Published December 17, 2021 © Apache-2.0

Santa Claus phototrap

A fun project requested by my daughter, She wants to take a picture of Santa when he comes to bring presents.

BeginnerFull instructions provided372

Things used in this project

Hardware components

M5Stack M5 Faces Pocket Computer with Keyboard/PyGamer/Calculator

M5Stack Core Development of Proto Board

M5Stack PSRAM Camera Module with ESP32 WROVER (OV2640)

M5Stack PIR Sensor Human Body Infrared PIR Motion Sensor (AS312)

Software apps and online services

M5Stack UIFlow

Story

#25projectsofchristmas challenge

I made this project just for fun, as my daughter asked to take a photo of Santa Claus.I already explained to her Santa Claus is magic, and will not be possible, but give it a try.

Hardware

I started from what I found useful on my box,

M5stack, just the core from the Faces kit
M5Camera
Motion sensor (PIR)
Some grove cable
Prototype board
A custom shell with Lego Pin to fix the units (stl file in attachment)

On the prototype board, I soldered two grove connectors to the main bus, in order to have additional port B (for motion sensor) and port C (originally for the M5Camera). Nothing more than following this map:

Port mapping

1 / 3 • All togheter

Software

Will start describing the M5Camera.

As I deployed some software on it, on the camera there is not the original firmware. I wanted to restore it to use as UIFlow unit but I could not find how to do, then I installed this software: https://github.com/bnbe-club/rtsp-video-streamer-diy-14.

This allows to use the M5Camera as remote camera via HTTP.

I had to just set my Wi-Fi credentials, define the right camera model (see below), get the IP address from serial console, and I can call the JPG endpoint (192.168.2.113/jpg, always the same on my router) to get a photo.If I call directly "/" on the HTTP endpoint, I get a RTSP stream, not needed on my project.

Camera definition

The M5Camera it's connected to port C only to get power, while there is no serial communication between the camera and the M5 core

UIFlow

Pretty simple,

Every second, if the motion sensor is triggered, via HTTP command I download the current photo from the camera and store it on the SD card.

Python code

I had to execute some python code inside UIFLOW, as the HTTP command can return only the text from the call, while I require the content.

1 / 2 • Example of getting data from http call

Because of that, I used directly fs.write to store the data on the card.I use NTP on the beginning to use timestamp as part of the name

Full code

I added also some explicit close to de-allocate some memory, as I had problems with memory allocations during the development.

It was possible to use also my HEX RGB LED Board to make some more light, but actually it's busy with my Christmas Ball

Disclaimer

No Santa Claus was harmed during the realization of the project

I hope you enjoy this simple project, my daughter does.

