Build a desk satellite tracker with an ESP32 and a 3D-printed case
With Grok Bot he built a tiny desk satellite tracker: an ESP32-S3 shows the ISS and 6 other satellites live over a world map, with a radar for the next pass over his city, in a 3D-printed case.
Source
@thefofoshow on X · 2026-10-21
Written in our own words. Credit to the original author. Link checked 2026-10-23.
What they did
With Grok Bot he built a tiny desk satellite tracker: an ESP32-S3 shows the ISS and 6 other satellites live over a world map, with a radar for the next pass over his city, in a 3D-printed case.
Result (as claimed)
A working gadget, with servo-driven solar panels planned next.
Tools they used
Cost: Grok Bot: from $30/mo.
Set it up
Define the job
Say exactly what you want done and what the agent may and may not do on your behalf.
Share only what is needed
Give Grok Bot the minimum files or access required. Avoid sharing passwords in chat when a safer login flow exists.
Review the plan
Ask the agent to show its plan or draft before it acts, and approve each step that has real consequences.
Check the result
Confirm the outcome yourself (order placed, request sent, document understood) and keep a record.
Copy the full setup prompt
Paste into your agent and it will walk you through the setup, asking before anything that sends, posts or spends.
You are helping me set up this AI use case end to end in Claude Code. Goal: Build a desk satellite tracker with an ESP32 and a 3D-printed case What the original author did: With Grok Bot he built a tiny desk satellite tracker: an ESP32-S3 shows the ISS and 6 other satellites live over a world map, with a radar for the next pass over his city, in a 3D-printed case. Reported result (as claimed by the author): A working gadget, with servo-driven solar panels planned next. Source: https://x.com/thefofoshow/status/2112787765226037679 Tools they used: Grok Bot, ESP32, 3D printer Category: Personal & life Please: 1. Ask me 3 short questions about my situation (accounts I have, budget, what I want the output to look like). 2. Propose a step-by-step plan using these tools or cheaper alternatives, with the time and cost of each step. Use official pricing pages; say "check pricing" if unsure. 3. Then do the setup with me one step at a time, waiting for my OK before anything that sends messages, posts publicly, spends money or deletes data. 4. Finish with a checklist to run it again next time.
You are helping me set up this AI use case end to end in Codex. Goal: Build a desk satellite tracker with an ESP32 and a 3D-printed case What the original author did: With Grok Bot he built a tiny desk satellite tracker: an ESP32-S3 shows the ISS and 6 other satellites live over a world map, with a radar for the next pass over his city, in a 3D-printed case. Reported result (as claimed by the author): A working gadget, with servo-driven solar panels planned next. Source: https://x.com/thefofoshow/status/2112787765226037679 Tools they used: Grok Bot, ESP32, 3D printer Category: Personal & life Please: 1. Ask me 3 short questions about my situation (accounts I have, budget, what I want the output to look like). 2. Propose a step-by-step plan using these tools or cheaper alternatives, with the time and cost of each step. Use official pricing pages; say "check pricing" if unsure. 3. Then do the setup with me one step at a time, waiting for my OK before anything that sends messages, posts publicly, spends money or deletes data. 4. Finish with a checklist to run it again next time.
You are helping me set up this AI use case end to end in Grok Bot. Goal: Build a desk satellite tracker with an ESP32 and a 3D-printed case What the original author did: With Grok Bot he built a tiny desk satellite tracker: an ESP32-S3 shows the ISS and 6 other satellites live over a world map, with a radar for the next pass over his city, in a 3D-printed case. Reported result (as claimed by the author): A working gadget, with servo-driven solar panels planned next. Source: https://x.com/thefofoshow/status/2112787765226037679 Tools they used: Grok Bot, ESP32, 3D printer Category: Personal & life Please: 1. Ask me 3 short questions about my situation (accounts I have, budget, what I want the output to look like). 2. Propose a step-by-step plan using these tools or cheaper alternatives, with the time and cost of each step. Use official pricing pages; say "check pricing" if unsure. 3. Then do the setup with me one step at a time, waiting for my OK before anything that sends messages, posts publicly, spends money or deletes data. 4. Finish with a checklist to run it again next time.
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Guides for this use case
How to design and 3D print things with AI agents · How to set up Grok Bot agents for real work · How to design a PCB and electronics with AI · How to build a smart home and voice assistant with AI agents
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