ESP-DAQ
Embedded data acquisition, one USB cable
About ESP-DAQ
A minimal ESP32-S3 USB serial DAQ device for motor validation test stations. Supports 10 analog channels, digital I/O, PWM, frequency/duty measurement, pulse counting, quadrature encoder, and RGB LED control via a text-based command protocol with JSON responses.
The Challenge
Motor validation test stations need flexible data acquisition that's fast to set up and doesn't require expensive proprietary hardware. National Instruments DAQ systems are powerful but overpriced for simple motor testing. USB serial devices exist but lack the channel count and measurement variety needed.
Our Solution
We designed a custom ESP32-S3 firmware that turns a $10 dev board into a 10-channel DAQ with analog input, digital I/O, PWM output, frequency measurement, pulse counting, and quadrature encoder support. A simple text command protocol with JSON responses makes integration trivial from any language.
The Results
The device replaces thousands of dollars of proprietary DAQ equipment with a single USB cable and a $10 microcontroller. The text protocol means any language with serial port access can control it — the included Python viewer is just one example.
Key Features
10-Channel Analog Input
Read 10 analog channels with per-channel calibration for accurate voltage measurement.
Text Command Protocol
Human-readable commands with JSON responses. Debuggable with any serial terminal.
PWM Generation
Generate PWM signals from 1 Hz to 1 MHz for motor control and testing.
Quadrature Encoder
Hardware quadrature decoder for precise motor position and velocity measurement.
Screenshots
Screenshots coming soon