Project · draft
PIR Wildlife Camera Trap (ESP32-CAM, 3D-Printed Housing)
- advanced
- 10-14 hours
Supports local biodiversity surveys on a campus, farm or village edge, the basic data behind protecting species and habitats (targets 15.5 and 15.7).
Safety notes
- 18650 cells: use protected cells, set any boost/buck output with a multimeter before connecting the board, never short the cell, and do not leave charging unattended.
- Point it at wildlife paths, not at people or neighbours' property. Inside protected areas or forest land, get permission from the forest department first.
- PIR triggers on warm-bodied animals; it will miss most reptiles and insects.
Draft and unofficial, not affiliated with Fab Academy or the United Nations. Check prices, GST and parts before you buy.
Summary
Strap it to a tree or post: when a warm-bodied animal passes, it wakes, takes a short burst of photos and sleeps again. Review the card to see who visits at night.
What it teaches
Wake an ESP32-CAM from deep sleep on a PIR trigger, capture and save time-stamped JPEGs to microSD, budget power from one 18650, and design a weather-resistant printed housing with a clear window (optionally cast in epoxy).
Topics it touches, in Fab Academy-style terms:
- Computer-aided design
- 3D scanning and printing
- Input devices
- Embedded programming
- Molding and casting (optional lens window)
- System integration
Parts list
Parts cost
Some parts are not priced yet, so there's no total.
7 required parts are marked not priced yet below. Where a price is known it is shown per part, GST-inclusive as the seller listed it on 24 Oct 2026, with the GST rate unverified. Shipping is not included.
| Part | Qty | Unit | Price, GST-incl. as listed | Line cost | GST | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESP32-CAM (OV2640) with MB USB programmer boardesp32-cam-mb | 1 | set | not priced yet | not priced yet | GST unverified | no seller yet |
| HC-SR501 PIR motion sensorpir-hc-sr501 | 1 | pcs | not priced yet | not priced yet | GST unverified | no seller yet |
| microSD card, 16 GBmicrosd-16gb | 1 | pcs | not priced yet | not priced yet | GST unverified | no seller yet |
| 18650 2200mAh 3.7v Cylinder Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery (Any Colour)battery-18650-2200mahProtected cell | 1 | pcs | ₹137 | ₹137 | GST unverified, typically 18% | Robocrazeread 24 Oct 2026 |
| Single 18650 battery holder with leadsholder-18650-1cell | 1 | pcs | not priced yet | not priced yet | GST unverified | no seller yet |
| TP4056 Li-ion charger module with DW01 protection (USB-C)tp4056-protected-module | 1 | pcs | not priced yet | not priced yet | GST unverified | no seller yet |
| MT3608 DC-DC boost converter moduleboost-mt3608Set to 5.0 V before connecting the camera | 1 | pcs | not priced yet | not priced yet | GST unverified | no seller yet |
| PETG 3D printer filament, 1.75 mm, 1 kgfilament-petg-1kgHousing | 1 | pcs | not priced yet | not priced yet | GST unverified | no seller yet |
| Part | Qty | Unit | Price, GST-incl. as listed | Line cost | GST | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Betogen Crystal Clear Epoxy Resin 2:1, 1.5 kg set (1 kg resin + 500 g hardener)epoxy-clear-casting-1.5kgOptional cast lens window; share the kit | 1 | set | ₹925.35 | ₹925.35 | GST unverified, typically 18% | Betogen Resin Art via Amazon.inread 24 Oct 2026 |
| USB A Type to Micro USB B Type 1M Cable (Colour may vary)cable-usb-micro-1mSkip if you already have a data-capable micro-USB cable | 1 | pcs | ₹36 | ₹36 | GST unverified, typically 18% | Robocrazeread 24 Oct 2026 |
| Optional extras total, GST-inclusive as listed by the seller | ₹961.35 | |||||
The Part column links to the shared catalogue. Units are pcs, m, g, sheet or set, and a "set" is the seller's pack, as noted per part.
Tools you will need
- 3D printer (PETG)
- Soldering iron
- Multimeter
- Laptop with Arduino IDE
Build notes
Step-by-step build notes have not been written yet for this draft. The summary, the topics above and the parts list are what exists so far.
How to buy
There is no online checkout. To buy or import these parts, email info@curiosta.com and say what you need. The button opens your own email app with a draft; nothing is sent until you send it.
Prices on this site are third-party seller listings, not a Curiosta quote. Ask by email for availability, price and GST.