AT Firmware Update IoT ESP Module

IoT - Internet of Things

    An IoT ecosystem consists of web-enabled smart devices that use embedded systems, such as processors, sensors and communication hardware, to collect, send and act on data they acquire from their environments. IoT devices share the sensor data they collect by connecting to an IoT gateway or other edge device where data is either sent to the cloud to be analyzed or analyzed locally. Sometimes, these devices communicate with other related devices and act on the information they get from one another. The devices do most of the work without human intervention, although people can interact with the devices : for instance, to set them up, give them instructions or access the data.

    The connectivity, networking and communication protocols used with these web-enabled devices largely depend on the specific IoT applications deployed.

    IoT can also make use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to aid in making data collecting processes easier and more dynamic.

IoT

AT commands:

           AT commands are commands which are used to control the modems where AT stands for Attention. The Hayes command set (also known as the AT command set) is a specific command language originally developed by Dennis Hayes for the Hayes Smartmodem 300 baud modem in 1981.

AT commands PDF link : https://www.espressif.com/sites/default/files/documentation/4a-esp8266_at_instruction_set_en.pdf

ESP8266 E-01 Module:

The ESP8266 ESP-01 is a Wi-Fi module that allows microcontrollers access to a Wi-Fi network. This module is a self-contained SOC (System On a Chip) that doesn’t necessarily need a microcontroller to manipulate inputs and outputs as you would normally do with an Arduino, for example, because the ESP-01 acts as a small computer. Depending on the version of the ESP8266, it is possible to have up to 9 GPIOs (General Purpose Input Output). 

Thus, we can simply program the ESP8266 to not only have access to a Wi-Fi network, but to act as a microcontroller as well. This makes the ESP8266 very versatile, and it can save you some money and space in your projects.

Purchase available at : https://www.amazon.in/dp/B00O34AGSU/ref=cm_sw_r_wa_apa_fabc_q4X5Fb2BEQRHP?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

COMPONENTS REQUIRED:

1. USB TTL CP2102

USB ttl

WIRE CONNECTIONS FOR FIRMWARE UPDATE:

Wire connections during Flash/download firmware

AT FIRMWARE FLASHING TOOL & AT FIRMWARE .bin available links:

Tool name:  ESP8266 DOWNLOAD TOOL V3.8.5

link:  https://www.espressif.com/en/support/download/other-tools?keys=&field_type_tid%5B%5D=14

SDK .bin :  ESP_8266_BIN0.92.bin (or) others

link:  https://www.espressif.com/en/support/download/sdks-demos?keys=&field_type_tid%5B%5D=14

STEPS TO FLASH:

1. open the flash_download_tool_3.8.5.exe

2. Tool appears as below:

Tool opened & its in IDLE mode

3.  Select the COM port after plugging in the USB to computer.

4. Change the Crystal Freq/Flash Size according to the module.

5. The above settings in the image are as per ESP8266 E01 module.

   26MCrystalFreq/FlashSize8Mbit

6. Choose your Firmware.bin file from your computer location and set it with the address.

selected/ticked the needed firmware to flash against 0x00000

7.  Click the start button to Flash:

(After Clicking Flash press and release the reset button to ground)

in SYNC

8. Goes to Download mode after releasing reset button 

In download mode

9. FINISH MODE:

Finish Flash

10. Test the AT commands and Firmware:

Android App connected with USB TTL to ESP module

Download the Android app :   https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.kai_morich.serial_usb_terminal&hl=en&gl=US

This is friendly to interact with Android platform.

PuTTy kind of serial terminals at 115200 baud can also be used for testing.

11.  In The wiring connections, unplug the GPIO-0 from GND and make it float.

12. Use micro-usb converter and plug-in usb ttl to Android mobile.

Testing the AT commands

AT response OK

AT+GMR = firmware/boot version

13.  To download the Flash to ESP module an alternate tool can also be used as below:

tool name :  ESP8266 Flash Downloader

firmware.bin at 0x00000

14. One more alterantive to update Firmware is by using AT+CIUPDATE command after connecting to wifi using AT+CWJAP="ssid,paaswd". This procedure didnot work fine for few modules