a device stuck. A pre-certified radio module also shortens the way to regulatory approval.
Who owns the code at the end?
You do. The source code, its version history, the design files and the documentation are handed over at the end of the project.
Have a project on the table?
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