ESP32-cam Camera Trap
In this project we’ll be building an esp32-cam motion camera trap that saves photos to an SD card with the date and time in the file name.
This camera can last a very long time by using 18650 batteries. I’m using two 18650 batteries and haven’t done any testing yet on how long it will last but of course it depends on how many triggers are happening.
The code for this camera trap includes the ability to transfer the images over to a server. I’m still working on getting the server setup on a wifi lan and waiting for parts. I’ll update this when its ready.
The file name of each photo will have the date and then the time stamped like this:
08012021_11_41_30.jpg
The order is Day Month Year. Then after the first _ the time starts so 11:41 am and the last part is the seconds.
Why I wanted this included is because for a lot of the wildlife tracking I do, knowing what animals are in the area is no enough. Know what day and time it happened is obviously crucial.
Parts You’ll Need:
ESP32-Cam
DS3231 real time clock
HC-SR501 motion sensor
5V Step up
SN3904 Transistor
18650 Charge controller
18650 Battery Holders x 2
18650 Batteries x 2
Resistor 10k ohm – Top one on blue line below
Resistor 1k ohm – Bottom one on yellow line below
I’m no longer using a voltage step up as you see in the photos below. I’m running two 18650 batteries in parallel providing 4.1 volts total at full charge.
The wiring diagram above shows 4 AAA batteries in series and that will work too but I couldn’t find a diagram image for the 18650 batteries so I used that instead. The camera will stop working when the batteries reach 3 volts. The battery charge controller will cut off at 2.65 volts. I’m constantly using a 5v solar panel attached to the charge controller so the voltage always stays pretty high.
Code You’ll Need For This Project:
Code: Although the code is listed below, you’ll need two other files as well. RTClib.cpp and RTClib.h Here are all of the files in a zip. Click Here
#include <Arduino.h>
#include <Wire.h>
#include "RTClib.h"
#include <WiFi.h>
#include "soc/soc.h"
#include "soc/rtc_cntl_reg.h"
#include "esp_camera.h"
#include "FS.h"
#include "SD_MMC.h"
#include "driver/rtc_io.h"
int save_flag = 0;
const char* ssid = "arunmobile";
const char* password = "arun1234";
#define ESP32CAM_LED_FLASH 4
String saved_image_name = "/first.jpg";
String serverName = "192.168.43.16"; // REPLACE WITH YOUR Raspberry Pi IP ADDRESS
//String serverName = "example.com"; // OR REPLACE WITH YOUR DOMAIN NAME
String serverPath = "/upload"; // The default serverPath should be upload.php
const int serverPort = 8080;
#define uS_TO_S_FACTOR 1000000ULL /* Conversion factor for micro seconds to seconds */
#define TIME_TO_SLEEP 30 /* Time ESP32 will go to sleep (in seconds) */
int connection_error_count = 0;
RTC_DATA_ATTR int cnt = 0;
WiFiClient client;
// CAMERA_MODEL_AI_THINKER
#define PWDN_GPIO_NUM 32
#define RESET_GPIO_NUM -1
#define XCLK_GPIO_NUM 0
#define SIOD_GPIO_NUM 26
#define SIOC_GPIO_NUM 27
#define Y9_GPIO_NUM 35
#define Y8_GPIO_NUM 34
#define Y7_GPIO_NUM 39
#define Y6_GPIO_NUM 36
#define Y5_GPIO_NUM 21
#define Y4_GPIO_NUM 19
#define Y3_GPIO_NUM 18
#define Y2_GPIO_NUM 5
#define VSYNC_GPIO_NUM 25
#define HREF_GPIO_NUM 23
#define PCLK_GPIO_NUM 22
const int remain_connected_timerInterval = 5000; // time between each HTTP POST image
const int wifi_timerInterval = 5000; // time between each HTTP POST image
String status_send = "";
