Crowd Watch Pro

Deployment & Resources

• Mobile App / Website (Deployed Link): Crowd Watch Pro
• Jupyter Notebook (Google Colab Link): Notebook Link

Hardware Used

• ESP32-CAM
• Charging Module
• Micro USB Cable
• Rechargeable Battery

Screenshot

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ESP32-CAM Auto-Capture & Upload for Stall Monitoring

This project turns an ESP32-CAM into an automated monitoring camera. It captures an image at a set interval and uploads it via Wi-Fi to a Python Flask server, which saves the image to a local directory. It's a great starting point for projects like remote stall monitoring, security cameras, or time-lapse photography.

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Features

• Automated Image Capture: Captures photos every few seconds (interval is configurable in the index.html file).
• Wi-Fi Communication: The camera communicates with a local server over your Wi-Fi network.
• Image Server: A lightweight Python Flask server receives and stores images chronologically.
• Simple Web UI: A web-based user interface, served by the ESP32, displays the system status and the most recent capture.

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System Architecture

The system consists of two main components that must be on the same Wi-Fi network:

1. The ESP32-CAM: This device serves a webpage and acts as a client. The JavaScript on its webpage commands it to capture an image and then sends that image to the Python server's IP address.
2. The Python Server: This application runs on a computer (e.g., a Mac, Windows PC, or Raspberry Pi). It listens for incoming image data at an /upload endpoint and saves the files to a local uploads folder.

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Requirements

Software

• Arduino IDE
• ESP32 Board Support for Arduino IDE
• Python 3
• Flask (pip install Flask)

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Setup and Installation

Follow these steps in order to get the system running.

Part 1: The Python Server (The Receiver)

1. Install Flask: Open a terminal or command prompt and run:

   pip3 install Flask

2. Find Your IP Address: Find your computer's local IP address.

   • On Mac/Linux: ipconfig getifaddr en0 or hostname -I
   • On Windows: ipconfig (Look for the "IPv4 Address" under your Wi-Fi adapter)
   • Take note of this IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.10).

3. Run the Server: In the terminal, navigate to the project directory and run the server:

   python3 server.py

   Leave this terminal window open. It will now listen for incoming images.

Part 2: The ESP32-CAM (The Camera)

1. Configure the Sketch:

   • Open the CameraWebServer_.ino file in the Arduino IDE.
   • Update the file with your Wi-Fi network name and password:

     const char* ssid = "YOUR_WIFI_NETWORK_NAME";
     const char* password = "YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD";

   • Ensure the correct camera model is selected (e.g., #define CAMERA_MODEL_AI_THINKER).

2. Update the Webpage IP Address:

   • Open the index.html file in a text editor.
   • Find the uploadUrl variable and replace the placeholder with the IP address of your computer (from Part 1, Step 2). Remember to include the port number (:5001) and the /upload path.

     // Change this line to your computer's IP address
     const uploadUrl = '[http://192.168.1.10:5001/upload](http://192.168.1.10:5001/upload)';

3. Convert the Webpage:

   • After saving your changes to index.html, you must convert it to a C++ header file.
   • In a terminal, navigate to the folder containing index.html and run:

     gzip -c index.html | xxd -i > camera_index.h

4. Upload to ESP32:

   • Move the newly generated camera_index.h file into your Arduino sketch folder, replacing the old one.
   • Connect the ESP32-CAM to your computer via the FTDI programmer.
   • Select the correct board (AI-Thinker ESP32-CAM) and Port in the Arduino IDE.
   • Click Upload.

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How to Use

1. Start the Python server on your computer.
2. Power on the ESP32-CAM.
3. The ESP32-CAM will automatically connect to your Wi-Fi and begin capturing and sending images.
4. Check the uploads folder on your computer to see the saved images appearing.

Troubleshooting

• Q: The Python server won't start and says "Address already in use" or "Port 5000 is in use".

  • A: On macOS, the AirPlay Receiver service often uses port 5000. You can either disable it in System Settings > General > AirDrop & Handoff, or change the port in server.py (e.g., to port=5001) and make sure to update it in index.html as well.

• Q: The webpage shows a "Not Found" or "Failed to fetch" error.

  • A: This usually means the IP address in index.html is incorrect, the ESP32 is not on the same Wi-Fi network as the server, or your computer's firewall is blocking the connection. Double-check the IP and the firewall settings.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.