# Flash Airscope Firmware

The assembled Airscope needs to be programmed to run the Airscope firmware before use.

```{image} ../assets/images/Flash@4x.png
:alt: Flash Airscope firmware
:align: center
:class: wide
```

## Cable connection for flashing

- Connect the burning board to the main PCB.
- Connect the UART pins to the USB converter following the diagram: GND to GND, RX to TX, TX to RX, and VCC to VCC. Then connect the USB converter to the computer.
- Before flashing, connect IO0 to GND. This puts the ESP32 into flashing mode.

## Flashing the firmware with Arduino IDE

- Download and install the [Arduino IDE](https://www.arduino.cc/en/software). Then install ESP32 board support through the Arduino IDE Boards Manager. See the [official ESP32 Arduino installation guide](https://docs.espressif.com/projects/arduino-esp32/en/latest/installing.html).
- Download the firmware from the [GitHub repo](https://github.com/Neurallabware/Airscope_toolbox), and open `Airscope.ino` in the Arduino IDE.
- Select `AI Thinker ESP32-CAM` as the board, then click `Upload`.
- After the upload is complete, disconnect IO0 from GND. Power-cycle the board to restart it in normal running mode.