5 Things You Can Do with the

Raspberry Pi Camera Module

Written by Christian CawleyAugust 14, 2015

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The flexibility of the Raspberry Pi knows no bounds, and just when
you think youve achieved everything possible, something else
comes along. This might be thanks to a great idea you or someone
else had, or inspired by a newly released piece of expansion
hardware for the device.

One of the first expansions you should buy for the Raspberry Pi is
the camera module. With a dedicated connector, the camera can
be used for a variety of tasks. Lets take a look at them.

First: Enable the Camera

Begin by making sure you have connected your Raspberry Pi
camera to the mini-computer. Next, boot the device, and log in
(were assuming youre using thedefault Raspberry Pi OS,
Raspbian). At the command line, enter
sudo raspi-config
In the menu select Enable Camera.
From here, select Enable, then Finish and Yes to reboot.
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Take A Photo
When your Pi restarts, login again, and at the prompt enter

raspistill o image.jpg
This will capture your first image, which you will be able to view in
the GUI. If youre not already using Terminal from the GUI, you
should switch to this, by using the command

startx
Subsequent commands can be run in Terminal, and the results
checked in the Raspbian file manager. You can take as many
photos as you like with this command, although note that the
filename, image.jpg, will need to be changed with each iteration of
the command, to avoid overwriting the previous image.

Lets get a little more advanced, and instruct the Pi to take a

timed photo following a single keypress.
Begin by installing the Python support for the camera.
sudo apt-get install python-picamera python3-picamera
Once done, enter

sudo idle &

This will start the Python environment. Python pops up regularly in
Raspberry Pi tutorials, and is a surprisingly easy language to get
to grips with. For more help with this, we suggest you check
our five best websites for learning Python, and visitLynda.com if
youre interested in taking your Python skills further.
Go to File > New Window to open a text editor and enter the
following code:
import time

import picamera

with picamera.PiCamera() as camera:

camera.start_preview()

time.sleep(0)

camera.capture('/home/pi/Desktop/image.jpg')

camera.stop_preview()
Use File > Save to save your work, naming it something like
timedsnap.py. When youre ready to run the script, go to Run >
Run Module, or just tap F5.
We can use this same script with some modifications to use the
Raspberry Pi camera module for other projects.

A PiCamera with a Timer

That same script can be reused with a small tweak to create a
camera with a timed countdown, a huge benefit for any selfie-
obsessed snappers. Lets face it, this is a Raspberry Pi, so you can
probably find some way of mounting the case and camera on a
selfie stick and go out in public with it.

To add a 5 second countdown, change the line

time.sleep(0)
to

time.sleep(5)
When youre done, remember to save and press F5 to begin the
countdown. Say Cheese!

Record Video with Your Raspberry Pi

Camera
Taking stills is one thing, but what about video? Just as with a
smartphone camera or standard desktop webcam (which is
essentially what the Pis camera is, just without the casing) you
can record video too.

In the command prompt, modify the script as follows:

import time

import picamera

with picamera.PiCamera() as camera:

camera.start_preview()

camera.start_recording('/home/pi/Desktop/video.h264')

time.sleep(30)

camera.stop_recording()

camera.stop_preview()
Youll notice Ive set the time.sleep() value to 30, meaning the script
will start recording, wait for 30 seconds, then stop. Save this script
as videocapture.py, and press F5 to run.
Notice the use of the camera.start_recording() function. This saves
the footage as a file called video.h264, a high definition video clip
that you can open from the Raspbian desktop. The best way to do
this is to browse to the Desktop folder (or whatever your chosen
file path in the above script is), press F4 to open the terminal and
enter
omxplayer video.h264
Add a suitable battery for the Raspberry Pi and a display, and
youve got yourself a compact camcorder!
Time-Lapse Photography
Time-lapse photography has increased in popularity with the
explosion of smartphone cameras in the past few years, making
what was once the province of specialist photographers accessible
by almost everybody.
The downside of using a smartphone for that sort of photography
is obvious; it is time consuming, and hogs a resource that you
might need for, well, making and receiving phone calls. The
Raspberry Pi with its attached camera makes a good alternative,
and with a battery attached can prove just as portable and
versatile as an Android or iPhone app, and makes more sense than
just using your Pi as a time-lapse trigger for a DSLR.
Before proceeding, install ffmpeg:

sudo apt-get install ffmpeg

Then, use this Python script to capture the time lapse images:
import time

import picamera

VIDEO_DAYS = 1

FRAMES_PER_HOUR = 60

FRAMES = FRAMES_PER_HOUR * 24 * VIDEO_DAYS

def capture_frame(frame):

with picamera.PiCamera() as cam:

 time.sleep(2)

cam.capture('/home/pi/Desktop/frame%03d.jpg' % frame)