Code

UIFlow code

{"components":[{"id":"____screen","createTime":1583843090864,"name":"screen","x":0,"y":0,"width":320,"height":240,"backgroundColor":"#222222","backgroundImage":"","type":"screen"},{"id":"____buttonA","createTime":1583843090864,"name":"ButtonA","buttonIndex":0,"x":35,"y":216,"width":64,"height":24,"text":"ButtonA","visibility":false,"type":"button"},{"id":"____buttonB","createTime":1583843090864,"name":"ButtonB","buttonIndex":1,"x":125,"y":216,"width":64,"height":24,"text":"ButtonB","visibility":false,"type":"button"},{"id":"____buttonC","createTime":1583843090864,"name":"ButtonC","buttonIndex":2,"x":215,"y":216,"width":64,"height":24,"text":"ButtonC","visibility":false,"type":"button"},{"id":"J20=ZW9ugWH-oCt4","createTime":1583843125843,"isCoreTwo":false,"isPaper":false,"name":"label0","x":181,"y":155,"color":"#FFFFFF","text":"Text","font":"lcd.FONT_DejaVu24","rotation":0,"type":"label","layer":4},{"id":"xifb!4cb7-!!lObM","createTime":1583843830090,"isCoreTwo":false,"isPaper":false,"name":"label1","x":181,"y":202,"color":"#FFFFFF","text":"Text","font":"lcd.FONT_Default","rotation":0,"type":"label","layer":5},{"id":"-=9PJMX_0I2VfRUA","createTime":1639763603217,"isCoreInk":false,"isPaper":false,"name":"PhotoTrap","x":0,"y":0,"width":320,"height":20,"color":"#FFFFFF","backgroundColor":"#0000FF","text":"Title","textOffset":3,"font":"lcd.FONT_Default","type":"title","layer":10,"radius":null},{"id":"MkehoGZS4gc=dReP","createTime":1639763665126,"isCoreTwo":false,"isPaper":false,"name":"Photo_Nr","x":6,"y":54,"color":"#FFFFFF","text":"Text","font":"lcd.FONT_Default","rotation":0,"type":"label","layer":11,"width":null,"height":null,"radius":null},{"id":"j3P3y@WFEQt!gnH+","createTime":1639763665126,"isCoreTwo":false,"isPaper":false,"name":"label3","x":146,"y":54,"color":"#FFFFFF","text":"Text","font":"lcd.FONT_Default","rotation":0,"type":"label","layer":12,"width":null,"height":null,"radius":null},{"id":"F$PkJlVPT!n*J$V-","createTime":1639778927853,"isCoreTwo":false,"isPaper":false,"name":"label2","x":0,"y":157,"color":"#FFFFFF","text":"Text","font":"lcd.FONT_UNICODE","rotation":0,"type":"label","layer":14,"width":null,"height":null,"radius":null},{"id":"DkaAdw4ua@AgT$xu","createTime":1639778988211,"isCoreTwo":false,"isPaper":false,"name":"label4","x":0,"y":202,"color":"#FFFFFF","text":"Text","font":"lcd.FONT_Default","rotation":0,"type":"label","layer":15,"width":null,"height":null,"radius":null}],"type":"core","versions":"Beta","units":[{"id":"9bGqmfASJxLTUldo","createTime":1639763260239,"type":"pir","name":"pir_0","port":"B","default":["A","B","C","E","Custom"],"user_port":["21","22"],"icon":"pir.png"}],"hats":[],"blockly":"<variables><variable id=\"R}fUm|{LQyjG?e9[~uA8\">np</variable><variable id=\"M^Rg!7*hzx:x?k+uW?nu\">timestamp</variable><variable id=\"h{j[zW|+d^w^BwqtBTu=\">name</variable></variables><block type=\"basic_on_setup\" id=\"setup_block\" deletable=\"false\" x=\"-2650\" y=\"-630\"><next><block type=\"variables_set\" id=\"A]LC)l[LAe/A6I$3@#qS\"><field name=\"VAR\" id=\"R}fUm|{LQyjG?e9[~uA8\">np</field><value name=\"VALUE\"><block type=\"math_number\" id=\"qj{bw`CxW-EiKgb$xKhd\"><field name=\"NUM\">0</field></block></value><next><block type=\"title_set_text\" id=\"~?UlH{X=K65Jj$F5/H~E\"><field name=\"COMPONENT\">PhotoTrap</field><value name=\"TEXT\"><shadow type=\"text\" id=\"mi6@lGn6bx@8JvMS@Hr1\"><field name=\"TEXT\">Santa Claus Phototrap</field></shadow></value><next><block type=\"label_set_text\" id=\"dD+Sy}_)%)C+Lb2CnUn#\"><field name=\"COMPONENT\">Photo_Nr</field><value name=\"TEXT\"><shadow type=\"text\" id=\",I)S]s%:y[ZYUO!SL.Uk\"><field name=\"TEXT\">Number of Photo</field></shadow></value><next><block type=\"label_set_text\" id=\"wwdG~-u%Yld-|FtI-Zm?