Go Raspberry Pi Timelapse

This repository contains documentation and source code to help running a Raspberry Pi Zero based timelapse camera.

How does it work?

Parts List

This project was created for a timelapse system consisting of the following core components: a Pi Zero W with a camera board, a case, and an SD card. The following sections describe the components in more detail.

Core parts for regular deployment (about $65)

• Raspberry Pi Zero W ($10)
• Raspberry Pi Camera Board v2 ($30)
• Raspberry Pi Zero Camera Cable ($6)
• C4Labs Zebra Zero Case ($7)
• microSDHC Card ($12)

Additional parts to include a battery backed clock (about $8)

• Break-away 0.1" 2x20-pin Strip Dual Male Header ($1)
• CR1220 12mm Diameter - 3V Lithium Coin Cell Battery ($1)
• Adafruit PiRTC - PCF8523 Real Time Clock for Raspberry Pi ($6)

Additional Parts for Development (about $6)

• USB OTG Host Cable - MicroB OTG male to A female ($3)
• Mini HDMI Plug to Standard HDMI Jack Adapter ($3)

Build overview

Build steps

Step 1: Initial Build

1. Optional: If you want to use the battery backed clocked start by soldering the 2x20-pin strip on Pi Zero W board (instructions). After the soldering, attach the RTC to the 2x20-pin strip. Don't forget to insert the CR1220 battery into the RTC.
2. Connect the Pi Zero W and the Pi Camera Board v2 via the Pi Zero Camera cable.
3. Insert the Pi Zero W into the C4Labs Zerbra Zero Case.

Step 2: Install disk image and access web interface

1. From another computer, download, and decompress the .img file of the most recent go-raspberry-pi-timelapse release.
2. Install the .img file to an empty SD card using the Raspberry Pi Imager.
3. Insert the SD card card into the Pi Zero W.
4. Turn on the Pi Zero W plugging in a micro USB cable into the PWR IN connector (bottom right corner).
5. The Pi Zero W will act as a Wifi access point. Connect to the Pi's Wifi named timelapse-raspberry-pi, passphrase: InsertTheRealPassword.
6. Open the Pi's web interface in a browser: http://192.168.50.1:8080/. This interface will allow you to align the camera, download photos, shutdown the Pi, etc.

Misc resources

PiTFT

• https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-pitft-28-inch-resistive-touchscreen-display-raspberry-pi/easy-install-2 - Follow steps and PiTFT as HDMI Mirror (Best for Raspberry Pi OS with Desktop)
• https://learn.adafruit.com/running-opengl-based-games-and-emulators-on-adafruit-pitft-displays/tuning-performance
• https://willhaley.com/blog/power-off-raspberry-pi-adafruit-tft-screen-shutdown/
• Streaming raspivid output via network. (1) on the receiving device: vlc -vvv udp://@:1234 :demux=h264. (2) on the Pi: raspivid -t 60000 -o udp://192.168.0.123:1234.