Matter ESP32 Thread Border Router Example#

A prototype application that demonstrates OpenThread Border Router on ESP32-S3 + ESP32-H2 Thread Border Router DevKit Board.

Please setup ESP-IDF and CHIP Environment and refer building and commissioning guides to get started.

OpenThread Border Router Board#

The ESP Thread border router board provides an integrated module of an ESP32-S3 and an ESP32-H2.

Border Router Board

OpenThread RCP#

We need to build an OpenThread RCP(Radio Co-Processor) firmware for ESP32-H2 of the Border Router Board before building this Thread Border example.

cd $IDF_PATH/examples/openthread/ot_rcp
idf.py set-target esp32h2
idf.py build

Then we need to connect the USB2 port(ESP32-S3) of the Border Router Board to your host machine. Build and flash this example.

cd ${CHIP_ROOT}/examples/thread-br-app/esp32
idf.py set-target esp32s3
idf.py build
idf.py -p {port} erase-flash flash monitor

This example will detect the RCP firmware built in ESP-IDF path and flash it to the spiffs partition. When starting this example, the ESP32-S3 will compare the versions of both the RCP firmware in the spiffs partition and the firmware on ESP32-H2. if the spiffs RCP firmware is newer than the firmware on ESP32-H2, the Thread BR will flash the RCP firmware to ESP32-H2 automatically.

OpenThread CLI#

After you build this example and flash it to the ESP32-S3 of Border Router Board, you can access a standard OpenThread CLI via the device console with a matter otcli prefix.

For instance, you can get the state:

> matter otcli state
Detached
Done

Setup Thread Network#

You can send SetActiveDatasetRequest command to the Thread BR after commissioning it as a Matter-Over-Wi-Fi device to setup the Thread network or join an existing Thread network.

./chip-tool pairing ble-wifi 1 <ssid> <password> 20202021 3840
./chip-tool generalcommissioning arm-fail-safe 180 1 1 0
./chip-tool threadborderroutermanagement set-active-dataset-request hex:<dataset-tlvs> 1 1 1
./chip-tool generalcommissioning commissioning-complete 1 0

The Thread BR with enable the Thread network interface and start Thread network after it receives SetActiveDatasetRequest command. And after the Thread BR sets up or join a Thread network, it will send the success response.

Commissioning Thread End Devices#

After setting up the Thread network, you can commission a Thread End-device to the Thread network.

./chip-tool pairing ble-wifi 2 hex:<dataset_tlvs> <pincode> <discriminator>