02 · Embedded / RF · Radio layer
OpenDroneID Radar
ESP32 Cheap Yellow Display build that sniffs Remote ID broadcasts and plots nearby drones on a live radar screen.
The problem
Most modern drones broadcast Remote ID — who they are and where they are — but you need a phone app or expensive gear to see it. I wanted a small, standalone screen that shows nearby drones at a glance.
What I built
- An ESP32 "Cheap Yellow Display" board listening for OpenDroneID broadcasts.
- Decoded messages are plotted on a live radar view on the built-in touchscreen.
- Built with ESP-IDF.
The hard part
- Fitting radio listening, decoding and a smooth display onto a small, cheap microcontroller.
Result
A pocket-sized Remote ID radar — useful for drone awareness and as a building block for counter-drone work.