Ermine XK in real life photograph in autumn
Coming soon on Crowd Supply

Ermine

The Swiss Army Knife
Electronics Platform

Check it out at CrowdSupply.com

Ermine is an extensible, open electronics platform based on ESP32 for automotive and more.

Ermine is the perfect companion for your next automotive electronics, reverse-engineering or automation project.

Ermine is launching soon on Crowd Supply with two base models, Ermine XK and Ermine DX along with expansion modules for GPS, audio and more!

Subscribe for project updates and launch announcement at Crowd Supply and you'll be first to know when Ermine is available!

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Ermine in action

Ermine connected to 2004 Volvo V70, showing radio in emulated MD playback mode
This 2004 Volvo HU-603 head unit gets new features with Ermine that emulates a MiniDisc changer. Music can be synced to the SD card over WiFi - beats burning new CDs every time!
Ermine driving auxiliary high beams, laptop showing Ermine dash running
Ermine being tested for controlling an auxiliary high beam bar directly by listening on the CAN bus. Pulse-width modulation even allows for soft switching.
Jaguar XJR 1998 being driven with laptop showing Ermine dash
Ermine used as a data logger and monitor for the engine management CAN bus on this 1998 Jaguar XJR. Ermine Dash displays realtime data.
Ermine being used outdoors with additional GPS antenna moutned
Need an edge controller for remote locations with battery backup or a platform for your next LoRa project? Ermine is not just for automotive applications!
Ermine in 1998 Jaguar XJR emulating a phone kit, showing menu on Alpine head unit
Ermine substituted the factory 2G phone kit for this Alpine head unit in a Jaguar XJ series vehicle. Ermine was also used to reverse-engineer the protocol, allowing for some fun new features!
Strobe light being controlled by Ermine DX
If you are into lighting tech, the built-in RS-485 transceiver in Ermine makes for a great wireless DMX-512 adapter!
View of engine bay, Ermine XK and laptop running Ermine Dash for data logging
Analog sensors are easy to interface with Ermine, and Ermine dash can be used to plot the values in real time.
Ermine connected to vehicle OBDII port
Ermine adapts to your next project in no time with various screw terminal connectors! Wireless OBDII diagnostics interface? GPS lap timer? Remote start for your diesel heater?

Features

Expansion cards

Ermine supports expansion modules adding various features such as GPS, audio or more inputs. Open design files will be provided for community-designed modules.

CAN Bus

Real-time data and gauges, diagnostics, simulation, data logging and flight recording

ISO K-line and LIN

Diagnostics for lot of 90s and early 2000s vehicles can utilize the built-in ISO K-line transceiver

Analog inputs

Measure temperature, pressure, voltages and other analog signals

RS-485

Use off-the-shelf industrial sensors or control modules, even interface buses like the Ford ACP bus and more

Switched power

Ermine XK features 4 channels of PWM-capable PMOS outputs to control relays, solenoids, lights and more

WiFi and Bluetooth

Use your phone or PC to connect and program using Ermine Dash, an easy to use app self-hosted from the device

Audio interface

Connect Ermine to in-car entertainment to stream music, program voice commands and more (available as an expansion module)

Digital pins

Input and output to switches, indicators and software-driven serial communication.

SD card

Add SD memory card to store logs, data and even music, with data transfer over WiFi

GPS and gyroscope

Add the GNSS expansion module to record position and acceleration - great for building your custom lap timer

Video output

Ermine firmware comes with a video driver for generating graphics as PAL composite video (experimental feature)

