LILYGO T-Vending

Overview

The LILYGO T-Vending is an ESP32-S3-based development board specifically designed for vending machine control systems and industrial automation applications. It combines the ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 microcontroller with a MAX13487E RS485 interface module for robust industrial serial communication.

The MAX13487E RS485 half-duplex module provides TTL/RS485 conversion with ±15kV ESD protection and supports communication speeds up to 500kbps, making it well-suited for noisy industrial environments and long-cable RS485 bus installations common in vending machine systems.

The board includes a T-PCIE expansion slot for adding SIM card-based cellular modules, expanding connectivity options for remote monitoring and payment integration. A Grove connector seat provides standardized sensor connectivity. WiFi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 5 are integrated for wireless communication.

Firmware Compatibility

• Arduino IDE: Supported via Espressif Arduino core for ESP32-S3.
• VS Code with PlatformIO: Recommended for industrial projects.
• ESP-IDF: Native Espressif framework with full UART/RS485 hardware support.

Sample code is available at T-Vending GitHub.

Flashing Guide

1. Connect the T-Vending board via USB-C cable.
2. Hold BOOT, press RESET, release RESET, then release BOOT to enter download mode.
3. In Arduino IDE, select ESP32S3 Dev Module and choose the correct COM port.
4. Upload the firmware.
5. For RS485 communication, connect your RS485 bus to the MAX13487E terminals. The board handles direction control automatically.
6. Install any T-PCIE cellular module before powering up for cellular connectivity.