Espressif ESP32 for Wi-Fi Sensing

The ESP32 is one of the most popular and accessible platforms for Wi-Fi sensing applications. Espressif provides dedicated tools and libraries that make CSI extraction straightforward, making it an excellent choice for researchers and developers getting started with Wi-Fi sensing.

Advantages

Native CSI support: Built-in CSI extraction capabilities
Cost-effective: Low-cost development platform (~$5-15)
ESP-CSI toolkit: Official Espressif CSI library
Flexible deployment: Battery-powered or mains-powered options
Multiple variants: ESP32, ESP32-S2, ESP32-S3, ESP32-C3 etc.
Active community: Extensive documentation and examples

Disadvantages

2.4GHz only: Most variants limited to 2.4GHz band (except ESP32-C5)
Processing power: Limited compared to full computers
Memory constraints: RAM limitations for complex processing
CSI resolution: Lower resolution compared to research-grade equipment

Use Cases

ESP32 is ideal for:

IoT sensing applications: Integrated Wi-Fi sensing in IoT devices
Educational projects: Learning Wi-Fi sensing fundamentals
Prototype development: Rapid development and testing of sensing algorithms
Home automation: DIY smart home sensing solutions
Research projects: Academic Wi-Fi sensing research on a budget
Edge computing: Local processing of sensing data with limited resources

Getting Started

To set up Wi-Fi sensing on ESP32:

Install ESP-IDF: Set up the Espressif IoT Development Framework
Clone ESP-CSI toolkit: Get the official ESP-CSI repository
Configure hardware: Set up ESP32 with appropriate antennas
Build and flash: Compile and upload the CSI firmware
Collect data: Use ESP-CSI APIs to gather CSI measurements
Process and analyze: Apply signal processing and machine learning techniques

For detailed installation instructions, examples, and technical documentation, visit the official ESP-CSI repository .