ESP32-powered aircraft radar

ESP32 plane radar by MakerWorld user matixovi

Credit: matixovi / MakerWorld

Do you often see planes flying overhead? Maybe you live under a flight path and find yourself reaching for the FlightRadar24 app. Go one better by building your own ESP32 plane radar. The round display looks the part with its radar-like appearance that shows aircraft locations, callsigns, and altitude.

You can build this relatively easily with an ESP32-C3, a 1.28-inch round SPI display (GC9A01), and a USB-C cable. Alternatively, you could find a display with an embedded chip and adapt the enclosure to suit. Once you’ve flashed the ESP32, printed the enclosure, and assembled everything, the device can be configured using a web browser.

Unlike a “proper” ADS-B tracker (which you might want to build with a Raspberry Pi), this one uses flight data from adsb.fi.

Kostprijs componenten

Je hebt slechts twee elektronische componenten nodig om dit project te bouwen:

Component Omschrijving Amazon.nl AliExpress
ESP32-C3 Super Mini Microcontroller met WiFi & Bluetooth, USB-C ca. €4–7 per stuk ca. €2–3 per stuk
GC9A01 1.28″ rond display 240×240 TFT LCD, SPI-interface, 3.3V ca. €7–9 per stuk ca. €2–4 per stuk
USB-C datakabel Let op: moet een datakabel zijn, geen laadkabel ca. €2–5 ca. €1–2
Filament (behuizing) Gratis te downloaden van MakerWorld, print zelf paar cent paar cent

Totaalkosten (indicatief)

  • Amazon.nl (snelle levering): €15–20
  • AliExpress (langere levertijd, goedkoopst): €5–10

De 3D-printbestanden voor de behuizing zijn gratis te downloaden via MakerWorld. Vluchtdata worden gratis aangeleverd door adsb.fi. Er is geen abonnement of betaalde dienst nodig.