At Makerfabs, we’re thrilled to see makers and developers bringing their creative ideas to life using our hardware. One such inspiring project comes from a community creator who turned our MaTouch ESP32-S3 Rotary 2.1” into a full-featured smart home controller with a nostalgic twist—it mimics the iconic Dragon Ball Radar!

  • About the MaTouch ESP32-S3 Rotary 2.1”

 

Our MaTouch Rotary 2.1” is a powerful, all-in-one development board equipped with a 2.1” circular ST7701 touchscreen (480×480 pixels, RGB, 75 FPS). It features an integrated rotary encoder with a pressable center button, offering an intuitive and interactive user interface that many users liken to the Google Nest Thermostat—only more affordable .

At its core, it runs an ESP32-S3 chip with 8MB of PSRAM and 16MB of Flash, supporting Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0, making it perfect for ESPHome and Home Assistant integrations. It’s powered via USB-C and provides I2C and UART expansion ports, allowing connection with various sensors and peripherals.

  • Seamless Integration with Home Assistant


  

The creator demonstrates how easy it is to integrate the MaTouch Rotary with Home Assistant using ESPHome:

Requirements:

  • MaTouch ESP32-S3 Rotary 2.1“
  • Home Assistant with ESPHome installed
  • A USB-C data cable
  • Optional: A 3D-printed stand (designed by the creator, available on Patreon or La R3D)

ESPHome Setup Highlights:
Using ESPHome, the project enables:

  • Touchscreen input via CST826 driver
  • Rotary encoder control with push button
  • RGB display rendering via LVGL library
  • Wi-Fi, OTA updates, and Bluetooth Proxy support
  • ESP32-S3 optimized configuration for performance

The shared ESPHome YAML configuration handles all the display signals, touch interaction, and LVGL-based UI rendering. Once flashed, it appears in Home Assistant ready for automation and UI integration.

  • Turning It Into a Dragon Ball Rada

And here’s the fun part—the creator didn’t stop at just functional setup. Inspired by anime, they transformed the device into a Dragon Ball Radar-themed smart home controller. The circular interface displays controls for various devices like:

  • A smart LED desk lamp
  • Room heating system
  • 3D printer fan
  • 3D printer power control

The project includes LVGL-based widgets and labels to mimic the look and feel of the iconic radar, bringing a fun, nostalgic experience into a modern smart home setup.

The source code is modular and can be easily adapted to fit any home automation use case. Additionally, the creator provides a link to a custom-designed 3D-printed stand, making it a perfect fit for your desk or wall.

  •  Why Choose MaTouch Rotary 2.1"?

This project showcases the versatility and potential of our MaTouch ESP32-S3 Rotary 2.1", combining:

  • Stunning round touch display
  • Smooth rotary interaction
  • Native support for ESPHome
  • Expandable I/O for additional hardware
  • Compact design for sleek smart home integration

Whether you’re an ESPHome enthusiast, a Home Assistant user, or a fan of interactive UI gadgets, this board makes it easy and fun to bring your ideas to life.

Want to create your own version of this smart controller?
Grab your MaTouch ESP32-S3 Rotary 2.1” here: https://www.makerfabs.com/matouch-esp32-s3-rotary-ips-display-with-touch-2-1-st7701.html 

Looking for the code and stand files?

Check out the full tutorial and STL downloads from the original creator on https://aguacatec.es/integrar-el-matouch-esp32-s3-rotary-2-1-en-ha/ 

We love seeing our hardware in action! Have you made something cool with MaTouch or other Makerfabs products? Share your project with us—we may feature it in our next blog!