Hardware Build Guide (Windows Software)

Download the USB driver so the ESP32 board can communicate with your computer. The Windows version can be found here.

Unzip the download and open the installer CP210xVCPInstaller_x64.

You may have to accept the Windows Defender warning so that the driver can be installed successfully.

Click Next to go through the installation wizard.

After installing successfully, the wizard should report that the driver is ready to use. Click Finish to exit the wizard.

The Yo-Yo Firmware Uploader will enable you to upload the latest firmware to your ESP32S board. Download the latest release here.

Firmware is code the ESP32S board needs in order to work as a Yo–Yo device. It's called firmware because it is software used to configure hardware — soft + hard = firm. Geddit?

Unzip the downloaded app and open the contents of the extracted folder. The app should be inside the extracted folder.

Please use 7zip or WinRAR to unzip the files. WinZip will not work.

Plug your ESP32S board into your computer with the USB cable. You should see a red light on the board, which means it is powered up.

Open the Yo-Yo Firmware Uploader and select the device in the drop down menu. You may need to press “refresh list” if you do not see it in your list.

Your board's serial port should appear as something along the lines of COM# (COM3 in this case).

If the device doesn't appear, double check that your USB cable has a data line. Some USB cables only have power lines, as they are used for charging only.

Leave the 'Erase Wifi Details' box unticked.

Use the 'project' drop-down menu to select which device you are making.

The menu is blank on this image. Click it to get a list of projects -- make sure to choose the right one for the device you're making! We'll be adding new ones periodically...

When you're ready, click on Upload to upload the latest firmware.

When prompted, hold the BOOT button on your board to set it to "programming mode". You can let go of the button once you see the text "Writing" in the console text.

If you receive an error, please make sure you have selected the correct device in the Firmware Uploader, and that you have pressed the 'BOOT' button as described above.

When the uploader finishes transferring the firmware to the device, it will say "Success!" If you have another device to set up, you can repeat this process with the new ESP32S board.

In the future, if you want to reset a device to factory settings, you can do so by ticking the "Erase WiFi Details" box and re-uploading the firmware.

There are two main methods for setting up the network and pairing Yo–Yo Machines. In the first, both devices are set up in the same space, before one of them is sent to a remote location. In the second, devices are set up in separate spaces while coordinating with someone over the phone.

Both methods are covered in the following guide, but setting up a pair in the same space is shown as the primary method.

Power up the first ESP32S (with uploaded firmware) using a USB port or USB power supply and wait 10 seconds.

Now that the firmware is loaded, you can power your ESP32Ss from any USB power supply – there is no need to use a computer anymore.

If you are setting up two devices in the same space, turn on the second ESP32S at least 10 seconds after the first. If you are setting them up remotely, you do not need to synchronise in this way. You should still wait at least 10 seconds before proceeding so the ESP32Ss can establish a network.

With your mobile device or computer, connect to the newly created Wi-Fi network named “Yo-Yo-####” with the password “blinkblink”. If you are viewing these instruction online on our website, use another device to connect to the new network so you can keep the instruction open. This procedure is the same whichever method you are using.

Android users may be prompted with a "Sign in to a Wi-Fi network" notification. Click this to open the captive portal (next).

A captive portal should open automatically.

If the captive portal doesn't open on the device you are using, you may have to try with an alternative smartphone / tablet / laptop.

The captive portal will show the 5 Wi-Fi networks with the strongest signals. Sometimes you may not see the network that you would like to connect to, if this is the case, move your hardware closer to your router.

The ESP32S board cannot connect to Wi-Fi networks with names longer than 31 characters. If your Wi-Fi network's name is too long, then you will need to change it to a shorter name to complete the build.

Fill in the prompts with credentials for the Wi-Fi network that you want to connect to.

When you are setting up two devices in the same space, you also have the option to include the Wi-Fi credentials of the network you want to send the device to. When you send the second device to someone, it will then automatically connect to their network.

Including the Wi-Fi credentials of the remote network when setting up a pair will store both the home and remote network credentials to both devices, so it will not matter which device you send away. For security purposes, the Wi-Fi credentials can never be retrieved from the devices later.

The image here shows two devices being set up in the same space. Note that the Yo-Yo codes have been exchanged automatically. Information on how to enter codes manually for remote setup is in the next step.

If you are setting up two devices in the same space, they have already exchanged Yo-Yo Codes automatically. Feel free to skip this step and press "Save"

Copy the text under the heading “Your Yo-Yo Code”.

Send your Yo–Yo Code to your partner via SMS, email, etc., in exchange for the one from their device.

Enter the Yo-Yo Codes for the partner devices in the text field named “Remote Yo-Yo Code”. It should be in the same format as yours eg: “4289 423988”. Once the forms are complete, press “Save”.

Wait for the devices' blue LEDs to blink 3 times to confirm the local wifi details are correct. If these details have been inputted incorrectly, please reconnect to the Yo-Yo-#### network and try again.

Once both devices have confirmed they can connect to their respective wifi networks, the connection between the devices can be tested. This is done by pressing the “BOOT” button of one device to blink the on-board led of the other.

Gather your components and take a moment to identify them.

If you're making two devices, you'll need twice as many components.

Pins can be identified by the colour of the wires on the servo motor.

SIG = Signal

VDD = Supply voltage

GND = Ground

If your servo motor has different coloured wires, please refer to the manufacturer for a wiring diagram.

Bread boards are used to create quick connections between electronic components.

They have sockets that are electrically connected in rows. The connected sockets are shown as pink lines in this diagram.

Jumper leads and components placed in these rows will be connected together.

Place one side of the ESP32S onto the other side of the breadboard. The side used should be the same side as the button labelled EN.

Make sure all the pins are lined up, leaving an empty hole on either side of the breadboard. Give the ESP32S a good solid push to plug it all the way into the breadboard.

Place three wires on your breadboard as pictured.

If you want to check, these are the VIN, GND and D13 pins from left to right.

If you're still curious, VIN is voltage in; GND is ground, and D13 is data.

Plug the ends of the wires into the servo motor.

Add the final jumper wire in line with ESP32S pin D14.

Plug in your USB micro cable.

If you're making two Speed Dials, repeat this process with your second set of components.

You can make both devices in the same household and post one to your remote partner. Alternatively, they can be made remotely and paired via the internet.

Use the Network Setup guide to pair two devices. We assume you'll do before you start assembling the electronics, but you can link or re-link them at any time.

When you power up the devices the servo motor moves to its most counter-clockwise position to indicate that it has been plugged in correctly. Also the blue LED onboard the ESP32S board should blink three times to show the network connection is working.

Tap on either device's capacitive touch lead to advance both servo motor positions. Make sure to test them both.

If you're building devices remotely, you'll have to coordinate testing with your partner.

Now that your device is working you can now think about what kind of enclosure you want to encase it in.

We have a few examples in the 'Enclosure' section of the website, or feel free to invent your own.