Small enough to fit into projects where space is tight, the Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32-C3 still brings Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE, and a 32-bit RISC-V processor to the workbench. But what can you actually build with it?

Elektor's new book Build Smart Projects with the XIAO ESP32-C3 Board, by Dr. Günter Spanner, answers that question with projects ranging from simple LED experiments to weather stations, games, monitoring systems, and other connected applications.

The book uses MicroPython throughout and is designed to take readers from their first experiments with the board to more advanced projects.

Getting Started with the XIAO ESP32-C3

At the heart of the book is the XIAO ESP32-C3, based on Espressif's ESP32-C3. The board combines a 32-bit RISC-V processor with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE. It also provides GPIO, PWM, ADC, UART, I²C, and SPI interfaces for connecting sensors, displays, actuators, and other hardware.

Spanner starts with the practical basics: setting up MicroPython and Thonny, powering and programming the board, and working with LEDs and GPIOs. From there, readers move on to ADC and PWM, OLED and 7-segment displays, temperature and humidity sensors, servomotors, and other components.

Wireless applications get their own chapter, including Wi-Fi setup, network scanning, access-point operation, and a small web server.

 

XIAO ESP32-C3
XIAO ESP32-C3

XIAO ESP32-C3 Projects You Can Actually Build

This is where the book becomes particularly interesting. Instead of stopping after individual hardware experiments, it combines what has been learned into complete projects.

One example is a compact Wi-Fi weather station. The XIAO ESP32-C3 retrieves real-time weather information from OpenWeatherMap and shows temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind information, and current conditions on an SSD1306 OLED display.
 

The XIAO ESP32-C3 can retrieve weather data over Wi-Fi
The XIAO ESP32-C3 can retrieve weather data over Wi-Fi and display it on a compact OLED.

Other projects take the board in very different directions. There is an ultrasonic parking assistant, for example, as well as a retro Pong game that can be controlled without touching the device. The contactless version uses a photodiode, allowing the player to move the paddle simply by changing the amount of light reaching the sensor.

 

Contactless Pong uses a photodiode to control the game without a conventional controller.

Sound becomes an input too. Another project uses a microphone module to detect a sequence of three claps before switching an LED, demonstrating how the board can react to simple sound patterns rather than every detected noise.

The book also explores more practical monitoring applications. One project combines DS18x20 temperature sensors with a 7-segment display to monitor refrigerators and freezers.

A XIAO-based temperature monitoring system for refrigerators and freezers.

From MicroPython Basics to Your Own Ideas

The later chapters cover power-saving techniques, debugging, and a dedicated MicroPython crash course. There is also a hardware guide covering breadboards, jumper wires, resistors, LEDs, and potentiometers. This makes the book useful for readers getting started while leaving plenty of material for those who already have some microcontroller experience.

Choose the Bundle or E-Book

Build Smart Projects with the XIAO ESP32-C3 Board is available in two options. Readers who want the physical book can get it as part of a bundle that includes a XIAO ESP32-C3 board, making it easy to start experimenting with the projects. A standalone e-book version is also available for readers who already have the hardware or prefer a digital edition. Ready to start experimenting with the XIAO ESP32-C3 and MicroPython? Check out the bundle or get the e-book from the Elektor Store.

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