ESP32-CAM Video Recorder — Motion-Triggered SD Card NVR
Full-featured motion-triggered video recording firmware for the T-Camera S3 with AVI recording to SD card, MJPEG streaming, FTP upload, Telegram alerts, and ML-based object classification.
Overview
ESP32-CAM_MJPEG2SD (1,500+ GitHub stars) is the most feature-complete camera firmware for ESP32-S3 boards. It transforms the LILYGO T-Camera S3 into a self-contained network video recorder (NVR) — recording motion-triggered AVI video clips to SD card, streaming live MJPEG over WiFi, and sending alerts via Telegram with actual video attachments.
Key Features
- Motion Detection: Built-in frame-differencing motion detection — no PIR sensor needed
- AVI Recording: Records real AVI video files (not just snapshots) to microSD card
- Live Streaming: MJPEG and RTSP streaming accessible from any browser or VLC
- Telegram Integration: Sends photo and video alerts to a Telegram bot on motion detection
- FTP Upload: Automatic upload of recordings to an FTP server
- ML Classification: Optional TensorFlow Lite object classification for person/car/animal detection
- Web UI: Full-featured web interface for live view, playback, settings, and SD card file management
- Time-Lapse: Configurable interval capture mode for time-lapse projects
- Audio Recording: Supports boards with I2S microphone for audio + video
Getting Started
Flash the firmware via the Arduino IDE or PlatformIO (ESP32-S3 board support required). Insert a microSD card for recording storage. Access the web UI at the device's IP address to configure motion detection zones, recording quality, Telegram bot token, and alert settings.
Why This Project
This firmware replaces commercial IP cameras with a fully open-source, locally-controlled alternative. All video stays on your SD card and local network — no cloud subscription required. The Telegram integration is especially popular: get a video clip of who's at your front door directly in your messaging app.
