Smart Doorbell using ESP32 Camera with Custom app

Door bell are used from several decades now. A traditional door bell is very simple to connect and use. In this era of communication we have developed and made our door bell smart. In this tutorial we will learn how we cab build a smart doorbell using ESP32 camera with Custom app. We are using firebase to build this custom app based IoT Door bell using ESP32Cam. This project is simple and effective. This also needs few components and it is easy to build by any beginner level hobbyist or student. Lets quickly see what are the components needed to build this project.

An IoT doorbell using an ESP32Cam could be a custom application that utilizes the camera and wireless capabilities of the ESP32Cam to allow a user to remotely view and interact with visitors at their doorstep through a smartphone app. The ESP32Cam would be connected to the internet and configured to send real-time video and audio to the user’s smartphone app, allowing them to see and hear the visitor, as well as remotely unlock the door if desired. Additionally, it may also have features like motion detection, image and video recording, integration with smart home devices, etc.

Parts List

Below parts are needed for building this project, You can click on the best buy links to buy the products which will help out channel to grow.

• ESP32 Camera Module (BEST BUY)
  
• Single channel Relay Module (BEST BUY)
  
• Resistor 1KΩ x 1
• Push Button Switch
• Jumper cables
• Breadboard (BEST BUY)
  
• Mobile charger 5V/1A as power supply

How it Works?

When anyone presses the call bell it send an notification to your custom android app installed on your smartphone. You can open the app and tap on Take Picture to take a pick of the person who is standing outside. After seeing the person you can open the door by tapping on the app. This is a simple but very effective project to build. The ESP32 camera resolution is good to take pics. It also has an addition flash to take the pictures in better way.

Connection Diagram

This project needs few components to build it. With few easily available components, you can build Smart Doorbell using ESP32 Camera with Custom app project. If you want you can also mount these components on a circuit board or design your own circuit board.

Arduino Library

Go to  Sketch > Include Library > Manage Libraries from the top menu. Type in firebase esp32 and install the below library. This library is meant for both esp8266 and ESP32.

Setting up Firebase Project

First login to Firebase and create an account if you are logging in for first time. Enter a name for your project.

As per your requirement you can enable google analytics or disable it and click on Continue. This is optional and doesn’t make any impact if you don’t enable it.

Now your project will be created in sometime. Then click on Continue.

Setting up Firebase Storage Database

On left hand side click on Authentication

Now click on Get Started

Select Sign-in method

Enable the Email/Password and click on Save

Go to Users and click on Add user, then enter an email id and password and click on Add user

Now click on Storage

Click on Get started

Select Start in Production mode and click on Next

let the default storage location be there and click on Done

Now finally you will get the storage bucket id. Copy and keep it as we need to put in our Arduino code.

Click on Rules and change it as shown below and click on Publish

In n Project Overview click on Project settings

Now here we will see the Web API Key, Copy this key and keep it safe a we need this in our Arduino code.

Setting up Firebase Realtime Database

Now click on Realtime Database to create it.

Click on Create Database to build it.

Let the default location be there for your Realtime DB and click on Next.

By default the locked mode will be selected. click on enable.

After enabling, click on Rules and edit rules. Make the read and write as true. Also click on Publish to save changes.

Click on Data to get the the URL of your Realtime database. Copy this and keep it in a notepad. We need this in our Arduino code.

Go to Project settings and collect the required information.

Click on Service accounts and click on Database secrets to get the secret key to connect with your database. Copy and paste it in notepad as we need it in our Arduino code.

Code

We are using default code with some changes. you can get the default code form ESP32 examples. You can open the default code and delete it. Copy the code below and make necessary changes as marked.

For uploading the code you can refer to this article.

Changes required in the code before uploading

Creating Custom App

Here we have shared the aia file. You can download and import it in MIT App Inventor. Before you create an apk file you have to make changes in the firebase DB as shown below.

Update the Firebase DB secret key in firebase token. Also ass the firebase URL which you have coped earlier along with the project bucket.

Building and Testing

We have arrange all the components on a breadboard and connected it as per the circuit diagram.

Open the app installed and if we click on See Photo then the latest image taken will be reflecting. After seeing the picture you can either open the door and keep it closed. It takes 5 seconds to capture the photo and save it in the storage.

Suggested Projects:

• IoT Door Security with custom Android App using Firebase
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Summary

Using ESP32 camera this a simple and nice project, which can be implemented at home. This required some basic components to build and it can be easily mounted on a pcb and a box. This project will also help you to understand the interfacing of ESP32-cam projects. You can also build and modify this project as per your needs. Try this project and don’t forget to share this article with others. Hope you like Smart Doorbell using ESP32 Camera with Custom app.