unsigned long previousMillis = 0; // last time image was sent
char dateTimeFilenamearray[25];
RTC_DS3231 rtc;
uint8_t print_wakeup_reason(){
esp_sleep_wakeup_cause_t wakeup_reason;
wakeup_reason = esp_sleep_get_wakeup_cause();
int status = 0;
switch(wakeup_reason)
{
case ESP_SLEEP_WAKEUP_EXT0 :
Serial.println("Wakeup caused by external signal using RTC_IO");
status = 1;
break;
case ESP_SLEEP_WAKEUP_EXT1 :
Serial.println("Wakeup caused by external signal using RTC_CNTL");
status = 2;
break;
case ESP_SLEEP_WAKEUP_TIMER :
Serial.println("Wakeup caused by timer");
status = 3;
break;
case ESP_SLEEP_WAKEUP_TOUCHPAD :
Serial.println("Wakeup caused by touchpad");
status = 4;
break;
case ESP_SLEEP_WAKEUP_ULP :
Serial.println("Wakeup caused by ULP program");
status = 5;
break;
default :
Serial.printf("Wakeup was not caused by deep sleep: %d\n",wakeup_reason); break;
}
return status;
}
uint8_t capture_image(String path_new)
{
// String path_new = "/pircheck"+String(cnt)+".jpg";
// cnt++;
String keypressed = "button";
Serial.println("Starting SD Card");
if(!SD_MMC.begin()){
Serial.println("Card Mount Failed");
return 0;
}
uint8_t cardType = SD_MMC.cardType();
if(cardType == CARD_NONE){
Serial.println("No SD_MMC card attached");
return 0;
}
Serial.print("SD_MMC Card Type: ");
if(cardType == CARD_MMC){
Serial.println("MMC");
} else if(cardType == CARD_SD){
Serial.println("SDSC");
} else if(cardType == CARD_SDHC){
Serial.println("SDHC");
} else {
Serial.println("UNKNOWN");
}
uint64_t cardSize = SD_MMC.cardSize() / (1024 * 1024);
Serial.printf("SD_MMC Card Size: %lluMB\n", cardSize);
// digitalWrite(ESP32CAM_LED_FLASH, HIGH);
camera_fb_t *fb = NULL;
fb = esp_camera_fb_get();
if (!fb)
{
Serial.println("Camera capture failed");
return 0;
}
else
{
Serial.println("Camera Captured");
}
delay(1000);
fs::FS &fs = SD_MMC;
Serial.printf("Picture file name: %s\n", path_new.c_str());
File file = fs.open(path_new.c_str(), FILE_WRITE);
if(!file){
Serial.println("Failed to open file in writing mode");
}
else {
file.write(fb->buf, fb->len); // payload (image), payload length
Serial.printf("Saved file to path: %s\n", path_new.c_str());
}
file.close();
delay(1000);
SD_MMC.end();
delay(1000);
esp_camera_fb_return(fb);
delay(1000);
// digitalWrite(ESP32CAM_LED_FLASH, LOW);
}
String sendPhoto(const char * path) {
String getAll;
String getBody;
static uint8_t buf[1024];
if(!SD_MMC.begin()){
Serial.println("Card Mount Failed");
}
uint8_t cardType = SD_MMC.cardType();
if(cardType == CARD_NONE){
Serial.println("No SD_MMC card attached");
}
Serial.print("SD_MMC Card Type: ");
if(cardType == CARD_MMC){
Serial.println("MMC");
} else if(cardType == CARD_SD){
Serial.println("SDSC");
} else if(cardType == CARD_SDHC){
Serial.println("SDHC");
} else {
Serial.println("UNKNOWN");
}
uint64_t cardSize = SD_MMC.cardSize() / (1024 * 1024);
Serial.printf("SD_MMC Card Size: %lluMB\n", cardSize);
fs::FS &fs = SD_MMC;
File file = fs.open(path);
delay(500);
if(file)
{
Serial.println("file detected.........");
}
Serial.println("Connecting to server: " + serverName);
if (client.connect(serverName.c_str(), serverPort)) {
Serial.println("Connection successful!");
String head = "--RandomNerdTutorials\r\nContent-Disposition: form-data; name=\"imageFile\"; filename=\"esp32-cam.jpg\"\r\nContent-Type: image/jpeg\r\n\r\n";
String tail = "\r\n--RandomNerdTutorials--\r\n";
uint16_t imageLen = file.size();;
uint16_t extraLen = head.length() + tail.length();
uint16_t totalLen = imageLen + extraLen;