# Capture the images

for frame in range(FRAMES):

# Note the time before the capture

start = time.time()

capture_frame(frame)

# Wait for the next capture. Note that we take into

# account the length of time it took to capture the

# image when calculating the delay

time.sleep(

int(60 * 60 / FRAMES_PER_HOUR) - (time.time() - start)

)
Youve created a collection of images recorded over a 60 minute
period with this script. To view the images as a film, compile the
images as follows:

ffmpeg -y -f image2 -i /home/pi/Desktop/frame%03d.jpg -r 24

-vcodec libx264 -profile high -preset slow
/home/pi/Desktop/timelapse.mp4
You can run the video in your Raspberry Pi with a Terminal
command:

omxplayer timelapse.mp4
The video will then be played full screen. It might look something
like this

The Raspberry Pi Security Camera

Weve previously explored how to build a home webcam security
system with your Raspberry Pi, with a tutorial that predated
widespread availability of the Pis dedicated camera. Things have
of course changed since then, but you can use the same principles
and software to turn the Pi into a far more compact security
camera solution. In theory, you can monitor the comings and
goings in and out of your house for under $100 using one or more
Raspberry Pi security cameras.
Weve given you five uses for your Raspberry Pi camera module,
but we reckon you might be able to add to the list. How do you use
yours? Tell us in the comments.
Build a Motion Capture Security
System Using a Raspberry Pi
Written by Christian CawleyOctober 11, 2013

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Of the many projects that you can build with the Raspberry Pi, one
of the most interesting and permanently useful is the motion
capture security system.

All you need is the usual Raspberry Pi setup, a webcam and an

optional battery pack, along with a nondescript case for
concealing the security system.

With this setup, you can keep an eye on your property from a
remote location, receiving alerts if anything is captured by the
webcam and a link to the footage if necessary.

Compared with the price of off-the-shelf security systems, this is

remarkably affordable and portable, and as youll see below can
be setup in minutes.
What You Need for Your Motion Capture
Security System
There are several approaches for building a motion capture
security system for the Raspberry Pi. I initially followed
blogger Kean Walmsleys suggestion to use an ARM-based distro
of Arch Linux rather than the usual Raspbian.
However, this just didnt seem to come together, so I reverted to
the Raspbian OS, and made use of the camera drivers and motion
detection package, which well come to in a bit.

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In addition, you will also need a Raspberry Pi, a formatted SD card,

a webcam (seeelinux.org/RPi_USB_Webcams for compatible
devices) and a power supply; you will probably need a powered
USB hub too, as many webcams need their own power supply
when connected to the Pi. This might be a powered USB cable, or
a battery solution for the Raspberry Pi, of which there are many
options, most of which you can find via the eLinux wiki. Note that
there are alternatives, however, such as 4x or 6x rechargeable AA
batteries. Some portable iPad chargers will also work but check
your chargers model number online before attempting to connect
to your Raspberry Pi)
If you dont already have a webcam, you might prefer to spend a
few dollars on theofficial Raspberry Pi webcam.
Follow the instructions outlined previously on MakeUseOf to install
Raspbian, and for the best results, ensure that it is set up with
SSH. You should also change the password, using the raspi_config
menu.

Install the Required Software

With the Raspberry Pi booted up and with an SSH connection open
from your main computer (you can use a keyboard on your Pi, but
SSH is better as future communication with the security setup will
need to be performed this way) you should begin the process of
downloading the latest update:
sudo apt-get update
Next, install the emacs editor, agreeing to the prompts:

sudo apt-get install emacs

Following this, you will need to install a VNC server. This will
enable you connect to the security system and view the output.
Observe and agree to any prompts.
sudo apt-get install tightvncserver
After installing VNC Server, enter the command vncserver you
will be required to set a password to use the system. You should
also agree to the subsequent request to enter a view-only
password.
The next step is to edit the VNC Server initialising script. Enter the
following to switch to the correct directory:

cd /etc/init.d
You can then run emacs:

sudo emacs tightvncserver

With the console open, copy the following:

#! /bin/sh
# /etc/init.d/tightvncserver
#

# Carry out specific functions when asked to by the system

case "$1" in
start)
su pi -c '/usr/bin/vncserver'
echo "Starting VNC server "
;;
stop)
pkill vncserver
echo "VNC Server has been stopped (didn't double check though)"
;;
*)
echo "Usage: /etc/init.d/blah {start|stop}"
exit 1
;;
esac

exit 0
Right-click to paste it into emacs. A few moments later, it should
auto-save. Exit by pressing Ctrl+X and agreeing to save the file
upon exiting.

