$10 DIY AI Surveillance Camera

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Building a Surveillance Camera with ESP32
   1. Components Required
   2. Setting up the ESP32 Camboard
      1. Connecting the FTDI Programmer
      2. Software Requirements
3. Installing Libraries
4. Creating the Dashboard and Device
   1. Creating a Device on the ElegentODIO Dashboard
   2. Creating a Board on Telegram
5. Modifying the Sketch
6. Testing the Device
7. Assembling the Camera
8. Conclusion

Building a Surveillance Camera with ESP32

Surveillance cameras are becoming increasingly popular as a security measure for homes and businesses. In this project, we will be building a surveillance camera using the ESP32 Camboard. This compact camera module is housed in a 3D printed case and can be easily adjusted to capture the desired surveillance angle. One of the unique features of this camera is that it can send motion detection notifications to your Telegram account.

Components Required

Before we begin, let's Gather all the components we will need for this project:

• ESP32 Camboard
• FTDI Programmer
• Female to Female Jumper Cables
• Mini USB to USB 2.0 Cable
• 5 Volt 2 Ampere Adapter
• 3D Printed Parts

You can find the complete list of assets in the description. The ESP32 Camboard is a versatile microcontroller that comes with an integrated video camera and a micro SD card slot. It is affordable and easy to use. However, one limitation is that it does not have a USB port, so we will need to use an external FTDI adapter to connect it to our computer.

Setting up the ESP32 Camboard

To get started with the ESP32 Camboard, we need to connect it to our computer using the FTDI programmer. Make sure to follow the provided schematics and insert the jumper to enable the 5-volt input on the FTDI adapter. Additionally, the GPIO0 Pin needs to be connected to ground to allow code uploading.

Once the hardware setup is complete, we need to install the necessary software. Start by opening the Arduino IDE and go to the Preferences. In the Additional Boards Manager URL section, add the link for the ESP32 add-on. If you have multiple links, separate them with commas. Then, move to the Boards Manager, search for "ESP32," and install the Relevant board Package.

Next, we need to install three libraries: the Elegent Surveillance library, the Telegram library, and the Arduino JSON library. Go to the Manage Libraries option in the Tools menu and search for these libraries one by one, then install them.

Now that we have our components and software requirements in place, let's Continue with creating the dashboard and device for our surveillance camera.

Creating the Dashboard and Device

To enable motion detection notifications on our surveillance camera, we need to Create a device on the ElegentODIO dashboard. Start by signing up on the ElegentODIO Website if you haven't already. Once signed in, navigate to the Devices section and click on "New Device." Give your device a name and provide any additional information required. The template code for the device will be generated automatically.

To add Telegram notification functionality, we need to create a board on Telegram. Open the Telegram app and search for the BotFather. Start a new board by sending the command /newboard and name the board as desired. The board token and ID are essential for linking the device with the dashboard.

Now that we have created the dashboard and board, we can move on to modifying the sketch to establish a connection between the dashboard and ESP32 Camboard.

Modifying the Sketch

In this step, we will modify the code to specify our network credentials, user token, device ID, and board token. These details can be obtained from the ElegentODIO dashboard and Telegram, as explained earlier. Once we have updated the sketch with the required information, we can proceed to upload it to the ESP32 Camboard.

Connect the ESP32 Camboard to your computer using the USB cable and ensure the jumper wire is connected between GPIO0 and ground to allow code uploading. Select the appropriate board from the Boards menu in Arduino (We Are using the Tinker ESP32 Cam). Finally, click on the "Upload" button to compile and upload the sketch to the board. After the upload is complete, you can remove the jumper wire and reconnect the USB cable to power the board.

Testing the Device

Now that our surveillance camera is set up, let's test its functionality. Start by activating the board on Telegram. Then, perform some motion in front of the camera. You should receive a motion detection notification on Telegram, and the dashboard will display the captured footage. Repeat the motion and check the dashboard again to verify the detection and recording.

If the device is working correctly, we can move on to assembling the camera into the 3D printed parts.

Assembling the Camera

To complete the project, we can assemble the camera into the 3D printed parts. These parts are designed to provide power to the ESP32 Camboard by connecting to its 5-volt and ground pins. Once assembled, the camera can be placed anywhere as desired.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we have successfully built a surveillance camera using the ESP32 Camboard, allowing for motion detection and notifications through Telegram. This compact and affordable camera module, combined with the flexibility of the ESP32 microcontroller, provides a powerful surveillance solution. With the ability to adjust the camera angle and view footage remotely, this DIY project offers both security and convenience.