client.println("POST " + serverPath + " HTTP/1.1");
client.println("Host: " + serverName);
client.println("Content-Length: " + String(totalLen));
client.println("Content-Type: multipart/form-data; boundary=RandomNerdTutorials");
client.println();
client.print(head);
size_t fbLen = file.size();
for (size_t n=0; n<fbLen; n=n+1024) {
if (n+1024 < fbLen) {
file.read(buf, 1024);
delay(10);
client.write(buf, 1024);
}
else if (fbLen%1024>0) {
size_t remainder = fbLen%1024;
file.read(buf, remainder);
delay(10);
client.write(buf, remainder);
}
}
client.print(tail);
int timoutTimer = 10000;
long startTimer = millis();
boolean state = false;
while ((startTimer + timoutTimer) > millis()) {
Serial.print(".");
delay(100);
while (client.available()) {
char c = client.read();
if (c == '\n') {
if (getAll.length()==0) { state=true; }
getAll = "";
}
else if (c != '\r') { getAll += String(c); }
if (state==true) { getBody += String(c); }
startTimer = millis();
}
if (getBody.length()>0) { break; }
}
file.close();
Serial.println();
client.stop();
Serial.println(getBody);
delay(1000);
SD_MMC.end();
}
else {
getBody = "";
Serial.println(getBody);
}
return getBody;
}
void renameFile(const char * path1, const char * path2){
Serial.printf("Renaming file %s to %s\n", path1, path2);
if(!SD_MMC.begin()){
Serial.println("Card Mount Failed");
}
uint8_t cardType = SD_MMC.cardType();
if(cardType == CARD_NONE){
Serial.println("No SD_MMC card attached");
}
Serial.print("SD_MMC Card Type: ");
if(cardType == CARD_MMC){
Serial.println("MMC");
} else if(cardType == CARD_SD){
Serial.println("SDSC");
} else if(cardType == CARD_SDHC){
Serial.println("SDHC");
} else {
Serial.println("UNKNOWN");
}
fs::FS &fs = SD_MMC;
if (fs.rename(path1, path2)) {
Serial.println("File renamed");
} else {
Serial.println("Rename failed");
}
SD_MMC.end();
}
void deleteFile(const char * path){
Serial.printf("Deleting file: %s\n", path);
if(!SD_MMC.begin()){
Serial.println("Card Mount Failed");
}
uint8_t cardType = SD_MMC.cardType();
if(cardType == CARD_NONE){
Serial.println("No SD_MMC card attached");
}
Serial.print("SD_MMC Card Type: ");
if(cardType == CARD_MMC){
Serial.println("MMC");
} else if(cardType == CARD_SD){
Serial.println("SDSC");
} else if(cardType == CARD_SDHC){
Serial.println("SDHC");
} else {
Serial.println("UNKNOWN");
}
fs::FS &fs = SD_MMC;
if(fs.remove(path)){
Serial.println("File deleted");
} else {
Serial.println("Delete failed");
}
SD_MMC.end();
}
String listDir(const char * dirname, uint8_t levels){
Serial.printf("Listing directory: %s\n", dirname);
if(!SD_MMC.begin()){
Serial.println("Card Mount Failed");
}
uint8_t cardType = SD_MMC.cardType();
if(cardType == CARD_NONE){
Serial.println("No SD_MMC card attached");
}
Serial.print("SD_MMC Card Type: ");
if(cardType == CARD_MMC){
Serial.println("MMC");
} else if(cardType == CARD_SD){
Serial.println("SDSC");
} else if(cardType == CARD_SDHC){
Serial.println("SDHC");
} else {
Serial.println("UNKNOWN");
}
uint64_t cardSize = SD_MMC.cardSize() / (1024 * 1024);
Serial.printf("SD_MMC Card Size: %lluMB\n", cardSize);
delay(1000);
fs::FS &fs = SD_MMC;
File root = fs.open(dirname);
delay(1000);
if(!root){
Serial.println("Failed to open directory");
}
if(!root.isDirectory()){
Serial.println("Not a directory");
}
String filename = "";
File file = root.openNextFile();
if(file){
Serial.print(" FILE: ");
Serial.print(file.name());
Serial.print(" SIZE: ");
Serial.println(file.size());
filename = String(file.name());
}
file.close();
SD_MMC.end();
return filename;
