A new leading-edge open source wildlife camera and field ecology system
Open – users are free to:
Build their own
Position PIR sensors wherever they want
Position IR LED illumination wherever they want
Position the camera wherever they want
Write new software functionality
Connect any sensor
Never pay too much for a wildlife camera
Modular – users are free to:
Add IR or visible flash modules
Re-use 2nd hand solar panels
Re-use 2nd hand rechargeable batteries
Add off-the-shelf electronic modules
Design custom electronic modules
Leading:
High video quality via MIPI CSI-2 camera interface
Real time neural network inference via onboard NPU
Waterproof
Robust
Empowering:
Provides high quality video for social media and broadcast to delight, inform and influence the political agenda
Implements the Camtrap DP open standard for exchange of camera trap data
Coordinators and local volunteers can be warned immediately of disruption to endangered sites and species via inexpensive low bandwidth mobile network
Researchers can give full details to reproduce their experimental setup
Users are free to choose:
Inexpensive but high quality general purpose camera modules
Special purpose camera modules (e.g. high sensitivity IR for night time use)
Modules for communication over mobile networks
Temperature measurement, light level measurement, etc.
Cutting Edge – Forever:
Designed using the most modern processors and camera modules available
Can be repaired in the field
All modules – including the processor – can be upgraded
Safe:
Download of photos and videos to a notebook within 50m via Wi-Fi removes the need to climb trees to change SD cards
Reduces need for time-consuming, tiring, carbon intensive drives to field studies to check on cameras
Solar panels and rechargeable batteries remove the need to change batteries
Status updates can be sent over low bandwidth mobile network where available
Sub-Projects
Dividing development into individual sub-project allows each sub-project to be prioritised individually. Having a clearly testable deliverable at the end of each sub-project allows progress and costs to be carefully monitored. Sub-Projects in bold are critical, other sub-projects are optional:
Solar Energy Measurement SEM 1.0
Measure the energy that can be charged into AGM batteries using low cost general purpose photovoltaic modules (solar panels) in the worst case of a small European forest clearing in February.
SEM 1.1
Measure under dense European forest.
SEM 1.2
Measure with more expensive specialist low light level photovoltaic modules.
SEM 1.3
Measure with LiFePO4 batteries.
WildCamera High Energy HE 2.1
The 2nd generation prototype of the HE (High Energy) WildCamera.
Consumes c. 2 to 4 Watts of power.
High quality video.
Focus 40 mm to ∞.
Multiple PIRs sensors can be connected.
Full flexibility of Linux operating system.
For indoor testing.
HE 2.2
Watertight to IP67
HE 2.3
Infrared LED illumination with full control of positioning and brightness.
HE 2.4
2 to 4 Watts power consumption in active mode and 300 mW in sleep mode.
HE 2.5
2 to 4 Watt power consumption in active mode and < 60 mW in sleep mode.
HE 2.6
Specialist high sensitivity infrared camera module.
WildCamera Low Energy LE 1.1
Uses a microcontroller not a microprocessor.
Does not have the flexibility of a Linux operating system.
Exceptionally low power consumption.
Power consumption < 100 mW in active mode.
Power consumption < 10 mW in sleep mode.
Built and tested on chipmaker’s evaluation board.
WildCamera Low Energy LE 1.2
Custom circuit board
Online User Interface UI 1.0
Allow users to check status and set basic parameters from a smartphone, tablet or notebook via web page UI.
UI 1.1
Real time video for alignment from a smartphone, tablet or notebook via web page UI.
Wi-Fi Connection WiFi 1.0
Allow nearby users within 50 meters to switch on WiFi (IEEE 802.11x) and connect.
Field Robustness Testing FRT 1.0
Test waterproofness of IP67 enclosures over at least 6 months in the field.
FRT 1.1
Test waterproofness of complete system over at least 6 months in the field.
FRT 1.2
Drop test processor and camera modules using to 2 meter drop onto concrete followed by function test and 6 month field waterproofness test.
Mobile Data Network MOB 1.0
Test communication of status information over very low bandwidth mobile network.
MOB 1.1
Test transmitting photos and videos over high bandwidth mobile network.
References to research papers and primary sources can be found here: References
“As climbing arborists, we exist at a unique confluence of art, science and athletics. Our profession has undergone a transformation from a dogmatic to a scientific era similar to that in medicine in the second half of the 20th century. As the challenges of biodiversity loss intensify, we find ourselves at a second turning point: we change from being consumers of research to leaders of the fundamental research and of the practical advances needed to ensure that trees remain homes to our most beautiful and endangered creatures.”
Blog
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From the tree crowns of an Irish forest I’d like to welcome you. At time of writing in July 2024 we’re focused on field studies, rehabilitation studies, bat counts and trying to work out what best to do after a devastating series of wildfires affecting Myomimus roachi in autumn 2023 and summer 2024 so this is just a basic site and we’ll be adding a lot more detail on species, people and techniques in English, German, French and Italian in autumn 2024. 🙂
Will 🌳🌲❤
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