Design and Implementation of ESP32-Based Edge Computing for Object Detection

Abstract

This paper explores the application of the ESP32 microcontroller in edge computing, focusing on the design and implementation of an edge server system to evaluate performance improvements achieved by integrating edge and cloud computing. Responding to the growing need to reduce cloud burdens and latency, this research develops an edge server, detailing the ESP32 hardware architecture, software environment, communication protocols, and server framework. A complementary cloud server software framework is also designed to support edge processing. A deep learning model for object recognition is selected, trained, and deployed on the edge server. Performance evaluation metrics, classification time, MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) transmission time, and data from various MQTT brokers are used to assess system performance, with particular attention to the impact of image size adjustments. Experimental results demonstrate that the edge server significantly reduces bandwidth usage and latency, effectively alleviating the load on the cloud server. This study discusses the system’s strengths and limitations, interprets experimental findings, and suggests potential improvements and future applications. By integrating AI and IoT, the edge server design and object recognition system demonstrates the benefits of localized edge processing in enhancing efficiency and reducing cloud dependency.