}
void go_to_deepsleep()
{
esp_sleep_enable_ext0_wakeup(GPIO_NUM_13,0); //1 = High, 0 = Low
esp_sleep_enable_timer_wakeup(TIME_TO_SLEEP * uS_TO_S_FACTOR);
Serial.println("Going to sleep now");
esp_deep_sleep_start();
Serial.println("This will never be printed");
}
void setup_wifi()
{
delay(10);
// We start by connecting to a WiFi network
Serial.println();
Serial.print("Connecting to ");
Serial.println(ssid);
WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
unsigned long previousMillis = millis();
int flag = 0;
while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED)
{
delay(500);
Serial.print(".");
Serial.print("connecting");
unsigned long currentMillis = millis();
if (currentMillis - previousMillis >= wifi_timerInterval)
{
flag = 1;
break;
}
}
if (flag == 0)
{
Serial.println("");
Serial.println("WiFi connected");
Serial.println("IP address: ");
Serial.println(WiFi.localIP());
}
else
{
Serial.println("WiFi not connected");
}
}
void setup() {
//delay(5000);
WRITE_PERI_REG(RTC_CNTL_BROWN_OUT_REG, 0);
Serial.begin(115200);
if (! rtc.begin()) {
Serial.println("Couldn't find RTC");
while (1);
}
String path_new = "";
//Print the wakeup reason for ESP32
uint8_t status = print_wakeup_reason();
Serial.print("Serial status is ");
Serial.print(status);
if(status==0)
{
// delay(20000);
Serial.println("<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< POWER >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>");
// go_to_deepsleep();
}
if(status==1)
{
Serial.println("<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< MOTION >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>");
}
if(status==3)
{
Serial.println("<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< TIMER >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>");
}
camera_config_t config;
config.ledc_channel = LEDC_CHANNEL_0;
config.ledc_timer = LEDC_TIMER_0;
config.pin_d0 = Y2_GPIO_NUM;
config.pin_d1 = Y3_GPIO_NUM;
config.pin_d2 = Y4_GPIO_NUM;
config.pin_d3 = Y5_GPIO_NUM;
config.pin_d4 = Y6_GPIO_NUM;
config.pin_d5 = Y7_GPIO_NUM;
config.pin_d6 = Y8_GPIO_NUM;
config.pin_d7 = Y9_GPIO_NUM;
config.pin_xclk = XCLK_GPIO_NUM;
config.pin_pclk = PCLK_GPIO_NUM;
config.pin_vsync = VSYNC_GPIO_NUM;
config.pin_href = HREF_GPIO_NUM;
config.pin_sscb_sda = SIOD_GPIO_NUM;
config.pin_sscb_scl = SIOC_GPIO_NUM;
config.pin_pwdn = PWDN_GPIO_NUM;
config.pin_reset = RESET_GPIO_NUM;
config.xclk_freq_hz = 20000000;
config.pixel_format = PIXFORMAT_JPEG;
config.frame_size = FRAMESIZE_VGA;
config.jpeg_quality = 12; //0-63 lower number means higher quality
config.fb_count = 1;
pinMode(4, INPUT);
digitalWrite(4, LOW);
rtc_gpio_hold_dis(GPIO_NUM_4);
// camera init
esp_err_t err = esp_camera_init(&config);
if (err != ESP_OK) {
Serial.printf("Camera init failed with error 0x%x", err);
Serial.println("<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Restartig >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>");
delay(1000);
ESP.restart();
}
if(status==1 || status == 0)
{
delay(1000);
if(status == 0)
{
path_new = saved_image_name;
}
else
{
DateTime now = rtc.now();
dateTimeFilenamearray[0] = '\0';
//sprintf(dateTimeFilenamearray, "/%02d%02d%d_%d:%d:%d", now.day(), now.month(), now.year(),now.hour(),now.minute(),now.second());
sprintf(dateTimeFilenamearray, "/%02d%02d%d_%d_%d_%d", now.day(), now.month(), now.year(),now.hour(),now.minute(),now.second());
Serial.println(dateTimeFilenamearray);
//path_new = "/motion_"+String(cnt)+".jpg";
path_new = String(dateTimeFilenamearray)+".jpg";
