KrakenRF, creators of the KrakenSDR, have unveiled the Discovery Drive, an ESP32-S3-based, cost-effective, weatherproof azimuth/elevation antenna rotator. It’s designed for the Discovery Dish or other directional antennas up to 5kg like Yagis and Wi-Fi grids. Unlike DIY projects such as SatNOGS, which need 3D printing and hardware sourcing, the Discovery Drive is plug-and-play. Attach it to a mast, connect the dish and 12V power, connect to Wi-Fi, and use the web UI for satellite tracking.
The Discovery Drive specifications include an Espressif Systems ESP32-S3-based control board, 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 4 connectivity, and a worm gear-locked drive for up to 5 kg antenna payloads, with an azimuth range of -360° to +360° and an elevation range of 0° to 90°. It includes a 6-meter USB Type-C cable, wind-tracking mode, and accommodates mast diameters from 2 cm to 50 cm. The low-power device consumes about 10W during tracking and 1W idle, operating within -10°C to 40°C in an IP55-rated enclosure.
Software-wise, the Discovery Drive integrates with the SDR and Ham radio ecosystem, supporting the rotctl (Hamlib) protocol over TCP/IP and EasyComm II protocol over serial. It’s compatible with software like SatDump, GPredict, Look4Sat, and Stellarium, and includes an open-source C++ firmware. The Discovery Drive supports weather-satellite reception, CubeSat tracking, radio astronomy, LoRa links, and more.
Currently crowdfunding on Crowd Supply for $699 with free worldwide shipping, the kit includes the Discovery Drive rotator, necessary cables, mounting accessories, and a universal power supply. Shipping is expected to start in August 2026.