Could this newly released ESP32-S31 MCU SoC be a single-chip replacement for the ESP32-S3 + XMOS XU316 in future next-generation Home Assistant Voice Preview Edition hardware?
Note! Another related idea mentioned/linked in the same feature request thread is to also add a second ESP32-S31 on same board as a communication coprocessor + for offloading processes:
"ESP32 Hosted (ESP-Hosted-MCU) is a solution that allows you to use ESP32 modules as communication co-processors. This solution provides wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth) to the host module, enabling it to communicate with other devices."
Because on the intial the ESP32-S3 need to also hande connectivity (Wi-Fi/Bluetooth) which puts further strains on its already constrained and limited resources. Adding a second ESP32 (like example another ESP32-S31) via the esp32_hosted component it would enable ESPHome to use the second ESP32 to serve as a wireless communication co-processor, offloading Wi-Fi and Bluetooth processing. Having a second ESP32 on the same board mean it could maybe also run a display or Thread Border Router. It also supports SPI/UART interfaces so could probably offload IR, RF and serial proxy functions as well
Cluster is wrong termenology for multiple SoCs on the same board, but yes using multiple ESP32 SoCs on the same board is nothing new, and there as now even several different modules on the market that combine two ESP32 chips (like example an ESP32-P4 and an ESP32-C6), especially for the purpose of combining a more compute powerful ESP32 with a second ESP32 which offer better wireless connectivlity to use the less powerful ESP32 as a communication coprocessor, which again is already supported in ESPHome and is recommended when the main host ESP32 uses most of internal RAM (for example driving a large LVGL UI) -> ESP32 Hosted - ESPHome - Smart Home Made Simple
Hedda, I cant find where it says that the ESP32-S31 includes XU316 DSP functionality on-chip. It certainly looks to have added the better connectivity and networking capabilities of the ESP32-C6 (or C5 ?) to the S3, so I guess in a few years it will replace the S3.
The ESP32-S31 Core Development Boardadds an ES8311 Audio Codec Chip to provide low-power mono audio - but that looks well short of the DSP built into XU316.
The Korvo Development board lists a ES8389 low-power stereo codec with dual ADC/DAC, low-noise preamp, headphone, digital effects, analog mixing, and gain control. Connected to the ESP32-S31 over I2S and I2C for hardware audio processing independent application software ... but is not in the same price range.
Personally I'll be waiting for the next big thing to move from bleeding edge (ie no support0 to mainstream before upgrading again.