cnt++;
}
capture_image(path_new);
delay(1000);
// esp_camera_deinit();
// delay(10000);
pinMode(4, OUTPUT);
digitalWrite(4, LOW);
rtc_gpio_hold_en(GPIO_NUM_4);
delay(10000);
go_to_deepsleep();
}
setup_wifi();
previousMillis = millis();
connection_error_count = 0;
}
void loop() {
if (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED)
{
delay(500);
Serial.print(".");
unsigned long currentMillis = millis();
if (currentMillis - previousMillis >= remain_connected_timerInterval) {
go_to_deepsleep();
}
}
else
{
if(connection_error_count < 3)
{
String filename = "";
filename = listDir("/",0);
if(filename != "")
{
Serial.print("filename is: ");
Serial.println(filename);
delay(1000);
if(filename != saved_image_name){
status_send = "";
status_send = sendPhoto(filename.c_str());
if(status_send.indexOf("ok") > 0){
Serial.print("Response from the server");
Serial.println(status_send);
deleteFile(filename.c_str());
connection_error_count = 0;
}
else
{
delay(3000);
connection_error_count++;
}
}
else
{
deleteFile(filename.c_str());
}
previousMillis = millis();
delay(2000);
}
else
{
delay(5000);
go_to_deepsleep();
}
}
else
{
delay(1000);
go_to_deepsleep();
}
}
}
12 replies on “ESP32-Cam Motion Camera Trap Project With Date and Time”
This is really a fantastic project. I will try it as my first ine tthanks for this.
No problem, please let me know if you have any questions or need any help.
Hi There do you have assembly and or a wiring diagram? I have all the parts together now and hook up instructions would be really useful. I have figured out quite a bit from the photos. I see there are some resistors soldered to the transistor. Many thanks Iain.
Hi,
I’m looking into building wiring diagrams but some of the free websites out there for it are a little hard to use or are not actually free.
I’ll check into the resistors and replay back here, I think they’re 100ohm.
Ryan
Ok the resistor on the Blue wire(far right pin of the transistor when looking at the lettering on it) is a 10k ohm and the yellow wire is a 1k ohm, sorry I can’t believe I forgot to add that into the post, I’ll correct it tomorrow.
Many thanks. Have got the weather station up and running slight snag is that after about 4 hours the sensor is returning some crazy values like -144.5! Take the power off and restart and we are good again. I plan on replacing the sensor. Thanks again .
Hi Ryan can you tell me please which pins are used for the RTC connection on the ESP32Cam. I have wracked my brains and studied the pictures but I can’t figure it out. All I get at the moment is the software halting because it can’t find the RTC. I have tested the RTC on another board and set the time on it so I know that’s good. Many thanks.
Hi, I’ve included a wiring diagram now on the page right under the parts list.
Hey Ryan,
Really neat project. I agree with Iain, there really needs to be a wiring diagram for how you have the RTC connected to the ESP32-Cam. It isn’t clear in the code or from the photos what pins are being used for SCL and SCK. Would really appreciate this!
Best,
Austin
Hi Austin, I’ve included a wiring diagram now at the top of the images. Please let me know if there’s anything else I can help with.
Hello. Thank you for this beautiful design to add time and date. But I had a question for you: what are the pins of RTC and does this project work properly with the clock? Please help me,I really need this .thank
Hi I’ve built a wiring diagram now on the page.