Unboxing and Testing the ESP32 P4: A Deep Dive into Espressif's New Evaluation Board
0:00:03 Introduction: The video introduces the ESP32 P4, a new evaluation board from Espressif, featuring custom extensions for DSP and AI, including vector multiplication built into its RISC-V cores.
0:00:31 Source and Availability: The board was purchased from AliExpress due to limited availability elsewhere, highlighting its novelty and high demand.
0:00:43 Board Taxonomy: A new classification system for embedded boards is presented, categorizing the ESP32 P4 as a "Dev Board" or "Eval Board," designed for evaluating the capabilities of an SoC or MCU.
0:02:41 Unboxing: The package includes a non-standard form factor board, a camera interface, an LCD ribbon, and a hefty LCD with connecting pins.
0:03:28 Power and Connectivity: The board features USB power input, with power pass-through capability, and includes a camera interface and an LCD ribbon connector.
0:03:37 Sponsorship and Online Store: The video is self-sponsored, promoting the presenter's online store that sells SBCs, MCUs, accessories, and tools. A 5% discount link is provided.
0:05:17 Price and Availability: The board cost about 150 Australian dollars, with limited availability. The chip's novelty and the time required for design and production contribute to its scarcity.
0:06:38 Form Factor and Features: The board has a non-standard form factor but includes standard mounting holes. It features an ESP32 C6 as the Wi-Fi module, multiple USB ports (including a dedicated power port and a UART port), a 10/100 Ethernet port, and SD card support.
0:07:34 Documentation and Setup: The presenter explores the board's documentation, highlighting the setup process for programming the C6 and connecting the display and camera.
0:09:56 Hardware Encoding: The ESP32 P4 supports H.264 full HD encoding at 30 FPS.
0:10:23 Block Diagram: A detailed block diagram reveals the board's architecture, including a dual-core RISC-V processor, tightly coupled memory for a low-power core, and various high- and low-power accessories.
0:11:36 Software and Development: The presenter discusses the required documentation and the ESP-IDF (IoT Development Framework) setup process, including cloning necessary repositories and installing tools.
0:13:15 Assembly: The presenter assembles the board, connecting the display and camera modules, and noting the correct orientation for the ribbon cables.
0:16:20 Software Images and Firmware: The presenter discusses the available software images, giving them a 3 out of 5 rating due to limited options but acknowledging the presence of CircuitPython support in alpha.
0:17:17 Testing CircuitPython: The presenter attempts to flash and test CircuitPython on the board, encountering some initial challenges but eventually succeeding.
0:20:57 Matrix Multiplication Benchmark: The presenter runs a custom matrix multiplication benchmark using CircuitPython, observing slower-than-expected performance, possibly due to CircuitPython not utilizing the hardware's vector instructions.
0:23:59 IDF Setup and Compilation: The presenter continues setting up the ESP-IDF, encountering issues with the documentation but eventually succeeding in compiling the example "brooksey_phone" project.
0:29:38 Flashing the Example Project: The presenter flashes the compiled project onto the board, encountering a bootloader issue due to previously flashing CircuitPython, but resolving it by ensuring the SD card is inserted.
0:32:15 Testing the Example Project: The "brooksey_phone" project boots successfully, showcasing an Android-like interface with various working apps, including a calculator and a camera app (after fixing a loose connection). The video player app encounters buffering issues.
0:35:39 Performance and Reliability: The presenter rates the board's performance and reliability as 5 out of 5, highlighting its stability and functionality.
0:36:27 Accessories and Power: The board is praised for its comprehensive set of accessories, standard connectors, and power options, receiving a 4 out of 5 rating. The only drawbacks mentioned are the lack of a case and no PoE support.
0:37:48 Overall Assessment: The presenter concludes that the ESP32 P4 is a highly capable product, particularly for HMI applications, giving it an overall rating of A. The documentation is identified as the main area for improvement.
0:38:41 MCU Rating: The ESP32 P4 MCU itself receives a 5 out of 5 rating for its capabilities and features.
0:39:13 Final Thoughts and Call to Action: The presenter encourages feedback, considers stocking the board in their store, and promotes their shop and other products.