esp-idf/examples/openthread/ot_rcp/README.md

| Supported Targets | ESP32-C5 | ESP32-C6 | ESP32-H2 |
| ----------------- | -------- | -------- | -------- |

# OpenThread Radio Co-Processor (RCP) Example

This example demonstrates an [OpenThread Radio Co-Processor](https://openthread.io/platforms/co-processor).

OpenThread RCP doesn't function alone, it needs to work together with a Host and this example covers two common user scenarios:
- Work with a Host Processor to perform a [Thread Border Router](https://openthread.io/guides/border-router).
- Work as a [Thread Sniffer](https://openthread.io/guides/pyspinel/sniffer).

## How to use example

### Hardware Required

To run this example, a board with IEEE 802.15.4 module (for example ESP32-H2) is required.

### Configure the project

The default communication interface is port 0 of ESP32-H2 UART running at 460800 baud, change the configuration in [esp_ot_config.h](main/esp_ot_config.h) if you want to use another interface or need different communication parameters.

### RCP Size Optimization Configuration

To optimize the size of the RCP firmware, the following configurations are enabled by default:

```
CONFIG_COMPILER_OPTIMIZATION_SIZE=y
CONFIG_COMPILER_OPTIMIZATION_ASSERTIONS_SILENT=y
CONFIG_COMPILER_OPTIMIZATION_CHECKS_SILENT=y
CONFIG_COMPILER_SAVE_RESTORE_LIBCALLS=y
CONFIG_ESP_ERR_TO_NAME_LOOKUP=n
CONFIG_ESP_SYSTEM_PANIC_SILENT_REBOOT=y
CONFIG_LOG_DEFAULT_LEVEL_NONE=y
CONFIG_NEWLIB_NANO_FORMAT=y
CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_LOG_LEVEL_DYNAMIC=n
CONFIG_OPENTHREAD_LOG_LEVEL_NONE=y
```
Configure them via `idf.py menuconfig` if you need.

The firmware size are as follows (reference value):

```
                                Before Optimization     After Optimization

esp_ot_rcp.bin for esp32h2          314KB                   184KB

esp_ot_rcp.bin for esp32c6          299KB                   208kb
```

### Build and Flash

Build the project and flash it to the board:

```
idf.py -p <PORT> build flash
```

Now you'll get an OpenThread RCP, you can try the following use cases:

#### Thread Border Router

Please refer to [ot_br](../ot_br) example for the setup steps.

#### Thread Sniffer

Please refer to [Thread Sniffer](https://openthread.io/guides/pyspinel/sniffer) for the detailed instructions.