Exploring the Arduino Nano ESP32 | MicroPython & IoT Cloud

Another new Arduino board! This time it’s the Arduino Nano ESP32, and we’ll test it out today. Includes MicroPython and Arduino IoT Cloud experiments.

Arduino has certainly been busy lately. After releasing the Arduino Giga at the beginning of the year, they followed up by releasing two new Arduino Uno boards. And, as if that wasn’t enough, they have just added another member to the growing Arduino Nano family - the Arduino Nano ESP32.

Although a few of the Nano boards already have ESP32 chips, those boards use the ESP32 as a communications coprocessor. This new Nano is the first Arduino board to use the ESP32 as its main processor.

We will begin by looking at the board features and pinouts. Of course, all Nano boards use the same pinout, allowing you to repurpose any prototyping tools you have gathered for the other family members.

At the heart of the board is an ESP32-S3 module, so the new Nano board has essentially the same specifications as other boards built around that chip.

We’ll also use the board with MicroPython, and I’ll show you how to install the MicroPython bootloader. Don’t worry; you can revert to C++ by reinstalling the Arduino Bootloader. I’ll show you how to do that as well.

And we will build a project for the Arduino IoT Cloud. The Arduino Nano ESP32 is an inexpensive way of creating IoT applications.

Here is the Table of Contents for today's video:

00:00 - Introduction
01:56 - Arduino Nano ESP32
09:32 - Arduino IDE Setup & WiFi Scan Test
12:13 - Nano ESP32 as a Human Interface Device
19:07 - Using MicroPython
23:30 - Installing MicroPython
27:40 - Using the Arduino Labs Python Editor
32:28 - Reloading the C++ Bootloader
34:28 - Arduino IoT Cloud
37:09 - IoT Cloud Project Hookup
38:05 - Connect Nano ESP32 to IoT Cloud
41:06 - Build a Thing
44:29 - IoT Cloud Project Code
49:01 - Build a Dashboard
53:49 - Running Remote & OTA Updates
54:52 - Conclusion

If Arduino releases any more new boards this year, I’ll need a new Arduino shirt! Hope you enjoy the video.

Bill

[Dronebotworkshop]

Hi everyone - It's come to my attention that there has been someone masquerading as myself, responding to some comments here with a link to a Telegram chat to win a prize from me. THIS IS A SCAM, I am not holding a contest, nor do I have a Telegram account. PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THESE MESSAGES!!


Thanks!

Bill (The real one!)

[Dronebotworkshop]

This video is a fundraiser for the Hawai‘i Community Foundation's "Maui Strong: Fire Relief Fund" to help provide support for the people in Maui who lost so much. I lived in Hawaii for almost a decade and although I lived in Honolulu, Maui was always my favorite island, and Lahaina was my favorite place. To see it demolished so quickly, and all that loss of life, is just devastating. If you are able to, please consider making a donation. Mahalo!

[alexnewton]

Best tutorial ever. You covered all the new features and comparsion with all other previous boards. Just placed an order. Greetings from Toronto.

[GLH]

After trying to get a project working with the memory limitations of a nano, I bought one of these after watching this video. I’ve been missing out with all the extra features described here!
Once again, excellent video!

[usefulelectronics]

Great !
I always support using newer hardware which allows implement more advanced projects. I enjoy using ESP32S3 in my projects!

[whitneydesignlabs]

Thanks for a great video, Bill. I've spent quite a bit of time on W. Maul. My parent's condo in Honokawai was spared, but still without power. Condolences to those who lost loved ones and property in Lahaina. Hoping the banyan tree recovers. Big decisions now, for residents and city planners for how to proceed.

[rzerobzero]

I've been wanting to get back into Arduino tinkering (I bult a few projects in the early 10's), but I had been put off by the "curve to entry" as I'll call it. Getting all the things setup and talking and whatnot. Well your video has it all! Basic setup, advanced setup (MicroPython), how to do it, undo it, get started again, all the way through communicating with the Arduino cloud - what a brilliant tutorial!

[hagfishhagfish]

Thank you Bill for everything you do!!! Total novice here but your video's are inspiring and make me want to dive into things I have only ever imagined. Thank you.

[ezrakoper]

I love the way you explain things. They are much more detailed than others. Thanks

[tin]

😂 Love the bit about the shirt at the start. I sometimes get comments about my shirts at work because I don't work Wednesday or Thursday, so sometimes I wear the same shirt two days in a row as far as other staff see. Gets even worse when I've got 2 of the same shirt and wear what seems to be the same shirt all week.

[erikderuiter]

Thank you for another video like nowhere to be found on YT. Your detail in presentation and video editing is unsurpassed. One tip for new Arduino cloud users: Arduino has an offer this fall where you can buy an Arduino ESP32 for $1 (excluding shipping...) ONLY when you upgrade to a yearly plan which also is has a 30% discount.

[txkflier]

Excellent video! Very high quality production. Thanks!

[johnburgess]

Thanks for the video. Very thorough and complete.

[aerena]

It is plesure to see your new videos. You are the best.

[serenadenphoto]

I really like your presentation of the new Nano ESP32 Board. I've got two Nano ESP32 boards and tried to follow along. However, I run into all sorts of problems with those boards. The main problem is that my laptop loses contact with the boards a lot and receive a lot of FDU-errors. Nothing I have experienced with other ESP32 boards.

[wojwoj]

Fantastic video! Great content in a very approachable format for both new and seasoned electronics enthusiasts! Thank you!!!

[rainermuller-knoche]

Some comments:
First thank you for that very informational introduction to Arduino NANO 32 I dint't now till now. I am using the Arduino Nano in a lot of my projects and I use the ESP8266 in al lot of other projects. B

[claudeschauber]

Thanks a lot for the video. I did not manage to put the board in bootloader mode with the reset button so your advice to put B0 to ground was very helpful. However I found out that there is not yet a micro Python program to connect the board to Arduino Iot Cloud ;-(

[gooseneckful]

Great video ! As always, it clear and easy to get in touch with devices you talk about. I am really tempted to buy this little Nano and start experimenting with it. Thanks.

[joetkeshub]

Great and helpful pedagogy as usual. Thank you Sir.