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Flash Watcher Agent Firmware

Overview​

Special thanks to XiaoZhi AI Chatbot for their open-source contributions that made this project possible.

This guide provides instructions for flashing the Watcher Agent firmware to your SenseCAP Watcher device using Espressif's Flash Download Tool.

Warning

Flashing this firmware will erase the factory information of the Watcher, you can use the following command to back up:

esptool.py --chip esp32s3 --baud 2000000 --before default_reset --after hard_reset --no-stub read_flash 0x9000 204800 nvsfactory.bin

Prerequisites​

Required Hardware​

  • SenseCAP Watcher device
  • USB Type-C data cable
  • Windows PC

Required Software​

Flashing Process​

Step 1. Download and Install Flash Download Tool​

  1. Download the Flash Download Tool from Espressif's official website: Flash Download Tool v3.9.6
  2. Extract the downloaded zip file to a directory of your choice
  3. No installation is required - simply double-click the executable file to run the tool

Step 2. Prepare the Firmware File​

  1. Download the Watcher Agent firmware binary file
    Note

    Ensure all path contains no special symbols.

Step 3. Connect the Device​

  1. Connect your Watcher to your computer using the Type-C port on the bottom of the device
  2. Double-click flash_download_tool_3.9.7.exe to launch the tool
  3. Configure the following settings:
    • ChipType: Select ESP32-S3
    • WorkMode: Select Develop
    • LoadMode: Select UART

Step 4. Configure Firmware Settings​

  1. Click the "..." button in the first row to browse and select the firmware binary file you download
  2. Ensure the checkbox next to the firmware file is selected
  3. Enter 0x0 in the address field after the firmware file selection

Step 5. Select COM Port and Flash Settings​

Configure the following settings:

  • SPI SPEED: 80MHz
  • SPI MODE: DIO
  • FLASH SIZE: 32Mbit
  • COM: Select the appropriate COM port (Note: Your device will show two COM ports)
note

If flashing doesn't start after clicking START, click STOP and try the other COM port. Only one of the two COM ports will work for flashing.

Step 6. Erase Flash​

  1. Click the ERASE button to clear the existing firmware
  2. Wait for the erase process to complete

Step 7. Flash the Firmware​

  1. Click the START button to begin flashing
  2. You should see progress information in the log window
  3. If no progress appears or failed, try the other COM port

Step 8. Verify Success​

The flashing process is complete when you see the success message in the log window.

Step 9. Restart the Device​

  1. Locate the reset hole on your Watcher device
  2. Use a pin to gently press the reset button
  3. The device will restart with the new firmware

Troubleshooting​

Common Issues​

  1. No COM Port Detected

    • Ensure you're using the bottom Type-C port
    • Try a different USB cable
    • Check if USB drivers are installed properly

  2. Flashing Fails

    • Try the another COM port
    • Check if the address (0x0) is correctly entered

  3. Device Not Responding

    • Use a pin to gently press the reset button
    • Try erasing before flashing

Technical Support​

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