ESP32-CAM-MQTT

ESP32-CAM remote image access via HTTP. Take pictures with ESP32 and upload it via MQTT making it accessible for the outisde network on Node_RED

Limitations

• The MQTT buffer size is limited by the library, thus the max picture size _client.space() == 5744 -> Play around with the resolution and find the suitable one FRAMESIZE_QVGA
  • marvinroger/async-mqtt-client#74

Sumary

1. PlatformIO
2. Flashing
3. Hardware
4. MQTT Broker
5. IBM Node-RED Hosting
6. Node-RED Flow
7. Credits

PlatformIO

• More information can be found on their comprehensive Docs. But Basically:

  0. Download and install official Microsoft Visual Studio Code. PlatformIO IDE is built on top of it
  1. Open VSCode Package Manager
  2. Search for official platformio-ide extension
  3. Install PlatformIO IDE.

Flashing

• ESP32-CAM does not have a built-in UART/USB converter, therefore you will need one.

  1. TX goes to RX;
  2. RX goes to TX;
  3. Power the board while keeping GIPO0 low;
  4. You can now release it and upload your code;

• image from https://randomnerdtutorials.com/esp32-cam-troubleshooting-guide/

Hardware

Board Pinout

LDO

• This board has an AMS1117 voltage regulator which "sleep" current is around 6mA, this is quite a lot if you plan to have your board running on batteries.
• TODO! find an alternative with the same package.

MQTT Broker

The MQTT Broker used is CloudMQTT they offer Free accounts 😉 that works just fine.

IBM Node-RED Hosting

The process was a bit tedious and took a while to get it properly running as of today (2019/07/23) the information provided on the tutorial had few broken links.

https://nodered.org/docs/platforms/bluemix

1. Sign-up/Log in to https://cloud.ibm.com/;
2. Using the top search bar, search for Node-RED Starter;
3. Fill the required fields, App name, Host name, etc...
4. Select Lite for SDK for Node.js and Cloudant, those are free, you can upgrade later if required;
5. Click Create at the bottom right, the circle will spin, take few seconds;
6. You will be redirected to the next page and should see running when everything is ready for use:

7. Go to your App URL, something like http://AppName.eu-gb.mybluemix.net and complete the initial set-up;
8. The Node-Red GUI Flow Editor is available at http://AppName.eu-gb.mybluemix.net/red

• After installing the Node desbribed below, Your Node-red Dashboard is available at http://AppName.eu-gb.mybluemix.net/ui

Node-RED Flow

Install required nodes

• Menu -> Manage Palette -> Install tab. You will need node-red-dashboard

Import Node example

• Copy the flow below and import to your Nore-RED available at yournode.eu-gb.mybluemix.net/red Import -> Clipboard, paste it.

You will find the flow.json here.

Cloudant Credentials for cleaning database

• Generally Cloudant autheticate via IBM cloud therefore we need to create new Credentials and use the username and password for authentication on the delete inputs on database node.

Node-RED Notification

• Via the catch node, you can enable notification, for your phone for example. Below I have quickly show few options:

1. Email

• Use the email output, configured with your email provider info;

2. PushSafer

• Offers several customizations, sound, vibration, icons, etc:
• GET request url: https://www.pushsafer.com/api?k=YOURKEY&c=%23ff0000&v=1&a=1&m={{payload}}

5. Twilio SMS

• SMS API, built-in to the Node-RED and IBM example;

6. IFTT

• If this than that, with android and iOS apps can be accesible via webhooks;
• GET https://maker.ifttt.com/trigger/YOUR_EVENT/with/key/YOUR_KEY?value1=MESSAGE

Credits

GitHub Shields and Badges created with Shields.io

GitHub ESP32 camera example