Motion Sensing Photo Capturing Device Using ESP32-CAM

Previously, we have built some camera-based IoT projects using the ESP32-CAM Development Board. Those are very effective projects for home automations. So we thought to innovate some new projects using these ideas for the security system.

In this project, we’re going to make a Motion Sensing Photo Capturing Device using the ESP32-CAM module. For that, we use a PIR motion sensor for detection. When the PIR sensor detects any motion near the device, it will automatically capture a photo, and save it on the microSD card.

Table of Contents

Project

Circuit Diagram

Components Required

ESP32-CAM WiFi Camera Module
FTDI Programming Module
PIR Motion Sensor
2N3904 Transistor
1K Resistor
Connection Wire
Breadboard
5V Hi-Link Converter

ESP32-CAM Module Specifications

The ESP32-CAM is based on the ESP32-S module. It has the same features.

802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 4.2 with BLE
UART, SPI, I2C, and PWM interfaces
Clock speeds up to 160 MHz
Computing power up to 600 DMIPS
520KB SRAM + 4 MB PSRAM
Supports WiFi Image Upload
Multiple sleep modes
Firmware Over the Air (FOTA) upgrades possible
9 GPIO ports
Built-in Flash LED

Camera Specifications for Motion Sensing Photo Capturing

The ESP32-CAM has an inbuilt OV2640 camera module. The device also supports OV7670 cameras.

2 megapixel camera sensor
Array size UXGA 1622×1200
Output formats include YUV422, YUV420, RGB565, RGB555 and 8-bit compressed data
Image transfer rate of 15 to 60 fps

Programming ESP32-CAM Camera Module

First, to program the ESP32-CAM module, first, connect the module to a USB-to-Serial FTDI converter as shown in the schematic below.

ESP32-CAM Security Camera To FTDI Converter Connection Circuit Diagram

ESP32-CAM	FTDI Module
U0R	TX
U0T	RX
GPIO0	GND
+5V	+5V
GND	GND

To program and be ready to upload the code to the ESP32-CAM module, connect GPIO pin 0 to the ground as mentioned above schematic. Also, need to press the reset button to set it to flash mode before uploading the code.

Before uploading the code, make sure that you have the “https://raw.githubusercontent.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/gh-pages/package_esp32_index.json” link pasted into the preferences tab of the Arduino IDE. This link provides you access to example codes, libraries you need, etc.

Working Principle of Motion Sensing Photo Capturing Device

Now let’s talk about the working principle of this simple motion sensing photo capturing device.

At the stand-by situation, the ESP32-CAM module is in deep sleep mode with external wake-up enabled.

When any motion is detected in front of the camera viewing area, the PIR motion sensor sends an Analog signal to wake up the ESP32-CAM.

At the same time, ESP32-CAM takes a photo of the moving object and saves it on the microSD card.

Thereafter, again it turns back to deep sleep mode until another signal from the PIR motion sensor is received.

ESP32-CAM Code

To develop this code, all credit goes to Rui Santos.

/*********
  Rui Santos
  Complete project details at https://RandomNerdTutorials.com/esp32-cam-pir-motion-detector-photo-capture/
 
  IMPORTANT!!!
   - Select Board "AI Thinker ESP32-CAM"
   - GPIO 0 must be connected to GND to upload a sketch
   - After connecting GPIO 0 to GND, press the ESP32-CAM on-board RESET button to put your board in flashing mode
 
  Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
  of this software and associated documentation files.
  The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
  copies or substantial portions of the Software.
*********/
 
#include "esp_camera.h"
#include "Arduino.h"
#include "FS.h"                // SD Card ESP32
#include "SD_MMC.h"            // SD Card ESP32
#include "soc/soc.h"           // Disable brownour problems
#include "soc/rtc_cntl_reg.h"  // Disable brownour problems
#include "driver/rtc_io.h"
#include <EEPROM.h>            // read and write from flash memory
// define the number of bytes you want to access
#define EEPROM_SIZE 1
 
RTC_DATA_ATTR int bootCount = 0;
// Pin definition for 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
 
int pictureNumber = 0;
  
void setup() {
  WRITE_PERI_REG(RTC_CNTL_BROWN_OUT_REG, 0); //disable brownout detector
  Serial.begin(115200);
 
  Serial.setDebugOutput(true);
 
  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;
  
  pinMode(4, INPUT);
  digitalWrite(4, LOW);
  rtc_gpio_hold_dis(GPIO_NUM_4);
 
  if(psramFound()){
    config.frame_size = FRAMESIZE_UXGA; // FRAMESIZE_ + QVGA|CIF|VGA|SVGA|XGA|SXGA|UXGA
    config.jpeg_quality = 10;
    config.fb_count = 2;
  } else {
    config.frame_size = FRAMESIZE_SVGA;
    config.jpeg_quality = 12;
    config.fb_count = 1;
  }
 
  // Init Camera
  esp_err_t err = esp_camera_init(&config);
  if (err != ESP_OK) {
    Serial.printf("Camera init failed with error 0x%x", err);
    return;
  }
 
