Use a ESP32-CAM Module to Stream HD Video Over Local Network

Today we will Stream HD video throughout our entire local network with a module pretty much the size of my thumb. We can even run AI Face Detection, operating completely on the edge, with our ESP32-CAM module. At this form factor it feels like Science Fiction 🤖🌌🛸.

URL for ESP32 Boards (Remove the Space Between | https: | and | //raw |)

Related Information

The ESP32-CAM is a game changer when it comes to network connected cameras & microcontrollers. Cameras in combination with artificial intelligence create arguably the most powerful sensor you can ever put on a micro-controller. So lets tinker with it today!

ESP32 boards are the current IoT gold standard for getting WIFI connectivity into your projects and, because of this, they come in many types and variants. Recently ESP32 Development boards have started adding all kinds of extra bells and whistles. DFRobot swooped in with the fantastic ESP32-CAM Development board. The ESP32-CAM Development Board sports an inbuilt 2MB camera, a microSD card holder for recording video, an inbuilt antenna, a socket for a beefier external antenna, an indicator LED and a reset button. Note that the ESP32-CAM board has only UART connectivity. UART stands for universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter. This means we will require a USB to UART Converter to correctly translate to the ESP32-CAM our programming scripts when we hook it up to a USB port of a computer.

With today's completed system you will require only this board and 5V 2A Power to create a fast and robust video stream displaying everything this camera sees that is accessible from any device connected to your local network. The local device could be a computer, mobile phone or iPad, the choice is yours. You will even have the capability to use AI face detection running completely on the edge with our completed system here. At this form factor that is pretty insane.

This means you can quickly slap this module onto any robotics project and you will be able to see the wide-world direct from the perspective of your robot. Or you can pop it into the corner of your room and instantly create a viable security camera that could save video straight to the inbuilt Micro-SD card.

Core Electronics is located in the heart of Newcastle, Australia. We're powered by makers, for makers. Drop by if you are looking for:

0:00 Intro
0:25 ESP32-CAM Features!
0:57 What You Need
1:27 Assembly to Flash Board
3:08 Install Arduino IDE to Flash Board!
3:24 Customise Arduino IDE for ESP32-CAM
5:29 Download ESP32-CAM Scripts
5:55 Open Script
6:27 Add YOUR WiFi Details
6:49 Time To FLASH!
7:51 Identify the IP Address
8:47 Final Hardware Assembly
9:30 Access the WiFi Live Stream
9:55 Success!
10:10 Exploring Inbuilt Settings (Including Face Recognition!)
10:44 Phone Access the WiFi Stream
11:00 Add Eyes On Your Robots
11:33 3D Printed Case
11:56 Outro

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"Core Electronics" and the Core Electronics logo
"Makerverse" and the Makerverse logo
"PiicoDev" and the PiicoDev logo
"GlowBit" and the GlowBit logo

[deterdamel]

ESP32 CAM is a cheap and cool device. There're also different cam modules available with different resolutions and angles.

[phinok.m.]

As much as I appreciate using bare ESP modules for your projects and programming them using a USB to UART converter. In this case it's really not worth the hassle to wire it up, given that a programmer for the ESP32-CAM costs less than a cup of coffee and makes the ESP32-CAM so much more convenient to flash and debug your code with.

[PavolFilek]

Good job, nice to have it to monitor off-grid solar system.

[riggsron]

Great video, nothing fancy, just the meat. Thank you.

[SparklesMcFartyPants]

Thank you for this video! There are so many applications that I could put this to, I appreciate your time and effort in this!

[compubyte]

awesome video man!! thanks!! love the 3d printed case !!!

[HydroD]

Well done on the thumbnail/video intro

[lowtus]

Great video, very well thought through and delivered. Subscribed

[Gormadt]

Oh man this is great
I think I have a few RC projects that just got cooler

[Nordic_Goon]

I believe most ESP32's flash best at 115200 baud rate. You may get a serial connection error trying to flash at a higher rate. Just something I noticed in your board setup you showed under the tools drop down.

[NotGreig]

yes but is it possible to receive notifications with this application ? for exapmple when a pir sensors detects motion camera comes and and a notification is sent to user over local network?If it is possible, could you show me an example of this? it would be a great help. thanks again!

[TheOldKid]

Anyone have an opinion or advice on the differences between the wrover and wroom? I looked up the esspresif tutorial section and got lost. Anyone with a link to something as helpful as this video but for esp32-cam wroom s3 I would be most grateful

[taransaini]

Hi, this video really helped me. Is there any other cameras that can be used other than the one the esp32 cam module comes with. Possibly a camera with higher resolution?

[KeithMildenberger]

I had a 300 mA power supply and tested it on the ESP32 CAM board. Turns out this is enough power to run it.

[gibohnee]

Where would you suggest I look for stocking up on breadboards?

[monishk]

Ip address is not showing esp_core_dump_flash: no core dump partition found!

Pls help

[KeithMildenberger]

Hello Tim. Awesome video..especially the tip about hitting the reset button during the flash. Link to the full article is now broken. I referenced it a few days back and today can't get to it today, getting code 404 with a Core Electronics banner on it. Is there a new link please? Thank you, Keith

[olafschermann]

(How) did you glue the backside of the camera to the SD card slot, to make it a small heat sink?

[summerfun]

good job. is it OK to use iPhone monitor remotely?

[zbigniewmarciniak]

Compilation error: human_face_detect_msr01.hpp: No such file or directory
how to solve it?