This open-source project provides firmware for an ESP32-C3 Super Mini connected to a 1.28″ round GC9A01 display, creating a sonar-style aircraft radar that visualizes live ADS-B data from adsb.fi around the user's location. The device features WiFiManager for easy initial configuration via a captive portal and allows users to cycle through range presets or reset network credentials using hardware buttons.
- Visualizes aircraft with red heading triangles, magenta speed vectors, and callsign tags.
- Supports runway overlays from major airports based on OurAirports data.
- Displays "rim dots" for approaching aircraft located outside the current radar ring but within range of ADS-B data.
- Uses NVS to persist user settings like latitude, longitude, units (mi/km), and WiFi credentials.
- Visualizes aircraft with red heading triangles, magenta speed vectors, and callsign tags.
- Supports runway overlays from major airports based on OurAirports data.
- Displays "rim dots" for approaching aircraft located outside the current radar ring but within range of ADS-B data.
- Uses NVS to persist user settings like latitude, longitude, units (mi/km), and WiFi credentials.
ppoinha writes a project for the ESP32 Cheap Yellow Display (CYD) that functions as a real-time aircraft tracker, rendering a live radar Plan Position Indicator (PPI) on its 2.8-inch touchscreen. The application displays nearby aircraft details such as callsigns and flight levels, provides weather information via Open-Meteo, and includes a built-in web server for remote configuration of location and search radius.
- Utilizes the ESP32's dual-core architecture to handle API calls on Core 0 while maintaining smooth UI rendering on Core 1.
- Integrates data from OpenSky Network for ADS-B states and hexdb.io for ICAO route lookups.
- Features a scrollable list of the five closest flights along with real-time system statistics like WiFi RSSI and free RAM.
- Utilizes the ESP32's dual-core architecture to handle API calls on Core 0 while maintaining smooth UI rendering on Core 1.
- Integrates data from OpenSky Network for ADS-B states and hexdb.io for ICAO route lookups.
- Features a scrollable list of the five closest flights along with real-time system statistics like WiFi RSSI and free RAM.
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.
- 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.
socquique writes of Capsule Radar, a live ADS-B aircraft radar designed for the Waveshare ESP32-S3-Touch-AMOLED series (1.75 and 1.43 inch round displays). The software pulls real-time flight data via WiFi to plot nearby aircraft on various visual themes like Phosphor or Orb, offering touch interaction for detailed flight information such as routes and altitude.
- Supports browser-based flashing via ESP Web Tools
- Includes a native SDL2 desktop simulator for testing without hardware
- Features automated route lookups using adsbdb
- Provides "face-down" sleep mode triggered by the onboard IMU
- Compatible with Waveshare's 1.75 and 1.43 AMOLED boards
- Supports browser-based flashing via ESP Web Tools
- Includes a native SDL2 desktop simulator for testing without hardware
- Features automated route lookups using adsbdb
- Provides "face-down" sleep mode triggered by the onboard IMU
- Compatible with Waveshare's 1.75 and 1.43 AMOLED boards
Alex-developer writes about a standalone aircraft radar firmware designed for Waveshare ESP32-P4 round touch displays. The system connects to WiFi to fetch live ADS-B traffic, visualizing it on 3.4-inch or 4-inch screens with features like range rings, altitude color coding, airport markers, and weather overlays. It operates independently without needing a Raspberry Pi or an active browser once configured via its built-in admin web page or touch interface.
- Supports both the 720x720 (4") and 800x800 (3.4") Waveshare LCD variants from a single firmware image
- Integrates with multiple data sources including Airplanes.live, ADSB.lol, and local feeds like readsb/dump1090
- Features an optional web-based admin interface for configuration of location, display settings, and WiFi
- Can include aircraft detail popups with PlaneSpotters photo thumbnails via touch input
- Supports optional hardware additions such as a USB GPS receiver or a secondary SSD1306 status OLED
- Supports both the 720x720 (4") and 800x800 (3.4") Waveshare LCD variants from a single firmware image
- Integrates with multiple data sources including Airplanes.live, ADSB.lol, and local feeds like readsb/dump1090
- Features an optional web-based admin interface for configuration of location, display settings, and WiFi
- Can include aircraft detail popups with PlaneSpotters photo thumbnails via touch input
- Supports optional hardware additions such as a USB GPS receiver or a secondary SSD1306 status OLED
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
- 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
Alex Kretzschmar writes about building a live aircraft radar using an ESP32-C3 and a 1.28-inch round display to track ADS-B traffic by plotting distance and bearing. He improved the original firmware to include flight context such as origin/destination, descriptive aircraft types, local weather data, and adjustable text sizes via a web interface.
- Firmware supports authenticated OTA updates for wireless installation
- The Makerworld 3D models had tolerances too tight for the author's boards
- A web interface allows modifying coordinates and display settings without resetting Wi-Fi configuration
- Firmware supports authenticated OTA updates for wireless installation
- The Makerworld 3D models had tolerances too tight for the author's boards
- A web interface allows modifying coordinates and display settings without resetting Wi-Fi configuration
Adam Conway writes about constructing a custom aircraft radar using an ESP32-S3 powered WT32-SC01 Plus display. The device fetches live flight data from ADS-B networks to show real-time positions, altitudes, and routes on a 3.5-inch touchscreen interface. To maintain smooth visuals despite five-second data updates, the system uses dead reckoning to predict aircraft movement between polls.
- Employs an 8-bit parallel bus for high bandwidth display rendering
- Uses Douglas-Peucker simplification to compress coastline data into limited flash memory
- Incorporates emergency squawk code detection with visual warnings
- Manages real-time flight information via the adsb.fi and adsbdb APIs
- Employs an 8-bit parallel bus for high bandwidth display rendering
- Uses Douglas-Peucker simplification to compress coastline data into limited flash memory
- Incorporates emergency squawk code detection with visual warnings
- Manages real-time flight information via the adsb.fi and adsbdb APIs
A curated collection of tools, projects, Docker images, and resources related to Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) technology.
* Documentation and quickstart guides for reception and decoding
* Various aggregators including open-source, community-driven, non-profit, and commercial services
* Software tools for decoding, feeding, visualization, mobile apps, and social notifications
* Hardware components such as single-board computers (SBC), receivers, filters, and antennas
* Documentation and quickstart guides for reception and decoding
* Various aggregators including open-source, community-driven, non-profit, and commercial services
* Software tools for decoding, feeding, visualization, mobile apps, and social notifications
* Hardware components such as single-board computers (SBC), receivers, filters, and antennas
This open-source firmware is designed for the ESP32-C3 Super Mini and a 1.28 inch GC9A01 round display to create a sonar-style aircraft radar. It visualizes live ADS-B data on a circular grid, showing flight paths, detailed aircraft models, altitude, and speed.
- Real-time tracking using adsb.fi for aircraft positions
- Route enrichment through ADSBDB for origin/destination info
- Integrated weather display via Open-Meteo and local time via NTP
- Web-based Wi-Fi setup portal for location and setting configuration
- Support for authenticated OTA firmware updates
- Real-time tracking using adsb.fi for aircraft positions
- Route enrichment through ADSBDB for origin/destination info
- Integrated weather display via Open-Meteo and local time via NTP
- Web-based Wi-Fi setup portal for location and setting configuration
- Support for authenticated OTA firmware updates
