Multi camera over wifi for RV security and manoeuvring

Posted by: @bbb

I'm interested in creating a system of cameras for an RV ( in my case a 4x4 vehicle + towed camper) for both security and manoeuvring functions.

I plan to mount 6 or so fixed cameras around the rig. I'm hoping WiFi is sufficient to run several video streams to a head unit - one in the vehicle and a second in the camper.

For manoeuvring, latency and frame rate are important. 

My thoughts run along the following line - a camera for a pi or arduino with reasonable resolution (FHD or greater) good frame/refresh rate and low latency.

Each has an IP address and the video is streamed and available for a browser (a page to choose one or more cameras and automatically scale to accommodate multiple streams). The head unit can thus be a tablet or laptop - anything that can run a browser.

Each camera is powered by vehicle DC (12V, 24V or 48V in my case) and some may have illumination (IR leds?) for low light manoeuvring. e.g. backing up the camper trailer in the dark. 

I guess each camera will need to be remotely powered on and off via the browser interface.

So, that is what I am embarking on building in the next few months. (The camper trailer is still being built)

Welcome to the group. I am also in an RV. ESP32-CAM is the way I am going, look up RandomNerd, he sells a complete course on building this with source code. It includes telegram/email notifications of intrusion, facial recognition etc. Also Bill (DBWS) has several similar projects. The challenge is finding weather tight enclosures for the cameras. Good luck.

If you want the challenge of building one, that sounds like fun.

If you are looking for purchasing a multi-camera system and installing it.   I purchased a security camera system for my home, and it came with a small SMP power supply.  Just looked and the output of the power supply is rated for 48 volts, at 1.9 amps.  that sounds like a match for your batteries. That supplies all the power for the NVR (network video recorder) and eight 4K P.O.E. cameras. 

You may want to look at them to get some ideas on how to layout and build your own personal system. 

@ronalex4203 Thanks for the pointers. Weatherproof enclosures - I thought this may be a problem, so I'm planning to mount them inside the walls and facing out through a small glass or poly carbonate windows. Dirt, misting and field of view will then be the problems, but a wipe now and then and some heating and/or air flow should, I hope overcome the physical issues. As for the field of view issue, that I have no idea about.

@rcc1 Thanks. POE is a great way to go and most serious POE gear runs on 48V as far as I know. Yes, I would like to build the system - not so much the board level electronics, but more so using available modules. I know there is a bit of software out there, so I guess its a question of putting the right bits of hardware and software together. I expect to have to bumble my way through writing some code,  something like python and getting my head around routing video streams and a unified control channel - possibly modbus, maybe? I have a lot of reading to do in order to zero in on the approach that will work. Like I mentioned, latency and frame rate is what I see as the challenges.