Seeed Studio Launches Eink Smart Terminal for Iot and HMI

Imagine a vibrant, energy-efficient electronic ink display that requires minimal charging while clearly presenting various types of information, potentially serving as the central hub for smart homes. The reTerminal E1002 is precisely such a device, combining full-color e-paper technology with the powerful ESP32-S3 chip to unlock new possibilities for IoT applications and human-machine interaction.

The reTerminal E1002 is an open-source, full-color e-ink smart terminal based on the ESP32-S3 chip. It features a 7.3-inch E Ink Spectra 6 full-color electronic paper display with advantages including low power consumption, high contrast, and wide viewing angles. With its built-in 2000mAh battery, the device can last up to three months on a single charge in deep sleep mode.

Preloaded with SenseCraft HMI firmware, the device supports a no-code UI design platform that allows users to easily create personalized dashboards. Additionally, reTerminal E1002 is compatible with multiple development platforms including Home Assistant, TRMNL E-ink dashboard, Arduino, and ESP-IDF, facilitating deep customization.

The reTerminal E1002 utilizes an E Ink Spectra 6 full-color electronic paper display with 800×480 resolution. This display technology delivers paper-like visual quality with gentle, eye-friendly colors. Unlike traditional LCD or OLED screens, e-ink displays consume virtually no power when showing static content, only requiring minimal energy during refresh cycles. The Spectra 6 technology supports richer color reproduction, making it suitable for applications like digital photo frames and color dashboards.

At its core, the device runs on Espressif's ESP32-S3 chip, a high-performance, low-power Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5 (LE) dual-mode processor. With 512KB SRAM and 384KB Flash memory (expandable via external storage), the chip delivers robust processing capabilities for various IoT applications. It also incorporates security features including secure boot and flash encryption to ensure reliable operation.

Engineered for energy efficiency, the reTerminal E1002 achieves remarkable battery performance. In deep sleep mode with six-hour refresh intervals, a single charge can last up to three months. This makes the device ideal for applications requiring continuous operation without frequent recharging, such as environmental monitoring or smart home control systems.

The included SenseCraft HMI platform enables AI-assisted, no-code interface creation through simple drag-and-drop operations or template selection. Users can connect sensors or web APIs to display real-time data on customized dashboards, then deploy these designs to the device without writing any code. This significantly lowers the barrier to creating personalized IoT interfaces.

The device supports integration with popular platforms including Home Assistant for smart home automation, TRMNL E-ink dashboard with its 300+ plugins for data visualization, and development environments like Arduino and ESP-IDF for custom programming. This flexibility allows users to leverage existing knowledge and resources.

Both hardware and software can be tailored to specific needs, with options to modify sensor configurations, I/O setups, or interface designs. OEM/ODM services are available for industrial, educational, or personal applications requiring specialized implementations.

• Digital Photo Frame: Showcase artwork and photographs with true-to-life color reproduction and minimal power consumption.
• Smart Home Controller: Monitor environmental data and manage connected devices through integration with platforms like Home Assistant.
• Industrial Dashboard: Display production metrics and equipment status in various lighting conditions with excellent visibility.
• E-Reader: Provide comfortable reading experiences for digital publications with paper-like display quality.
• Information Display: Present dynamic content like weather forecasts, news updates, or transportation schedules.

• Processor: ESP32-S3
• Display: 7.3-inch E Ink Spectra 6 (800×480 resolution)
• Memory: 512KB SRAM, 384KB Flash
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5 (LE)
• Battery: 2000mAh lithium-ion
• Interfaces: USB Type-C, microSD slot

The device supports multiple software platforms including SenseCraft HMI for no-code interface design, Home Assistant for smart home integration, TRMNL E-ink dashboard for specialized visualization, and development frameworks like Arduino and ESP-IDF for custom programming.

The reTerminal E1002 is available through authorized distributors. Technical documentation and community support resources are provided to assist with implementation and development.

While the device ships with SenseCraft HMI firmware preinstalled, users wishing to utilize the TRMNL Dashboard software must purchase a separate license. The SenseCraft HMI platform remains in beta testing, with certain AI generation features potentially limited during this phase.