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OpenCoopControl

Installing OpenCoopControl

Flashing OpenCoopControl

This guide will help you flash the OpenCoopControl firmware to your ESP32 device.

Prerequisites

  1. An ESP32 development board
  2. USB cable to connect the board to your computer
  3. Python installed on your computer

Installation Methods

  1. Go to the Releases page of the repository

  2. Download the latest release assets:

    • For Windows: flash_opencoopcontrol_vX.Y.Z.bat
    • For Linux/Mac: flash_opencoopcontrol_vX.Y.Z.sh
    • Binary files:
      • opencoopcontrol_vX.Y.Z_firmware.bin (Main firmware)
      • opencoopcontrol_vX.Y.Z_spiffs.bin (Filesystem)
      • bootloader.bin (Required for full installation)
      • partitions.bin (Required for full installation)

  3. Install esptool:

    Terminal window
    pip install esptool

  4. Connect your ESP32 to your computer

  5. Run the flashing script:

    • On Windows: Double-click the .bat file and follow the prompts
    • On Linux/Mac:
    Terminal window
    chmod +x flash_opencoopcontrol_vX.Y.Z.sh
    ./flash_opencoopcontrol_vX.Y.Z.sh

  6. Choose your flashing mode:

    • Option 1: Update firmware only - This will keep your WiFi settings and configurations
    • Option 2: Full installation - This will erase all settings and return the device to factory state

Method 2: Building from Source (For developers)

If you want to build the firmware yourself:

  1. Install PlatformIO:
    Terminal window
    pip install platformio
  2. Clone the repository: 
    git clone https://github.com/OpenCoopControl/coop-controller.git
    cd coop-controller
  3. Build and upload: platformio run --target upload
  4. Upload the file system (contains the web interface): platformio run --target uploadfs

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

  1. Permission denied on Linux/Mac:
sudo chmod a+rw /dev/ttyUSB0  # Replace with your port!
  1. Can’t find COM port on Windows:
    • Check Device Manager to identify the correct COM port
    • Edit the .bat file to update the port number
  2. Connection issues:
    • Make sure the ESP32 is in download mode by holding the BOOT button while connecting or resetting
    • Try a different USB cable or port
  3. Flash failed:
    • Try a slower baud rate by editing the flash script to use —baud 115200 instead of 921600
  4. Unable to connect to WiFi after flashing:
    • If you chose “Update firmware only” but are having issues, try the “Full installation” option instead
    • After a full installation, the device will create a WiFi AP named “OpenCoop-[ID]“

LED Status Indicators

  • When the ESP32 is properly flashed, the built-in LED will blink once during startup
  • If the LED stays on, it indicates the device is in setup mode

After Flashing

First-time Setup or After Full Installation

  • The ESP32 will create a WiFi access point named “OpenCoop-[ID]”
  • Connect to this WiFi network with your phone or computer
  • Open a web browser and navigate to http://192.168.4.1
  • Follow the setup wizard to complete configuration

After Firmware Update Only

  • The device will reconnect to your WiFi network automatically
  • Access the web interface using the device’s IP address on your network