The ESP32-C6 is the latest version of the RISC-V based ESP32 wireless microcontrollers. Like all the ESP chips, it supports WiFi and Bluetooth (in this case, WiFi 6 and BT 5), but the C6 packs an extra punch — support for 802.15.4-based protocols, like Thread, Matter, and Zigbee. These use the same 2.4GHz ISM band, but use totally different protocols to facilitate low-power, short-range mesh networks. This compact USB-based ESP32-C6 dev board makes it easy to get up and running quickly, but also has castellated pads to integrate it into a long-term project if needed!
With a built-in power regulator, direct USB connection and small form factor, it’s a great way to get familiar with the ESP32-C6. I2C, UART, and a selection of GPIO are broken out to castellated pads, but the focus of the design is on compactness and ease of use — it’s as easy to plug in to a laptop as it is a Raspberry Pi without taking up too much room. Programming is easily done over USB with esptool, and ESP-IDF has full support for this chip.
Another nice feature of the C6 is the ultra-low power co-processor – a much smaller RISC-V core that has access to a subset of peripherals and can remain running while the main processor and/or radio subsystem sleeps, giving huge power savings without sacrificing low latency response to external events or timers. If you’ve ever wanted to play with 802.15.4-based protocols, or just want to toy with the latest and greatest ESP32, this USB dongle is a perfect place to start!
