This Hidden Camera Is Nuts
This discreet wireless camera was packed entirely into a tiny walnut shell.
3D printing may be the standard method to use for making cases for DIY electronic devices now, but what if you want something more discreet? YouTuber Penguin DIY wanted something much more natural looking for a hidden camera build, and ultimately settled on something very unconventional: a walnut shell. Yes, that is odd — but it certainly doesn’t stick out the same way a bright plastic case would.
However, fitting the hardware into this tiny and irregularly-shaped space was no easy job. For starters, Penguin DIY drilled some tiny holes into the edge of both halves of the walnut shell. Neodymium magnets were placed in these holes, which makes it possible to securely close the shell. The irregular shape inside the shell made using a traditional battery impossible, as it would take up all the available space. To get around this problem, many small battery cells were used. They could be positioned around the inside of the shell without taking up all of the space. These cells were wired together in parallel to essentially form a single, very strangely shaped battery.
Next, a battery level module was wired to the battery, then the components from a charging module were desoldered and reassembled inside the shell to save space. Holes were drilled for the USB-C port and an LED indicator. Finally, a camera module was inserted into the shell, and a hole was drilled so the image sensor could look out. Pogo pins soldered to the camera module contact metal strips attached to the inside of the shell that serve as a makeshift antenna.
The camera module wirelessly transmits the images it captures to an external receiver board. This board is connected to a phone that displays the video stream. This stream is surprisingly good, considering all of the camera’s hardware is packed into a walnut shell.
If you need a very discreet hidden camera, then Penguin DIY’s build is definitely worth checking out. If, on the other hand, you just want to keep your face from being seen by these types of cameras, then you might be interested in Freedom Shield.