Using ESP32 as Bluetooth Adapter for Le Potato (AML-S905X-CC) on Armbian to Connect to Bluetooth Devices (e.g., Keyboard) via UART on Boot

Hardware Wireless
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Hello everyone,

I’m currently working on a project where I want to use an ESP32 as a Bluetooth adapter for my Le Potato (AML-S905X-CC) running Armbian. The goal is to use the ESP32 to connect to Bluetooth devices, such as a keyboard, and communicate via UART over the GPIO pins (pins 8 and 10). I need this connection to be automatic every time the system boots, meaning the ESP32 should reconnect to the Bluetooth keyboard without any manual pairing each time.

Project Overview

I want the ESP32 to:

  • Serve as a Bluetooth adapter that connects to Bluetooth devices like my keyboard.
  • Forward the keyboard input from the Bluetooth device to the Le Potato via UART on the GPIO pins.
  • Ensure that the ESP32 automatically reconnects to the Bluetooth keyboard each time the system boots up.

What I’ve Done So Far

  1. Trying HC-05 Bluetooth Module:
  • I initially tried using an HC-05 Bluetooth module but couldn’t get it working reliably over the UART serial connection on the GPIO pins. It seems to be a communication issue between the device and the Le Potato.
  1. ESP32 with BluetoothSerial Library:
  • I switched to using the ESP32 with the BluetoothSerial library, which works fine for connecting to Bluetooth devices, but I’m struggling to establish communication between the ESP32 and the Le Potato over UART via the GPIO pins.
  1. Enabling UART on GPIO Pins in Armbian:
  • I’ve enabled UART on the Le Potato by following guides on Armbian. The UART appears as /dev/aml0, but I’m not able to communicate effectively with the ESP32 over this interface.

Challenges I’m Facing

  • UART Setup: The UART is enabled and shows as /dev/aml0, but communication with the ESP32 is not working properly.
  • Bluetooth Communication: The ESP32 is able to connect to Bluetooth devices like my keyboard, but I can’t forward this communication to the Le Potato.
  • Auto-Connect Issue: The ESP32 does not automatically reconnect to the Bluetooth keyboard on boot. I need a way to have this process happen automatically.

What I’m Looking For

  • How to configure UART on the Le Potato for reliable communication with the ESP32.
  • Steps to set up the ESP32 to act as a Bluetooth-to-UART bridge and forward input from the Bluetooth keyboard to the Le Potato.
  • Solutions for ensuring the ESP32 reconnects to the Bluetooth keyboard automatically on boot.
  • Troubleshooting tips from anyone who has set up a similar system.

I’ve spent quite a bit of time trying different configurations, but I haven’t been able to resolve these issues on my own. Any help or pointers to relevant guides would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!