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WILEYE Hardware Hookup Guide

This guide covers the physical setup and connections for the WILEYE Camera Orca module.

About the ESP32-P4-EYE Platform​

The WILEYE Camera Orca is built around the ESP32-P4-EYE development board from Espressif. For comprehensive technical documentation about the hardware platform, refer to:

📖 ESP32-P4-EYE Official Documentation: https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-dev-kits/en/latest/esp32p4/esp32-p4-eye/index.html

This official documentation provides detailed information about:

  • Complete hardware schematics and component layout
  • Camera sensor specifications and configuration
  • GPIO pin assignments and electrical characteristics
  • Power consumption and thermal considerations
  • Advanced programming examples and ESP-IDF integration
Hardware Reference

For advanced users working directly with the ESP32-P4-EYE, the official Espressif documentation is the authoritative source for all hardware specifications and programming details.

Required Components​

  • 1 x ESP32-P4-EYE
  • 1 x FREE-WIL-EYE Orca module Adapter
  • 1 x USB-C cable for programming/power (optional, for interfacing with FREE-WILi or getting images from ESP32 P4 EYE)
  • 1 x MicroSD card (optional, for data logging)

Physical Connections​

Connecting to FREE-WILi​

  1. Power down your FREE-WILi device before making connections
  2. Align the Orca connector on the WILEYE module with the Orca port on your FREE-WILi device
  3. Gently press the modules together until the connectors are fully seated
  4. Verify alignment by checking that the boards are parallel and the connector is fully engaged
Proper Orientation Required!

CRITICAL: The camera lens must be visible on the same side as the FREE-WILi logo on the adapter board. Before connecting the FREE-WIL-EYE Orca adapter to FREE-WILi, verify this alignment to prevent damage. Incorrect orientation may cause a short circuit that could damage both your FREE-WILi and the ESP32-P4-EYE!

MicroSD Card Installation​

An MicroSD card can be connected to the ESP-P4-EYE to save videos and pictures.

SD Card Recommendations
  • Use Class 10 or higher MicroSD cards for optimal performance
  • Format the card as FAT32 for best compatibility
  • 32GB or smaller cards are recommended for fastest boot times

GPIO and Expansion​

Communication between ESP32-P4-EYE and FREE-WILi​

The FREE-WIL-EYE Orca module Adapter routes UART data and hardware handshake lines between ESP32-P4-EYE and FREE-WILi.

UART Pinout​

ESP32-P4-EYE PinFREE-WILi PinFunction
ESP_5V5V OUTPower Supply (5V)
GPIO37UART1_TX_OutTransmit Data (FREE-WILi → ESP32 )
GPIO38UART1_RX_INReceive Data (ESP32 → FREE-WILi)
GPIO34UART1_CTS_INClear to Send (Hardware Flow Control)
GPIO51UART1_RTS_OUTRequest to Send (Hardware Flow Control)
GNDGNDGround Reference

Both device's UART is configured with the following parameters:

  • 5 Mbps Baudrate - High-speed communication for image/video data
  • CTS and RTS Controls Enabled - Hardware flow control for reliable transmission
  • 8 Data Bits - Standard data frame size
  • 1 Stop Bit - Standard frame termination
  • No Parity - Error detection handled at higher protocol levels
UART parameters on FREE-WILi

FREE-WILi will automatically set the required UART parameters if you enable WILEye Communicaiotn in the Orac Setup Setting. We will be going over that later.

Additional Exposed Pins​

The FREE-WIL-EYE Orca adapter also exposes additional FREE-WILi's IO to allow interfacing with additional interfaces:

  • I2C communication (SDA/SCL) over the QWIIC connector
  • SPI interface
  • Digital I/O pins
  • Power rails (3.3V, 5V, GND)

Pin Configuration​

For detailed pin assignments and GPIO capabilities, refer to the ESP32-P4-EYE official documentation: https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-dev-kits/en/latest/esp32p4/esp32-p4-eye/index.html

Troubleshooting Hardware Issues​

Camera Problems​

  • No image: Check camera cable connection and lens cap
  • Blurry images: Adjust manual focus ring
  • Poor image quality: Clean lens surface and check lighting conditions

Next Steps​

Once your hardware is connected:

  1. Try the WILEYE Getting Started tutorial
  2. Explore advanced features in the main WILEYE Camera Orca documentation

Additional Resources​

For advanced hardware work and custom development: