Programming ESP32 using serial passthrough

ArduCopter Copter 4.6
1

Hello,

Has anyone successfully tried programming an ESP using the serial passthrough? I am unable to do it. No serial data is transmitted to the PC from the USB even though Arduino IDE detects that a device is present. I have ensured the UART connections are correct.

2

What do you want to do?
What UART connection you se between which FC and ESP32?
Which ESP32 version and is it a DEV Module or just the ESP32 Module itself
Did you set the ESP in bootloader mode?

3

ESP32 chip (AI Thinker CAM board).

I just want to program it using the FC passthrough so that I don’t have to disconnect it every time.

Yes, bootloader. It seems I am not receiving data on the passthrough interface

4

I assume our ESP32 module is normal working on the FC port. So all settings should be ok.
I assume you use a boot jumper on the ESP32 module.Did you set the baudrate for the arduino IDE correct. For ESP32 this is by default 921600 which is unusual for FC UART connections

5

I normally program using 115200 via the IDE and don’t have to touch the baud settings since I set this way back. Should I change something again?

6

I don’t know your settings. Maybe you can test passthrough of the FC with terminal programm first.

7

I did. No output. Atleast I should be getting garbled output if baud is incorrect right? I will try this on the GPS port next in case there is something wrong with the UART pins on the FC I am currently using

8

What should the ESP32 output in normal operation?
What send the ESP32 if you press the reset button? I think this must be seen on a terminal if passthrough is enabled.

9

Output from my current code

10

And you can’t see this output on a PC terminal if you switch the FC to passthrough?

11

That’s correct. FC baud parameter set to 115

12

Did you checked pure passthrough with your GPS module?

13

Yes. So I will transfer the ESP to that port and check.

14

Best would be first to check with the GPS module to be sure that passthrough is working in principle. In such case, if you don’t know is it the module or a setting of the FC it is best only to change step by step and not two steps in one.