You should then modify the permissions for the VNC Server
directory, making the new script executable:

sudo chmod +x tightvncserver

The following command will instruct the VNC Server to load when
you boot the Raspberry Pi Security Centre:

sudo update-rc.d tightvncserver defaults

Were nearly done, so end the current VNC session:

sudo pkill Xtightvnc

You are then ready to restart it:

sudo /etc/init.d/tightvncserver start

On your main device the computer with which you plan to
observe your webcam you can now open your VNC client.
Various suitable clients are available Ive used
the TightVNC client for Windows.

Configuring Your Webcam

Were now at the stage where we can begin to prepare the

Raspberry Pi for your webcam, which means installing drivers, the
necessary libraries and capture software. Enter the following
commands in turn, paying heed to the prompts.

First, its the motion detection software:

sudo apt-get install motion

Next, install the required libraries:

sudo apt-get install libv4l-0

UVCcapture is software designed to capture the feed from a

webcam:

sudo apt-get install uvccapture

You can now attach your webcam and check that all is working.
Enter the following command:

dmesg | tail
This will output the details about your camera model, as below.
We then need to set the motion capture, so run:

emacs /etc/default/motion
and set start_motion_daemon to yes.
If you have problems with permissions here, use:

sudo chmod 777 /etc/default/motion

Remember to undo this after the edit has been saved.

With this change saved (CTRL+C, following the on-screen prompts

to save), you will then need to edit the motion.conf file.

emacs /etc/motion/motion.conf
The script below (taken from a Raspberry Pi forum thread
Installation Guide for motion detection with webcam) should be
added to motion.conf:
set "daemon on"
set "minimum_frame_time 5" (this can be modified, depending how
often you want to take picture)
set "pre_capture 2"
set "post_capture 2"
set "output_normal on"
set "quality 100"
set "ffmpeg_cap_new on"
set "ffmpeg_timelapse 30"
set "ffmpeg_variable_bitrate 2"
set "get_dir /media/webcam/motion"
set "webcam_port 8080"
set "control_port 8081" (important)
set "webcam_localhost off"
set "width 320" (important)
set "height 240" (important)
Note that these settings can be configured as necessary. Those
labelled (important) should be left as they are.

Configuring Media Settings for Motion

Were almost done, with just a few media settings and
configuration of your wireless dongle to go.

Motion detection images need to be saved to the media folder

but first, you will have to change read/write permissions:

sudo chmod 777 /media

Next, launch the motion software:

sudo /etc/init.d/motion start

Motion can be stopped with:

sudo /etc/init.d/motion stop

You should see a message confirming that the software is running.
Is it talking to your webcam? Run the following command to
check:

tail -f /var/log/syslog
The output should confirm that the device is live and receiving
data. The final step here is to boot the VNC client on your desktop
computer and connect to your Raspberry Pi (run ipconfig to check
the IP address) using the :1 suffix, which indicates X session
number one.

Boxing Up and Positioning the Motion

Sensor Security Camera
Although you might prefer to remove the webcam from its stylised
case for improved portability and easier secretion, its best to
assess the options for positioning before doing this. Indoor testing
will help you to establish the cameras range and motion capture
sensitivity, useful for when it comes to setting the device up
outside. For external use, youll need to use a suitable waterproof
case, perhaps an old ice cream tub or a hobby box from an
electronics store. Some drilling may be required in order to run
your power cable to the mounted Raspberry Pi-powered security
camera if you want to position it outside. However, you may also
consider a battery-powered solution for your little computer (note
that it will need regular recharging, however). Ethernet may be
preferred under the circumstances, so you might want to go into
full DIY mode and apply some mastic gun waterproofing, but if you
want to use wireless networking, you can. Using a wireless
repeater might assist with signal strength outdoors.

Post-Positioning Checks
With the RPi in position, you should head back to your computer
and check everything is as it should be.
Begin by checking that the network connection is up and running.
Although this should have been checked earlier, your wireless
dongle may have trouble connecting in windy weather or if you
have some unusual architectural structures or materials.
With the connection established, you should also head outside and
run through several motion capture scenarios to ensure that your
movement is detected and alerted.

Finally, for the first day of testing, keep an eye on the battery use
if you have chosen a portable power source, as you will need to
know how much recharging is required. Be aware that if you have
the camera positioned indoors or relatively close to a powered
out-building that using mains power is a better solution.

Conclusion: Home Security Solution with

an Educational Tool!
Who would have thought that you could do so much with a case-
free, stripped down mini-computer ostensibly designed to teach
children programming with tools like Scratch?
Like the media centre solution and the other remarkable uses,
setting up your Raspberry Pi as a home security solution with
motion capture is that it is something that can be done either with
a single device co-opted into security whenever you head out, or
with an affordable dedicated device.
The possibilities of the Raspberry Pi are seemingly endless. Find
out more in ourRaspberry Pi Unofficial Manual.