Install the software

Install the firmware

No tools to install: the firmware goes on the board straight from your browser. You can install it on a bare board before building the robot.

1. Open the web flasher in Chrome or Edge on a computer.
2. Plug the ESP32 board in over USB, with a cable that carries data.
3. Install: press Connect and install and pick the board's port. The right firmware for your chip is chosen for you.
4. Connect: enter your Wi-Fi when asked, then choose Visit device.

Note

The web flasher installs the Stable version by default. The Beta channel gets new changes first and may still have bugs. See release channels.

Updating, building from source

• Update a robot that is already installed: when a new version is out, the robot's main screen shows Version X available with What's new and Update. Tap Update, then Install now: your phone downloads the version for the robot's chip and sends it to the robot, which restarts on it about a minute later. Keep the page open until it says the robot is back. Settings and Calibration are kept. The same is in Settings → Robot → Firmware update, where Couldn't check for updates means your phone has no Internet access (tap Retry). Finish or stop a Play session or Calibration first.
• Stable or Beta: Settings → Robot → Firmware update → Update channel chooses which versions the robot is offered (release channels). The robot keeps it across restarts and updates. Until you choose, it follows the version installed: a beta offers betas.
• No Internet on your phone (for example on the robot's hotspot): download the -ota.bin file for your chip from the releases beforehand, then upload it in Settings → Robot → Firmware update → Install from a file.
• Build from source with PlatformIO; Getting started covers the tools:

cd firmware
pio run -e esp32 -t upload   # or esp32s3 / esp32c3

• The board doesn't show up? Try another cable, then install the driver for its USB chip: see Installing with the web flasher for the download links.

First start

1. If you entered your Wi-Fi in the web flasher, skip to step 3. Otherwise power the robot: with no Wi-Fi configured, it opens a CatWandConnect-XXXX hotspot.
2. Join it from your phone. The setup page opens by itself; if not, browse to http://192.168.4.1/. Pick your Wi-Fi and enter its password, or tap Continue without Wi-Fi to use the robot from the hotspot for now.
3. Rejoin your home Wi-Fi and open the address shown at the end of setup, for example http://catwandconnect-3f9a.local/ (or the IP shown there). With the default name, the robot's .local address ends with 4 characters of its own, so two robots never clash; robots set up before version 0.2.1 keep catwandconnect.local. Opened by IP, the page first offers Use the robot's permanent address: tap Go to switch to the .local address, which keeps working when the IP changes. It only offers it when your phone or computer can open it; otherwise see the .local address doesn't open.
4. Calibrate. The main screen invites you to. The wizard has you nudge each axis to the ends of its safe travel and pick the Stow position, then sweeps the new envelope slowly so you can check nothing touches. Once the limits are saved, it sweeps each axis while you set its minimum and maximum speed, then makes short moves while you set its acceleration (Skip keeps a value as it is). Until then, movement stays within a conservative 60°–120° range on each axis.
5. Play. Drag the joystick to move the wand and let go to stop. Press Stow to put it away.
6. Make it yours. Name the robot in Settings; its address follows, for example http://catwandconnect-salon.local/. On a phone, the first visit shows how to add the robot to your home screen for an app-like icon (Got it hides the tip; Settings → Robot or Help → Add to your home screen shows it again). Settings → Network shows the robot's IP address, and Change Wi-Fi network moves it to another network later (new router, new home).

Something wrong? See Troubleshooting, then Getting help.

Next, optional: Set up Home Assistant.