\"><field name=\"COMPONENT\">label2</field><value name=\"TEXT\"><shadow type=\"text\" id=\"#!xY5S8(eu2,Iq2AWj(R\"><field name=\"TEXT\">Status</field></shadow></value><next><block type=\"label_set_text\" id=\"4wjd,jppPgn)S[ptGySm\"><field name=\"COMPONENT\">label4</field><value name=\"TEXT\"><shadow type=\"text\" id=\"%ecIfPh[0fbfNnzttBm_\"><field name=\"TEXT\">Last Image</field></shadow></value><next><block type=\"ntp_init\" id=\"Ho[$b{yq%IcR7{}wA5k_\"><value name=\"host\"><shadow type=\"text\" id=\"u*a{2}y;nBZN-}[Nf3vu\"><field name=\"TEXT\">europe.pool.ntp.org</field></shadow></value><value name=\"timezone\"><shadow type=\"math_number\" id=\"{PmiFzz^~q%3tN}/%zcY\"><field name=\"NUM\">-1</field></shadow></value><next><block type=\"timer_delay\" id=\"D}xe8F4}!gd=QzUs/*u}\"><value name=\"DELAY\"><shadow type=\"math_number\" id=\"QA=!+]}Dq|;qr,t#(,Ev\"><field name=\"NUM\">10</field></shadow></value><next><block type=\"variables_set\" id=\"_tb?wb}BA.#dAD?QTR9n\"><field name=\"VAR\" id=\"M^Rg!7*hzx:x?k+uW?nu\">timestamp</field><value name=\"VALUE\"><block type=\"convent_str\" id=\"k~vD9./{`_g4:DNrW~Qb\"><value name=\"VALUE\"><block type=\"ntp_get_timestamp\" id=\"cFwn{p;y*;s72[%Jgerf\"></block></value></block></value><next><block type=\"basic_on_loop\" id=\"U~`Vzm,n._*xRAn]w_8v\"><statement name=\"LOOP\"><block type=\"controls_if\" id=\"L%aLXd=7BKNrm!T]f9LL\"><value name=\"IF0\"><block type=\"pir_read\" id=\"OPBYpFq?OnB~wAUay-Ih\"><field name=\"VARNAME\">pir_0</field></block></value><statement name=\"DO0\"><block type=\"http_request\" id=\"Oc.g(sn0-yQY~-`[RqAG\"><field name=\"method\">GET</field><value name=\"url\"><shadow type=\"text\" id=\"I^Y9xk:{^r(q^jxH}|ki\"><field name=\"TEXT\">http://192.168.2.113/jpg</field></shadow></value><value name=\"headers\"><block type=\"map_on_loop\" id=\"3iZRos8Mrbp4f4y~tuD2\"><statement name=\"LOOP\"><block type=\"create_map_key\" id=\"J=R;MMF8;Ho+/A7NuZfD\"><value name=\"key\"><block type=\"text\" id=\"]Ftv1w/b^To)dAMUcB2Z\"><field name=\"TEXT\">Content-Type</field></block></value><value name=\"value\"><block type=\"text\" id=\"ZR7:4,X9JVj1oMSL!YDb\"><field name=\"TEXT\">image/jpeg</field></block></value></block></statement></block></value><statement name=\"success\"><block type=\"label_set_text\" id=\"_3=]iNrmO[Wg:s,fWXR?\"><field name=\"COMPONENT\">label0</field><value name=\"TEXT\"><shadow type=\"text\" id=\"RsJ/SVci!*o3zMv$qrQW\"><field name=\"TEXT\">Ok</field></shadow></value><next><block type=\"variables_set\" id=\"}0E;!+Xlt$WhFb|H/vx*\"><field name=\"VAR\" id=\"h{j[zW|+d^w^BwqtBTu=\">name</field><value name=\"VALUE\"><block type=\"text_add\" id=\"Xu2:p-P1#pZ0P?i1mKE,\"><value name=\"arg0\"><shadow type=\"text\" id=\"]TuTrd7i)O31VCXA7V.s\" disabled=\"true\"><field name=\"TEXT\"></field></shadow><block type=\"text_add\" id=\"1JF?g;I6@a[|{J50tCgH\"><value name=\"arg0\"><shadow type=\"text\" id=\"V2)f]Vf$w323;|%`FKRI\"><field name=\"TEXT\">IMG_</field></shadow></value><value name=\"arg1\"><block type=\"variables_get\" id=\"Gw`5;`m{KiUXJ9,b|^H#\"><field