Viewing wildlife with a Pi Zero photo trap
OLED Display
The OLED connects to the Pi Zero over the I2C bus, too. It serves as an informational display to output details of the device's status and the recording process when setting up in the field. The screen is switched on along with the Pi Zero and switched off accordingly when the wildlife camera is idle.
To specifically trigger a photo, swipe your hand over the motion detector to see whether a new photo is taken and what timestamp it has. The recommended approach here is to check the test shot directly afterward to realign the camera, if necessary.
Battery and Charging Electronics
I used a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery, which has a very low self-discharge rate and a good power-to-weight ratio. It doesn't suffer from a memory effect and works at low temperatures. All of this is ideal for a photo trap in the wild.
Although you can find chargers for these lithium batteries, you can equip existing charging modules with a protective circuit to limit their end of charging voltage to 3.6V. I used a solar power manager by DFRobot with connections for a solar module with 4V to 6V, an external charging option, and a battery connection. I also added a protection board mounted directly on the battery (Figure 4). The small battery management board offers deep discharge and short circuit protection in addition to overcharge detection.
Conclusions
Because of the shutter lag caused by the power-saving mechanism, this wildlife camera is not suitable for capturing animals moving quickly through the focus area. However, experience has shown that only very few garden visitors are in such a hurry, which is why I think, after a period of use in my own garden, that this DIY model is up to the task. Because I regularly have animal visitors on my property, the photo trap is triggered fairly often; it works satisfactorily across the board and will remain in operation to deliver many interesting shots.
Infos
- Code on GitHub: https://github.com/swenae/fotofalle
- English schematics: https://linuxnewmedia.thegood.cloud/s/5Rzx9tQW2FJ6N3Z
« Previous 1 2
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
So Long Neofetch and Thanks for the Info
Today is a day that every Linux user who enjoys bragging about their system(s) will mourn, as Neofetch has come to an end.
-
Ubuntu 24.04 Comes with a “Flaw"
If you're thinking you might want to upgrade from your current Ubuntu release to the latest, there's something you might want to consider before doing so.
-
Canonical Releases Ubuntu 24.04
After a brief pause because of the XZ vulnerability, Ubuntu 24.04 is now available for install.
-
Linux Servers Targeted by Akira Ransomware
A group of bad actors who have already extorted $42 million have their sights set on the Linux platform.
-
TUXEDO Computers Unveils Linux Laptop Featuring AMD Ryzen CPU
This latest release is the first laptop to include the new CPU from Ryzen and Linux preinstalled.
-
XZ Gets the All-Clear
The back door xz vulnerability has been officially reverted for Fedora 40 and versions 38 and 39 were never affected.
-
Canonical Collaborates with Qualcomm on New Venture
This new joint effort is geared toward bringing Ubuntu and Ubuntu Core to Qualcomm-powered devices.
-
Kodi 21.0 Open-Source Entertainment Hub Released
After a year of development, the award-winning Kodi cross-platform, media center software is now available with many new additions and improvements.
-
Linux Usage Increases in Two Key Areas
If market share is your thing, you'll be happy to know that Linux is on the rise in two areas that, if they keep climbing, could have serious meaning for Linux's future.
-
Vulnerability Discovered in xz Libraries
An urgent alert for Fedora 40 has been posted and users should pay attention.