NanoLeaf has been producing modular lights that can be combined into various geometric shapes for approximately a decade. [Myrik] showed that controllers prone to failure can be replaced with a simple ESP32.
The firmware released by the company can be used on the ESP32 with minor modifications. While the panels report their positions and orientations over a single bus, the ESP32 communicates over the network and can be controlled with different lighting software. This approach aims to prevent the hardware from becoming electronic waste.
Why it matters
This work indicates that modular lighting panels that could become unusable due to controller failure can be repaired rather than discarded entirely. As a result, the product’s functionality is not limited to the original electronic component supplied by the manufacturer; the ability to communicate with different software also expands how existing systems can be used. The transmission of position and orientation data provides a critical function for software to recognize and manage geometrically combined panels. While the development offers a practical option, particularly for users with faulty controllers, the open question is to what extent this method can be applied to different panel and controller failures. This also makes visible the role of community-driven technical interventions in extending the service life of electronic products.
Background
ESP32 is not a new name in the FikirPilot archive: we have published 5 news articles mentioning it in the last 90 days; the most recent one is dated September 16, 2026.