name=\"VAR\" id=\"M^Rg!7*hzx:x?k+uW?nu\">timestamp</field></block></value></block></value><value name=\"arg1\"><block type=\"text\" id=\"}1c]Cxl#o8nWFj~I;p%S\"><field name=\"TEXT\">.jpg</field></block></value></block></value><next><block type=\"label_set_text\" id=\";uv2Azlxv`?OVW6^s;[w\"><field name=\"COMPONENT\">label1</field><value name=\"TEXT\"><shadow type=\"text\"><field name=\"TEXT\">Fail</field></shadow><block type=\"variables_get\" id=\"4UanLy%0:TT[ZHfqAPyx\"><field name=\"VAR\" id=\"h{j[zW|+d^w^BwqtBTu=\">name</field></block></value><next><block type=\"controls_ifelse\" id=\"T%H*!_XTYJlN[0DA?_|Y\"><value name=\"IF0\"><block type=\"logic_compare\" id=\".@~/.qHUH[7i8Ty-i/lT\"><field name=\"OP\">EQ</field><value name=\"A\"><block type=\"get_status_code\" id=\"cdM^siru*v6^Q)D~P]=G\"></block></value><value name=\"B\"><block type=\"math_number\" id=\"%xs[fjuVhNOLNvcMM?eR\"><field name=\"NUM\">200</field></block></value></block></value><statement name=\"DO0\"><block type=\"open_sdcard_file\" id=\"+xP?gJD@ZHyqzS=h(/mD\"><field name=\"mode\">w</field><value name=\"open\"><shadow type=\"text\" id=\"tw#LKC+)vgx25Mg9,N(2\"><field name=\"TEXT\"></field></shadow><block type=\"variables_get\" id=\"lyYlB^_=#Pfo$RwNjOtx\"><field name=\"VAR\" id=\"h{j[zW|+d^w^BwqtBTu=\">name</field></block></value><statement name=\"do\"><block type=\"execute\" id=\"naNDc6k?cQ=|g`HB{V8K\"><field name=\"CODE\">try:&amp;#10;  fs.write(bytearray(req.content)) &amp;#10;  fs.close()&amp;#10;except Exception as e:&amp;#10;  # print to serial console&amp;#10;  print(str(e))&amp;#10;  # or store in variable</field><next><block type=\"math_change\" id=\"BNa3LfDtkM0Njv^yElt9\"><field name=\"VAR\" id=\"R}fUm|{LQyjG?e9[~uA8\">np</field><value name=\"DELTA\"><shadow type=\"math_number\" id=\"bKw+*U$w,0DEh$Y}IB|Z\"><field 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type=\"math_number\" id=\"A%KjWn*sP:6:u%`FF:d]\"><field name=\"NUM\">1</field></shadow></value></block></next></block></next></block></next></block></statement></block></next></block></next></block></next></block></next></block></next></block></next></block></next></block></next></block></next></block>","Blockly.Remotes":[],"Blockly.RemotePlus":[{"id":"__title","blockId":"","createTime":1639601183324,"name":"M5RemoteTitle","dragAndDrop":false,"resizable":false,"options":{"minWidth":1,"minHeight":1,"maxWidth":6,"maxHeight":10,"defaultWidth":2,"defaultHeight":1},"w":2,"h":1,"bgColor":"#0080FF","color":"#fff","fontsize":"M","label":"M5Remote","interval":3000,"code":"","event":"","dataSource":"none","ezdataToken":"crljewU5vRsk1Kvyaf2RKdGYpeggh4DX","topic":"","type":"title","x":null,"y":null}],"modules":["remotePlus"]}

Credits

Enrico Casti

10 projects • 13 followers

My name is Enrico, I work in the IT sector but I have a great passion for electronics and microcontrollers

Santa Claus phototrap

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Hardware

Software

UIFlow

Disclaimer

Custom parts and enclosures

Custom shell

Code

UIFlow code

Credits

Enrico Casti

Comments

Embed the widget on your own site

Santa Claus phototrap

Santa Claus phototrap

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Hardware

Software

UIFlow

Disclaimer

Custom parts and enclosures

Custom shell

Code

UIFlow code

Credits

Enrico Casti

Comments

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