The ESP-BOX is an AIoT development platform from Espressif Systems, targeting developers building edge AI, HMI, and IIoT applications. It offers a balanced solution for prototyping and complex IoT systems, featuring the ESP32-S3 Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5 (LE) SoC and various development boards like the ESP32-S3-BOX-3.

How It Works

The platform leverages the ESP32-S3 SoC for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, enabling applications such as offline voice assistants, online AI chatbots, Matter devices, and HMI interfaces. It supports multiple development frameworks including ESP-IDF, Arduino, and PlatformIO, and integrates with GUI libraries like LVGL and SquareLine Studio for visual development. The system is designed for flexible home automation and sensor applications.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Install: Requires ESP-IDF (Espressif IoT Development Framework). Follow the ESP-IDF development guide and ESP-IDF (release/v5.1) Installation Step by Step.
• Prerequisites: ESP-IDF v5.1 or later.
• Setup: Clone the repository with git clone --recursive https://github.com/espressif/esp-box.git. Refer to the Examples README for specific board configurations.
• Resources: Detailed guides available for Hardware Overview, Getting Started, and Voice Assistance Control.

Highlighted Details

• Out-of-the-box edge AI + HMI application development board.
• FreeRTOS-based voice interaction: offline recognition, network communication, screen display, peripheral control.
• Supports far-field voice interaction with 2 mics, high wake-up rate, and over 200 customizable command words.
• Integrates with Matter, Home Assistant, and ESP-RainMaker for home automation.
• Supports visual drag-and-drop GUI development with LVGL and SquareLine Studio.

Maintenance & Community

• Active development and community support via GitHub Issues and the esp32.com forum.
• Contributions are welcomed via the Contributions Guide.

Licensing & Compatibility

• Licensed under the Apache 2.0 license, allowing free modification, development, and distribution.
• Compatible with commercial use and closed-source linking.

Limitations & Caveats

The ESP32-S3-BOX and ESP32-S3-BOX-Lite are marked as "End of Life" with limited support in the master branch, while the ESP32-S3-BOX-3 is actively supported. The commercial mobile APP "Nova Home" requires contacting Espressif Systems for access.