M5STACK StackChan AI Desktop Robot User Manual

StackChan AI Desktop Robot

1. Specifications

1.1 Hardware Composition

StackChan is an ESP32 board based on the ESP32-S3 chip, featuring a 2-inch TFT screen. The board casing is made of PC+ABC material.

The CORES3 hardware includes:

• ESP32-S3 chip
• TFT screen
• Green LED
• Button
• GROVE interface
• TypeC-to-USB interface
• Power Management chip (X-Powers’s AXP2101)
• Battery

The ESP32-S3 is a dual-core system with two Harvard Architecture Xtensa LX6 CPUs. It supports multiple flash and external RAM, with a flash controller with cache and in-Circuit Programming (ICP).

The Power Management chip (AXP2101) has an operating voltage range of 2.9V~6.3V and a charging current of 1.4A.

1.2 Pin Description

1.2.1 USB INTERFACE

Type-C USB interface, supporting USB2.0 standard communication protocol.

1.2.2 GROVE INTERFACE

4-pin spacing 2.0mm M5CAMREA GROVE Ports (Port.A, Port.B, and Port.C). Internal connections include GND, 5V, GPIO1, GPIO2, GPIO8, GPIO9, GPIO17, and GPIO18.

1.3 Functional Description

1.3.1 CPU AND MEMORY

• Multiple flash and external RAM support.
• Flash controller with cache is supported.
• Flash In-Circuit Programming (ICP) is supported.

1.3.2 STORAGE DESCRIPTION

• External RAM: Mapped into 32 MB data space as individual blocks of 64 KB. Supports 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit, and 128-bit reads and writes.
• External Flash: Can be mapped into 32 MB data space as individual blocks of 64 KB. Supports only 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit, and 128-bit reads.

1.3.3 CPU CLOCK

Three possible clock sources:

• External main crystal clock
• Internal fast RC oscillator (typically about 17.5 MHz, and adjustable)
• PLL clock

The application can select the clock source. The selected clock drives the CPU directly or after division. Default clock source after reset is the external main crystal clock divided by 2.

1.3.4 RTC AND LOWPOWER MANAGEMENT

ESP32-S3 supports different power modes:

• Active mode: CPU and chip radio are powered on. The chip can receive, transmit, or listen.
• Modemsleep mode: The CPU is operational and the clock speed can be adjusted.

Current Consumption in LowPower Modes: (Refer to TABLE 1 in original manual)

1.4 Electrical Characteristics

1.4.1 ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM RATINGS

(Refer to Table 2: Absolute Maximum Ratings in original manual)

1.4.2 WIFI RADIO AND BASEBAND

• 802.11b/g/n support.
• 802.11n MCS0-7 supporting 20 MHz and 40 MHz bandwidth.
• 802.11n MCS32.
• 802.11n 0.4 µs guard-interval.
• Data rate up to 150 Mbps.
• RX STBC (single spatial stream).
• Adjustable transmitting power.
• Antenna diversity: Supports external RF switch controlled by one or more GPIOs to select the best antenna.

1.4.3 BLUETOOTH LE RF TRANSMITTER (TX) SPECIFICATIONS

(Details not provided in the excerpt)

2. Usage Instructions

StackChan equips ESP32 with everything needed for programming, operation, and development.

To get started with StackChan, you will typically:

1. Connect Power: Use the Type-C to USB interface to power the device. The Power Management chip (AXP2101) handles power and charging.
2. Programming: Connect the Type-C USB interface to your computer for programming. The ESP32-S3 chip is fully supported by standard ESP-IDF or Arduino IDE environments.
3. External Peripherals: Utilize the GROVE interfaces (Port.A, Port.B, Port.C) to connect external sensors, actuators, or other modules. Ensure proper pin assignments (GND, 5V, GPIOs) as described in the Pin Description.
4. Display Usage: The integrated 2-inch TFT screen can be used for displaying information, user interfaces, or visual feedback from your applications.
5. Button Interaction: The onboard button can be programmed for user input or control.
6. Network Connectivity: Leverage the integrated Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) and Bluetooth LE capabilities for wireless communication and IoT applications.
7. Power Management: Understand and utilize the different power modes (Active, Modemsleep) for optimizing battery life in your applications.