Product Highlights

Ermine DX angle
Ermine comes in two variants, XK and DX. Ermine XK features 4 PWM-capable high-side switching channels, for controlling relays, solenoids, lights and so on along with an expansion slot, great for getting the features you need.
Ermine DX angle
Ermine DX has a secondary expansion slot instead of the power control channels. Both slots support an IO passthru expansion module, that routes 4 GPIO pins to 4 D25 connector pins for digital and analog IO.
Ermine breakout adapter for Ermine ESP32 GPIO
Ermine breakout adapter makes it quick to test your connections and experiment on the workbench before committing to more permanent wiring. Various 3rd party D25 breakout cables and adapters are also widely available.
Ermine DX dual expansion modules fitted to Ermine ESP32
Two expansion modules fitted onto Ermine DX. Both modules get their own set of six ESP32 GPIO pins and 4 dedicated pins on the D25 connector.
Ermine GPS PCM5100 and SSM2167 audio module, ATGM336H GPS Module for Ermine ESP32
In addition to Audio, GPS and input passthru modules, various other modules are planned as well. Design files are provided for you to design your own modules!
Ermine input passthru module for routing ESP32 GPIO pins to D25 connector
Need more IO? Ermine IO passthru module routes four ESP32 GPIO pins to the D25 connector to allow up to 13 IO pins (using dual passthru modules on Ermine DX)
Ermine PCM5100 SSM2167 audio module
The Audio Expansion module features a PCM5100 for stereo audio output and SSM2167 microphone preamp for phone kit emulation and other applications needing audio input. An optional MBUS driver is present on this board. Availability of MBUS will be confirmed later.
Ermine usb adapter
Ermine USB adapter allows firmware flashing and USB debugging while routing other signals to your custom cable. Availability will be confirmed at a later time.

Software

Ermine Dash is the companion application for your Ermine device designed to get you quickly started. Upload and run MicroPython scripts directly, upload files and plot data. Ermine Dash works over WiFi with no setup needed, just connect to the wireless network.

If you prefer such development tools as the ESP-IDF for building fully custom firmware for your use case, nothing is locked down. Just flash Ermine with esptool and a simple USB-TTL adapter.

Ermine Dash and terminal REPL for over websocket for Ermine ESP32 platform
Ermine Dash has terminal, file manager and more for developing and experimenting in the garage or on your workbench.
Ermine Dash MicroPython remote management with auto-reconnect for Ermine ESP32
Ermine Dash connects over WiFi with robust auto-reconnect, remote hard reset and interrupt for a smoother developer experience
Ermine Dash CAN logger for Ermine ESP32
Analyze CAN bus messages directly in Ermine Dash or log to SD card!
Ermine Dash showing plotted CAN data for Ermine ESP32
Plot values from your code directly to Ermine dash using simple print statements.
Ermine Dash file manager for Ermine ESP32
Upload code and files to ESP32 flash or SD card directly from Ermine Dash
Ermine Dash device controlling GPIO ADC, PWM for Ermine ESP32
Ermine Dash running a simple terminal utility for ad-hoc tests and measurements.
Ermine XK in real life photograph in autumn

Ermine comes in rugged aluminium alloy enclosure for real-life use, with space for up to two expansion cards.

Specifications

Power

Input power 10-28 V DC
5 V DC
Output power 5 V up to 500 mA
3.3 V up to 100 mA
Protection Fused power input
Digital input overvoltage and short circuit protection
Monitoring Input current sensing
Input voltage sensing
Battery Provision for user-provided 3.6 V or 3.7 V battery and protection circuitry

Mechanical

Enclosure Aluminium alloy enclosure
Dimensions 95 x 63 x 25 mm or 3.7 x 2.5 x 1 in
110 grams or 3.9 oz

Interfaces

Automotive CAN, ISO9141, LIN
*additional buses and protocols with expansion modules
Serial RS-485, TTL
*additional buses and protocols with expansion modules
Analog/digital 2 x dedicated pins configrable as 12 bit ADC inputs
digital inputs or digital outputs on connector

2 x digital pins configurable as digital inputs or outputs
Up to 4 or 8 additional digital or analog inputs or outputs with expansion modules
Switched power 4 PMOS switches, Ermine XK only
Input current measurement for overload protection
Audio Available on expansion modules, I2S supported on expansion slot
Video PAL composite video output using ESP32 DAC
Video driver in firmware (experimental)
Expansion slots 6 x ESP32 IO pins per expansion slot
4 x D25 connector pins per slot
VIN, 5V and 3V3 power rails available

Board

SOC Espressif ESP32 @ 160-240 MHz
Storage 4 MB built-in flash
Micro-SD card slot
Connectivity Bluetooth 4.2, Classic and BLE
WiFi 802.11 bgn
Firmware Ermine EFW MicroPython image, including additional modules, pre-flashed
User-flashable for any ESP32 custom code
Software Ermine Dash for programming, terminal, file management and data logging, self-hosted from device

About

St11 Digital Oy (LLC) engineers and produces the Ermine electronics platform. Based in Hausjärvi, Finland.

Company reg. no. 3654741-1

Email us at contact@st11digital.com