Adafruit AirLift Shield - ESP32 WiFi Co-Processor

Arduino-shield form-factor add-on that uses an ESP32 module as a TLS-capable WiFi co-processor, communicating with the host Arduino over SPI. Pre-loaded root certificates handle HTTPS; suitable for Metro, Uno, and compatible boards.
Pinout
- GNDArduino shield power header GND
Common power/logic ground for the shield.
Type · Ground - 3VArduino shield power header 3V
3.3 V regulator output. Adafruit states the regulator can supply 500 mA peak, with part of that used by the ESP32.
Type · PowerVoltage · 3.3V - 5VArduino shield power header 5V
Input to the onboard regulator.
Type · PowerVoltage · 5V input - IOrIORefArduino shield power header IORef
IORef voltage used for communication level reference.
Type · Power - CLKSCK2x3 ICSP SPI header
Shared SPI clock for ESP32 AirLift and microSD interfaces; available on the 2x3 ICSP header by default with level shifting.
Type · SPI, Signal - MISO2x3 ICSP SPI header
Shared SPI data from peripheral to host for ESP32 AirLift and microSD interfaces; level shifted.
Type · SPI - MOSI2x3 ICSP SPI header
Shared SPI data from host to peripheral for ESP32 AirLift and microSD interfaces; level shifted.
Type · SPI - BUSYESP32 control pin breakout/header
Required input from AirLift indicating when it is ready for more commands; Adafruit describes it as 3.3 V logic output readable by 3 to 5 V logic.
Type · SignalVoltage · 3.3V logic out, 3-5V readable - RSTESP32 control pin breakout/header
Required output to AirLift reset, driven low to reset the ESP32 co-processor; level shifted for 3 to 5 V logic.
Type · ControlVoltage · 3-5V logic compatible - GPIO0Optional ESP32 control pad
Optional ESP32 GPIO0 / bootloading and BLE data-ready signal, connected by soldering the pad on the bottom of the shield.
Type · GPIO - RXOptional serial control pad
Optional serial data input used for firmware bootloading and BLE-mode communication; requires soldering the underside pad.
Type · UART - TXOptional serial control pad
Optional serial data output used for firmware bootloading and BLE-mode communication; requires soldering the underside pad.
Type · UART - SDCSmicroSD control pin
microSD chip-select pin in addition to the shared SPI pins; Adafruit notes it can be reassigned by cutting the trace underneath and rewiring.
Type · SPI, Signal
| Pin | Position | Type | Function | Voltage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GND | Arduino shield power header GND | Ground | Common power/logic ground for the shield. | |
| 3V | Arduino shield power header 3V | Power | 3.3 V regulator output. Adafruit states the regulator can supply 500 mA peak, with part of that used by the ESP32. | 3.3V |
| 5V | Arduino shield power header 5V | Power | Input to the onboard regulator. | 5V input |
| IOrIORef | Arduino shield power header IORef | Power | IORef voltage used for communication level reference. | |
| CLKSCK | 2x3 ICSP SPI header | SPI, Signal | Shared SPI clock for ESP32 AirLift and microSD interfaces; available on the 2x3 ICSP header by default with level shifting. | |
| MISO | 2x3 ICSP SPI header | SPI | Shared SPI data from peripheral to host for ESP32 AirLift and microSD interfaces; level shifted. | |
| MOSI | 2x3 ICSP SPI header | SPI | Shared SPI data from host to peripheral for ESP32 AirLift and microSD interfaces; level shifted. | |
| BUSY | ESP32 control pin breakout/header | Signal | Required input from AirLift indicating when it is ready for more commands; Adafruit describes it as 3.3 V logic output readable by 3 to 5 V logic. | 3.3V logic out, 3-5V readable |
| RST | ESP32 control pin breakout/header | Control | Required output to AirLift reset, driven low to reset the ESP32 co-processor; level shifted for 3 to 5 V logic. | 3-5V logic compatible |
| GPIO0 | Optional ESP32 control pad | GPIO | Optional ESP32 GPIO0 / bootloading and BLE data-ready signal, connected by soldering the pad on the bottom of the shield. | |
| RX | Optional serial control pad | UART | Optional serial data input used for firmware bootloading and BLE-mode communication; requires soldering the underside pad. | |
| TX | Optional serial control pad | UART | Optional serial data output used for firmware bootloading and BLE-mode communication; requires soldering the underside pad. | |
| SDCS | microSD control pin | SPI, Signal | microSD chip-select pin in addition to the shared SPI pins; Adafruit notes it can be reassigned by cutting the trace underneath and rewiring. |
Pin details
13 connections- GNDArduino shield power header GND
Common power/logic ground for the shield.
Ground - 3VArduino shield power header 3V
3.3 V regulator output. Adafruit states the regulator can supply 500 mA peak, with part of that used by the ESP32.
PowerVoltage · 3.3V - 5VArduino shield power header 5V
Input to the onboard regulator.
PowerVoltage · 5V input - IOrIORefArduino shield power header IORef
IORef voltage used for communication level reference.
Power - CLKSCK2x3 ICSP SPI header
Shared SPI clock for ESP32 AirLift and microSD interfaces; available on the 2x3 ICSP header by default with level shifting.
SPI, Signal - MISO2x3 ICSP SPI header
Shared SPI data from peripheral to host for ESP32 AirLift and microSD interfaces; level shifted.
SPI - MOSI2x3 ICSP SPI header
Shared SPI data from host to peripheral for ESP32 AirLift and microSD interfaces; level shifted.
SPI - BUSYESP32 control pin breakout/header
Required input from AirLift indicating when it is ready for more commands; Adafruit describes it as 3.3 V logic output readable by 3 to 5 V logic.
SignalVoltage · 3.3V logic out, 3-5V readable - RSTESP32 control pin breakout/header
Required output to AirLift reset, driven low to reset the ESP32 co-processor; level shifted for 3 to 5 V logic.
ControlVoltage · 3-5V logic compatible - GPIO0Optional ESP32 control pad
Optional ESP32 GPIO0 / bootloading and BLE data-ready signal, connected by soldering the pad on the bottom of the shield.
GPIO - RXOptional serial control pad
Optional serial data input used for firmware bootloading and BLE-mode communication; requires soldering the underside pad.
UART - TXOptional serial control pad
Optional serial data output used for firmware bootloading and BLE-mode communication; requires soldering the underside pad.
UART - SDCSmicroSD control pin
microSD chip-select pin in addition to the shared SPI pins; Adafruit notes it can be reassigned by cutting the trace underneath and rewiring.
SPI, Signal
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