3. Troubleshooting

• Device not powering on:
  • Check the Type-C USB cable connection.
  • Ensure the power source (USB port or charger) is providing sufficient power.
  • If using battery, ensure it is charged. The Power Management chip (AXP2101) handles charging.
• Unable to upload code:
  • Verify the Type-C USB data connection to your computer.
  • Ensure the correct COM port is selected in your IDE (e.g., Arduino IDE, ESP-IDF).
  • Check if the necessary drivers for ESP32-S3 are installed on your computer.
  • Try pressing the onboard button during upload if the device is not entering programming mode automatically.
• TFT screen not displaying:
  • Ensure your code is correctly initializing and writing to the TFT display.
  • Check for any errors in the display initialization sequence.
• GROVE modules not working:
  • Verify the correct GROVE port is being used (Port.A, Port.B, Port.C).
  • Double-check the pin assignments (GPIOs, 5V, GND) in your code and the module’s documentation.
  • Ensure the GROVE cable is securely connected.
• Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity issues:
  • Check your code for correct Wi-Fi/Bluetooth initialization and credentials.
  • Ensure the antenna is properly connected (if external).
  • Verify that the device is within range of the Wi-Fi access point or Bluetooth device.

4. FAQ

Q: What is the main chip used in StackChan?
A: StackChan uses the ESP32-S3 chip.
Q: What kind of display does StackChan have?
A: It features a 2-inch TFT screen.
Q: Can I connect external sensors to StackChan?
A: Yes, StackChan provides GROVE interfaces (Port.A, Port.B, Port.C) for connecting external modules and sensors.
Q: What is the operating voltage range for StackChan?
A: The Power Management chip (AXP2101) supports an operating voltage range of 2.9V~6.3V.
Q: Does StackChan support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth?
A: Yes, it supports Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) and Bluetooth LE.
Q: How do I program StackChan?
A: You can program StackChan via its Type-C USB interface using standard ESP32 development environments like ESP-IDF or Arduino IDE.
Q: What are the power modes available?
A: StackChan supports Active mode and Modemsleep mode for power management.

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StackChan
2026
V0.01
Company NameM5Stack Technology Co.,Ltd Address: Block A10, Expo Bay South Coast, Fuhai Street, Bao’an District, Shenzhen,Guangdong,China

