Jul 24 2025
Collecting Data Without USB Connections: A Wi-Fi Relay Device for Use in Polar Regions
Background and Challenge
We were approached with a request to improve the efficiency of data retrieval in cold-climate drone operations. At the time, data collected by loggers mounted on drones had to be retrieved manually via USB—connecting each device one by one. “If possible, we’d like to get the data without having to plug in USB cables each time.” That conversation marked the beginning of this project.
Our Solution: A Wi-Fi Data RepeaterDevice
Our proposal was to create a “relay device” that receives data via USB and transmits it over Wi-Fi—eliminating the need for frequent cable connections between loggers and PCs.
To make this work, three key conditions needed to be met:
- Built-in Wi-Fi for wireless data transmission
- USB host capability to correctly receive data from the logger
- Compact size to avoid interfering with other observation equipment
We selected the M5AtomS3, a compact microcontroller with the right balance of performance and form factor. It also proved reliable enough for use in harsh environmental conditions.
Development Challenges
The biggest challenge was implementing the USB host functionality.
The Arduino development environment doesn’t provide official support for USB host features, so we had to take a different approach.
We switched to PlatformIO and integrated third-party libraries that support USB host functionality. After some trial and error, we successfully built a system capable of retrieving data over Wi-Fi.
Open Source Code Available
We’ve published the source code used in this project on GitHub:
https://github.com/SWITCHSCIENCE/usb-cdc-acm
This example demonstrates how to connect a USB CDC-ACM device to the M5AtomS3 and transmit the received data over Wi-Fi. We hope it proves useful to others facing similar challenges.
Looking Ahead
While we used the M5AtomS3 for this implementation, payload restrictions on drones may lead us to explore the even more compact M5StampS3 in the future.
In any case, this USB host solution enables seamless data retrieval without modifying the sensor’s internal circuitry, significantly reducing fieldwork effort and ensuring more reliable data acquisition.
Conclusion
Even in extreme environments like the polar regions, the challenges faced in the field are often surprisingly simple.
Eliminating the small but repetitive task such as plugging in USB cables, can greatly improve operational efficiency.
We’re happy to have helped to remove a minor inconvenience with a practical solution.