ESP32 and common sensors

ESP32-class microcontrollers are popular in interactive systems because they combine Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth connectivity with sufficient GPIO and compute for real-time sensor capture. They are well suited for wireless sensor nodes that stream data (e.g., via OSC or MQTT) to a host computer.

1. Accelerometer + gyroscope (IMU)

An IMU measures linear acceleration and angular velocity in 3D. It enables gesture recognition, motion tracking, and orientation estimation.

2. Ultrasonic distance sensor

Ultrasonic sensors emit a pulse and measure the time until the echo returns. Typical range is 2–300 cm with millimeter‑level precision under good conditions. These are useful for proximity and distance‑based control.