  Serial.println("Starting SD Card");
 
  delay(500);
  if(!SD_MMC.begin()){
    Serial.println("SD Card Mount Failed");
    //return;
  }
 
  uint8_t cardType = SD_MMC.cardType();
  if(cardType == CARD_NONE){
    Serial.println("No SD Card attached");
    return;
  }
   
  camera_fb_t * fb = NULL;
 
  // Take Picture with Camera
  fb = esp_camera_fb_get();  
  if(!fb) {
    Serial.println("Camera capture failed");
    return;
  }
  // initialize EEPROM with predefined size
  EEPROM.begin(EEPROM_SIZE);
  pictureNumber = EEPROM.read(0) + 1;
 
  // Path where new picture will be saved in SD Card
  String path = "/picture" + String(pictureNumber) +".jpg";
 
  fs::FS &fs = SD_MMC;
  Serial.printf("Picture file name: %s\n", path.c_str());
 
  File file = fs.open(path.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.c_str());
    EEPROM.write(0, pictureNumber);
    EEPROM.commit();
  }
  file.close();
  esp_camera_fb_return(fb);
  
  delay(1000);
  
  // Turns off the ESP32-CAM white on-board LED (flash) connected to GPIO 4
  pinMode(4, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(4, LOW);
  rtc_gpio_hold_en(GPIO_NUM_4);
  esp_sleep_enable_ext0_wakeup(GPIO_NUM_13, 0);
 
  Serial.println("Going to sleep now");
  delay(1000);
  esp_deep_sleep_start();
  Serial.println("This will never be printed");
} 
 
void loop() {
 
}

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/*********

Rui Santos

Complete project details at https://RandomNerdTutorials.com/esp32-cam-pir-motion-detector-photo-capture/

IMPORTANT!!!

- Select Board "AI Thinker ESP32-CAM"

- GPIO 0 must be connected to GND to upload a sketch

- After connecting GPIO 0 to GND, press the ESP32-CAM on-board RESET button to put your board in flashing mode

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy

of this software and associated documentation files.

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all

copies or substantial portions of the Software.

*********/

#include "esp_camera.h"

#include "Arduino.h"

#include "FS.h" // SD Card ESP32

#include "SD_MMC.h" // SD Card ESP32

#include "soc/soc.h" // Disable brownour problems

#include "soc/rtc_cntl_reg.h" // Disable brownour problems

#include "driver/rtc_io.h"

#include <EEPROM.h> // read and write from flash memory

// define the number of bytes you want to access

#define EEPROM_SIZE 1

RTC_DATA_ATTR int bootCount = 0;

// Pin definition for 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

int pictureNumber = 0;

void setup() {

WRITE_PERI_REG(RTC_CNTL_BROWN_OUT_REG, 0); //disable brownout detector

Serial.begin(115200);

Serial.setDebugOutput(true);

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;

pinMode(4, INPUT);

digitalWrite(4, LOW);

rtc_gpio_hold_dis(GPIO_NUM_4);

if(psramFound()){

config.frame_size = FRAMESIZE_UXGA; // FRAMESIZE_ + QVGA|CIF|VGA|SVGA|XGA|SXGA|UXGA

config.jpeg_quality = 10;

config.fb_count = 2;

} else {

config.frame_size = FRAMESIZE_SVGA;

config.jpeg_quality = 12;

config.fb_count = 1;

}

// Init Camera

esp_err_t err = esp_camera_init(&config);

if (err != ESP_OK) {

Serial.printf("Camera init failed with error 0x%x", err);

return;

}

Serial.println("Starting SD Card");

delay(500);

if(!SD_MMC.begin()){

Serial.println("SD Card Mount Failed");

//return;

}

uint8_t cardType = SD_MMC.cardType();

if(cardType == CARD_NONE){

Serial.println("No SD Card attached");

return;

}

camera_fb_t * fb = NULL;

// Take Picture with Camera

fb = esp_camera_fb_get();

if(!fb) {

Serial.println("Camera capture failed");

return;

}

// initialize EEPROM with predefined size

EEPROM.begin(EEPROM_SIZE);

pictureNumber = EEPROM.read(0) + 1;

// Path where new picture will be saved in SD Card

String path = "/picture" + String(pictureNumber) +".jpg";

fs::FS &fs = SD_MMC;

Serial.printf("Picture file name: %s\n", path.c_str());

File file = fs.open(path.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.c_str());

EEPROM.write(0, pictureNumber);

EEPROM.commit();

}

file.close();

esp_camera_fb_return(fb);

delay(1000);

// Turns off the ESP32-CAM white on-board LED (flash) connected to GPIO 4

pinMode(4, OUTPUT);

digitalWrite(4, LOW);

rtc_gpio_hold_en(GPIO_NUM_4);

esp_sleep_enable_ext0_wakeup(GPIO_NUM_13, 0);

Serial.println("Going to sleep now");

delay(1000);

esp_deep_sleep_start();

Serial.println("This will never be printed");

}

void loop() {

}

Applications of Motion Sensing Photo Capturing Device

Usually used in home security systems.
Large uses in local shops, malls, banks, companies, etc.