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS ………………………………………………………………………………….. 2 1. OUTLINE …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3
1.1 Hardware Composition ……………………………………………………………………………………… 3 2. PIN DESCRIPTION …………………………………………………………………………………… 4
2.1. USB INTERFACE……………………………………………………………………………………………………4 2.2. GROVE INTERFACE…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4 3. FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION ……………………………………………………………………. 5 3.1. CPU AND MEMORY…………………………………………………………………………………………….5 3.2. STORAGE DESCRIPTION……………………………………………………………………………………. 5 3.2.1. External Flash and SRAM…………………………………………………………………………………5 3.3. CPU CLOCK…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..6 3.4. RTC AND LOWPOWER MANAGEMENT………………………………………………………….. 6 4. ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS ………………………………………………………………. 7 4.1. ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM RATINGS……………………………………………………………………… 7 4.2. WIFI RADIO AND BASEBAND…………………………………………………………………………… 7 5. FCC Warning …………………………………………………………………………………………… 8
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1.OUTLINE
StackChan is ESP32 board which based on ESP32-S3 chip, contained 2-inch TFT screen. The board is made of PC+ABC.
1.1 Hardware Composition
The hardware of CORES3: ESP32-S3 chip, TFT screen, Green LED, Button, GROVE interface, TypeC-to-USB interface, Power Management chip and battery.
ESP32-S3 The ESP32 is a dual-core system with two Harvard Architecture Xtensa LX6 CPUs. All embedded memory,external memory and peripherals are located on the data bus and/or the instruction bus of these CPUs.With some minor exceptions (see below), the address mapping of two CPUs is symmetric, meaning that they usethe same addresses to access the same memory. Multiple peripherals in the system can access embeddedmemory via DMA.
TFT Screen is a 2-inch color screen driven ILI9342C with a resolution of 320 x 240. Operating voltage range is 2.6~3.3V, working temperature range is -25~55°C.
Power Management chip is X-Powers’s AXP2101. The operating voltage range is 2.9V~6.3V and the charging current is 1.4A.
StackChan equips ESP32 with everything needed for programming, everything needed for operation and development
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2.PIN DESCRIPTION
2.1. USB INTERFACE
M5CAMREA Configuration Type-C type USB interface, support USB2.0 standard communication protocol.
2.2. GROVE INTERFACE
4p spacing 2.0mm M5CAMREA GROVE Ports.A, Port.B, and Port.C, the internal cables are connected to GND, 5V, GPIO1, GPIO2, GPIO8, GPIO9, GPIO17, and GPIO18.
GPIO
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3.FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION
This chapter describes the ESP32-S3 various modules and functions.
3.1. CPU AND MEMORY
Xtensa® dual-core 32-bit LX7 microprocessor,up to 240 MHz 384 KB ROM 512 KB SRAM 16 KB SRAM in RTC SPI, Dual SPI, Quad SPI, Octal SPI, QPI and OPI interfaces that allow connection to
multiple flash and external RAM
Flash controller with cache is supported Flash in-Circuit Programming (ICP) is supported
3.2. STORAGE DESCRIPTION
3.2.1. External Flash and SRAM
ESP32-S3 supports SPI, Dual SPI, Quad SPI, Octal SPI, QPI and OPI interfaces that allow connection to multiple external flash and RAM. The external flash and RAM can be mapped into the CPU instruction memory space and read-only data memory space. The external RAM can also be mapped into the CPU data memory space. ESP32-S3 supports up to 1GB of external flash and RAM, and hardware encryption/decryption based on XTS-AES to protect users’programs and data in flash and external RAM. Through high-speed caches, ESP32-S3 can support at a time up to: External flash or RAM mapped into 32 MB instruction space as
individual blocks of 64 KB External RAM mapped into 32 MB data space as individual blocks of
64 KB. 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit, and 128-bit reads and writes are supported. External flash can also be mapped into 32 MB data space as individual blocks of 64 KB, but only supporting 8-bit, 16-bit, 32bit and 128-bit reads.
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3.3. CPU CLOCK
The CPU clock has three possible sources: External main crystal clock Internal fast RC oscillator (typically about 17.5 MHz, and adjustable) PLL clock The application can select the clock source from the three clocks above. The selected clock source drives the CPU clock directly, or after division, depending on the application. Once the CPU is reset, the default clock source would be the external main crystal clock divided by 2.
3.4. RTC AND LOWPOWER MANAGEMENT
With the use of advanced power-management technologies, ESP32-S3 can switch between different power modes. (see table1) Active mode: CPU and chip radio are powered on. The chip can
receive, transmit, or listen. Modemsleep mode: The CPU is operational and the clock speed can
be reduced. The wireless baseband and radio are disabled, but wireless connection can remain active. Lightsleep mode: The CPU is paused. The RTC peripherals, as well as the ULP coprocessor can be woken up periodically by the timer. Any wake-up events (MAC, host, RTC timer, or external interrupts) will wake up the chip. Wireless connection can remain active. Users can optionally decide what peripherals to shut down/keep on (refer to Figure 1), for power-saving purpose. Deepsleep mode: CPU and most peripherals are powered down. Only the RTC memory is powered on and RTC peripherals are optional. Wi-Fi connection data are stored in the RTC memory. The ULP coprocessor is functional.
Current Consumption in LowPower Modes: TABLE 1
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4.ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS
4.1. ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM RATINGS
Table 2: Absolute Maximum Ratings
1. VIO to the power supply pad, Refer ESP32 Technical Specification Appendix IO_MUX, as SD_CLK of Power supply for VDD_SDIO.
4.2. WIFI RADIO AND BASEBAND
The ESP32-S3 Wi-Fi radio and baseband support the following features: 802.11b/g/n 802.11n MCS0-7 that supports 20 MHz and 40 MHz bandwidth 802.11n MCS32 802.11n 0.4 s guard-interval Data rate up to 150 Mbps RX STBC (single spatial stream) Adjustable transmitting power Antenna diversity: ESP32-S3 supports antenna diversity with an external RF switch. This switch is controlled by one or more GPIOs, and used to select the best antenna to minimize the effects of channel imperfections.
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4.3. BLUETOOTH LE RF TRANSMITTER (TX) SPECIFICATIONS
Table 3: Transmitter Characteristics Bluetooth LE 1 Mbps
4.4. BLUETOOTH LE RF RECEIVER (RX) SPECIFICATIONS
Table 4: Receiver Characteristics Bluetooth LE 1 Mbps
5. FCC Warning
FCC Caution: Any Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment. This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. IMPORTANT NOTE:
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Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does -cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: — Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. — Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. — Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. — Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. FCC Radiation Exposure Statement: This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment.
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