Imported from GitHub: 0Zane/Nomad · commit 2248e02 · license MIT

Description

One Adventure - One device,Nomad is a custom outdoor mobile device built around the ESP32-S3. It is designed for explorers, researchers, and outdoor enthusiasts who need reliable positioning, long-range communication, environmental awareness, and practical survival utilities in a compact package.

README

Nomad

Outdoor embedded device for exploration

Nomad is a custom outdoor mobile device built around the ESP32-S3. It is designed for explorers, researchers, and outdoor enthusiasts who need reliable positioning, long-range communication, environmental awareness, and practical survival utilities in a compact rugged package. I made this project entirely myself, the idea comes from my passion of making useful objects that help people in specific actions.

Project status: Active development
Last updated: June 2026

Documentation

Resource	Description
Nomad Zine	Visual project zine and product-style overview
Bill of Materials	Complete component list with quantities and specifications
Main Schematic	Full board schematic
Module Schematic	Supporting module schematic

Table of Contents

• Project Overview
• Key Features
• Technical Architecture
• Hardware Design
• Bill of Materials
• Firmware
• Project Structure
• License

Project Overview

Nomad combines navigation, messaging, sensing, power management, and a custom interface into one portable embedded system.

The device is built for field use, with an emphasis on:

• Knowing where you are through GPS positioning and waypoint tracking.
• Staying connected through long-range LoRa messaging.
• Understanding local conditions through environmental sensing.
• Conserving energy through deep sleep and power-aware firmware.
• Providing simple, fast interaction through buttons and a menu-driven UI.
• Accessing to useful survival tips

Key Features

Feature	What it enables
GPS navigation	Real-time position, coordinates, and waypoint-oriented navigation
LoRa communication	Long-range SOS alerts, coordinate sharing, and lightweight messages
Environmental monitoring	Temperature, pressure, and altitude-related readings
Menu-driven UI	Multi-level navigation built around a clear state-machine structure
Survival tips	Practical outdoor guidance available directly on the device
Battery optimization	Deep sleep and intelligent power-management behavior
Custom PCB	Purpose-built hardware layout for the full Nomad system
Rugged enclosure	3D-designed case for portable outdoor use

Technical Architecture

Core Components

Component	Specification	Interface	Purpose
MCU	ESP32-S3-WROOM-1U	GPIO, UART, SPI, I2C	Main processor running C++ firmware with PlatformIO and Arduino
Display	1.9 in IPS ST7789 display panel via FPC	SPI	Smooth UI rendering with menu/submenu screens and PWM brightness control
GPS	u-blox NEO-M8M	UART	High-precision localization using the TinyGPS++ library
LoRa	Ebyte E220-900T22S	UART	Long-range messaging for SOS, coordinate sharing, and text packets
Environmental sensor	BME280	I2C	Temperature and atmospheric pressure sensing
Input	5 buttons with PCF8574T GPIO expander	I2C	Robust button handling with interrupt support
Fuel gauge	MAX17048G_T10	I2C	Battery voltage and state-of-charge monitoring
Charger IC	MCP73831-2-OT	Power management	Li-Po battery charging management
Buck-boost converter	TPS63060	Power management	Stable regulated power delivery
Flashlight	LED	GPIO pin 1	Controlled illumination for field use
Power source	Protected Li-ion battery	Power	Main battery with integrated protection circuit

Development Stack

Layer	Tooling
Language	C++
Framework	Arduino
Build system	PlatformIO
IDE	VS Code with the PlatformIO extension
Primary firmware target	ESP32-S3

Hardware Design

Main Schematic

Module Schematic

PCB Layout

3D Case