Tom Nardi writes that Mateusz Juszczyk has created a desktop gadget called ESP32-Plane-Radar, which uses an ESP32-C3 Super Mini and a round GC9A01 display to visualize aircraft movement. Rather than using actual radar hardware, the device connects via WiFi to adsb.fi to pull crowdsourced Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) flight data, creating a professional-looking circular radar display that reflects real-world local airspace activity.
- The project features a minimalistic 3D printed enclosure for its components.
- A web-based configuration interface is included for easier setup via WiFi.
- Despite the name, it does not sniff ADS-B signals directly from radio waves but uses internet data instead.
theleestarr writes an open-source ESP32 firmware designed for 1.28″ round displays that functions as a sonar-style radar showing live ADS-B aircraft data around a user's location. The project is compatible with the Waveshare ESP32-S3-LCD-1.28 and can also be used with an ESP32-C3 Super Mini paired with an external GC9A01 display.
- Uses live traffic from adsb.fi
- Features selectable range scales (5, 10, 15, or 25 km) via the BOOT button
- Provides optional runway overlays for major airports
- Includes a sonar-style UI with aircraft symbols, callsigns, and altitude data