Enhance Object Detection in Home Assistant with Deepstack

Enhance Object Detection in Home Assistant with Deepstack

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. What is DeepStack?
3. Hardware Requirements for Running DeepStack
4. Installing DeepStack on Docker
5. Adding DeepStack to Home Assistant Configuration
6. Running Your First Detection with DeepStack
7. Creating an Automation for Image Scanning
8. Integrating DeepStack with Actionable Notifications
9. Adding DeepStack Images to Your Dashboard
10. Conclusion

Introduction

Welcome to another Tech Tutorial Tuesday! In this week's video, we'll be diving into the world of DeepStack. DeepStack is a powerful and free local service that allows You to run object detection, scene detection, and even face detection and recognition. Whether you're a home user or an advanced developer, DeepStack has got you covered. In this article, we'll guide you through the installation process, Show you how to integrate it with Home Assistant, and help you run your first detection. So let's jump right in!

What is DeepStack?

DeepStack is an AI server that provides object detection, scene detection, and face detection and recognition. The best part? It runs locally on your own hardware and is completely offline – no cloud required! DeepStack exposes a REST API, making it easy to integrate with a wide variety of platforms. And the best news of all? It's absolutely free for home users. With support for 80 common objects out of the box, you can start detecting things right away. And if that's not enough, you can even train your own objects and faces. But first, let's talk about the hardware requirements.

Hardware Requirements for Running DeepStack

Before we get into the installation process, let's discuss the hardware requirements for running DeepStack. While DeepStack does offer an optimized version for Nvidia Jetson boards, you can also run it on normal x86 hardware. However, keep in mind that the requirements are a little higher for x86 hardware. It is recommended to have at least an i5 processor and 8 gigabytes of RAM. If you're interested in the Nvidia Jetson boards, there's even a budget-friendly option available for just $59. These boards offer higher performance due to their built-in GPUs, which excel in tasks like object detection. Unfortunately, DeepStack does not currently run on the Raspberry Pi, but there are rumors of future support. Now that we've covered the hardware requirements, let's move on to the installation process.

Installing DeepStack on Docker

To install DeepStack, you will need to have Docker already installed on your machine. If you don't have Docker installed, don't worry – we'll provide you with a link to the official Docker installation instructions. Once you have Docker set up, open up your terminal or command line and run the appropriate Docker command Based on your hardware. If you're running on x86 hardware, use the command to pull down the latest DeepStack image. If you're running on Nvidia Jetson Nano, use the command for optimized performance. Keep in mind that you can also run face detection with DeepStack by changing a single command. Once you've run the command, Docker will start pulling down the required components to run the image. This may take a few minutes depending on your internet speed. When the process is complete, you should see a confirmation in your terminal.

Adding DeepStack to Home Assistant Configuration

Next, we'll show you how to integrate DeepStack with Home Assistant. Make sure you have HACS (Home Assistant Community Store) installed. If you don't, we'll provide a link to a video guide on how to set it up. With HACS installed, open up the Custom Integrations menu and search for "DeepStack." Install the DeepStack Object custom integration developed by Robin Cole. Once you've installed the integration, restart Home Assistant. Now, go to your Home Assistant configuration and add a few lines of code. Pay Attention to the IP address, port number, and targets you want to detect. You can also set the confidence level and customize the saving and publishing options. Once you're done, save your configuration and restart Home Assistant.

Running Your First Detection with DeepStack

Now that DeepStack is set up in your Home Assistant configuration, it's time to run your first detection. Head over to the Dev Tools section and select "States." You'll Notice an image processing sensor with an unknown state – don't worry, this is expected. Next, go to the Services section and run the "image_processing.scan" service. This will trigger your first detection. After a few moments, check your terminal or command line. You should see a new line indicating that an image has been processed. If you go back to the Dev Tools section and select "States" again, you'll see that the image processing sensor is now populated with the detected objects. Congratulations – you've successfully run your first detection with DeepStack!

Creating an Automation for Image Scanning

To automate the image scanning process with DeepStack, you can Create an automation that triggers the "image_processing.scan" service whenever motion is detected by your camera. If your camera doesn't support motion detection, you can set a time interval to trigger the service. This way, you can periodically scan images for objects without manual intervention. Keep in mind that the automation process may vary depending on your camera and Home Assistant setup. If you're interested in a more detailed guide on how to integrate DeepStack images with actionable notifications, check out our video guide on Android and iOS notifications. You can also display DeepStack images on your Home Assistant dashboard for easy monitoring and access.

Integrating DeepStack with Actionable Notifications

DeepStack images can be easily integrated with actionable notifications on Android and iOS devices. This allows you to receive real-time notifications whenever an object is detected by DeepStack. Whether it's a person, a vehicle, or a custom object, you can set up your automation to trigger notifications with all the Relevant information. For a comprehensive guide on how to set up actionable notifications with DeepStack images, check out our dedicated video guide. Take your Home Assistant setup to the next level by harnessing the power of DeepStack and actionable notifications.

Adding DeepStack Images to Your Dashboard

If you want to have a visual representation of the objects detected by DeepStack, you can add the images to your Home Assistant dashboard. This way, you can easily monitor the detected objects without having to navigate to the image processing sensor. With a simple card setup, you can display the DeepStack images alongside their corresponding attributes. Whether you're using Lovelace or the old UI, adding DeepStack images to your dashboard is a great way to enhance your Home Assistant experience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, DeepStack is a powerful and versatile tool for object detection, scene detection, and face detection and recognition. With its offline capabilities and easy integration with Home Assistant, DeepStack allows you to take your smart home automation to new heights. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced user, the installation and setup process is relatively straightforward. From capturing images and running detections to integrating with actionable notifications and displaying images on your dashboard, DeepStack offers endless possibilities. So go ahead and give DeepStack a try – you won't be disappointed.