GoControl - ESP32 GoPro remote control

Project start date: 19.10.2024

Overview

Building a cheap GoPro camera remote control, using Open GoPro API

MRD (Marketing requirement)

• Creating a simple -easy to use, BLE remote control for GoPro Cameras.
• up to 2 buttons and LED for operation Indication.
• Mobile and small size (similar to car remote)

User indications

The remote will indicate the following using build in led:

• On connection - Green LED
• On disconnection - Red LED
• On sending Action Start command - Blue LED
• On sending Camera mode command - Yellow LED

Skill set

• BLE knowledge.
• PCB editing.
• 3D design.
• 3D printing.
• Arduino and C++ programming.

BOM (Bill Of Materials):

1. ESP32 C6 dev kit
2. 2 X tact switches.
3. 2 X 330 Ohm resistors.
4. Charger panel
5. LiPo battery 120 mAh.

For R&D:

1. Wiring.
2. breadboard.

For production:

1. PCB manufacturing.
2. 3D printing for enclosure.

Software:

1. Arduino IDE for coding and uploading to ESP32 C6 board.
2. KiCad for PCB design.
3. Fusion360 for 3D enclosure design

TSD (Technical Specification)

• Using a BLE to control GoPro camera OpenGoPro
• Running on ESP32 C6 dev board

Scheme

1. FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND AFTER INSTALLING NEW FIRMWARE: Insert GoPro camera into paring model
2. Remote will scan for BLE devices.
3. Remote will connect to the first device that advertise GoPro serviceUUID (0xFEA6)
4. On fail connection / disconnection, remote will scan for BLE devices again.
5. Remote will stop scanning and go to deep sleep mode after 3 failed scans.
   1. Remote will wake up on button press. OnConnection to GoPro camera:
6. Remote will turn BUILTIN LED to Green.
7. On pressing button 1, remote will send Action start command to COMMAND_REQ_UUID
8. On releasing button 2, remote will send Action stop command to COMMAND_REQ_UUID
9. On pressing button 2, remote will rotate between PhotoMode / VideoMode / TimelapsMode, by sending the correct request to COMMAND_REQ_UUID
10. The remote will listen to camera reply by registering a listener on COMMAND_RSP_UUID service OnDisconnection from GoPro camera:
11. Remote will turn BUILTIN LED to Red.
12. Remote will start scanning for GoPro devices again.
13. Remote will go to deep sleep mode after 3 failed scans.

Schematics

PCB

• PCB design using KiCad
• 2 layers PCB
• PCB manufacturing using PCBWay

Hardware assembly:

3D enclosure design

• using Fusion360
• 3D print using Ender 5 plus with PLA filament.

Video

R&D

Coin cell battery capacity:

Battery	Capacity
2016	100 mAh
2025	170 mAh
2032	235 mAh
2450	620 mAh

• Using 2032 battery did not work, as it was not able to power the ESP32 C6 board, I had to use LiPo battery. with 1200 mAh capacity.

Code fixing

Fixing arduino not displaying BLE device names: Fixing library dont support short names the file BLEAdvertisedDevice.cpp in library : c:\Users\user1\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.0.5\libraries\BLE\src\

Deep sleep

1. deep sleep:
   1. espressif doc
   2. Wake up on button can be use only on RTC pins
   3. On ESP32-C6: RTC pins are 0-7

Feedback

If you have any feedback, please reach out to us at mailto:shmulik.debby@gmail.com