Maker Builds a Wireless 3D Scanner Using ESP32-S3 and Rotating LiDAR That Streams Data to a Custom Android App

A maker has built a standalone 3D LiDAR scanner that turns an inexpensive rotating LiDAR module into a wireless spatial-mapping device. The scanner rotates the sensor to collect distance measurements across multiple angles, allowing it to capture the shape of objects and surrounding spaces instead of producing only a flat 2D scan.

An ESP32-S3 acts as the scanner’s embedded controller and wireless communication hub. It coordinates the rotating mechanism, receives range data from the LiDAR sensor, and streams the measurements over Wi-Fi to a custom Android application. The design avoids relying on expensive dedicated 3D-scanning hardware while keeping the system portable and relatively accessible to makers.

The Android app processes the incoming measurements and visualizes them as a 3D point cloud, giving users a live view of the scanned environment. By combining a low-cost LiDAR module, ESP32-S3 wireless processing, a stepper-driven rotation system, and mobile visualization, the project demonstrates how DIY hardware can be transformed into a practical 3D mapping tool.