In today's world, personal safety and recording events are becoming increasingly necessary. Whether you are biking, hiking, or simply need a lightweight and discreet method to record your daily activities, building a DIY body camera with the Raspberry Pi Zero is the perfect solution. In this blog post, we will dive into transforming the affordable and accessible Raspberry Pi Zero into a powerful body camera, providing you with a high-quality and efficient solution for your recording needs.

Setting Up Your Raspberry Pi Zero

Before we start our project, it's crucial to mention that a Raspberry Pi Zero is a miniature, low-cost, and stripped-down version of the original Raspberry Pi while retaining the essential functionalities. To set up your Raspberry Pi Zero, you will need to gather the following equipment:

1. Raspberry Pi Zero or Raspberry Pi Zero W

2. microSD Card (at least 8GB)

3. Camera Module (for example, the Raspberry Pi Camera Module V2)

4. Micro USB Cable

5. Portable USB Battery Pack

Now that you have all the necessary equipment, we can begin by setting up the Raspberry Pi Zero.

Step 1:Installing Raspbian on the Raspberry Pi Zero

First, download the Raspbian OS from the Raspberry Pi Foundation's website and install it onto the microSD card using a tool like balenaEtcher. Insert the microSD card into the Raspberry Pi Zero's card slot.

Step 2:Enable the Camera and SSH Modules

To enable the camera functionality on your Raspberry Pi Zero, connect it to a monitor or TV via the HDMI port and a USB keyboard. Alternatively, you can enable SSH to access the Pi remotely. To enable SSH without connecting to a display, create an empty file named 'ssh' (no file extension) and place it in the boot directory of the microSD card.

Upon booting the Pi, it will detect that file, enabling SSH access. To connect remotely, install an SSH client like PuTTY. Enter the Pi's IP address and your username and password (defaults:'pi' and 'raspberry') to access the command line interface.

Step 3:Connect the Camera Module

Power off your Raspberry Pi Zero and remove the microSD card. Carefully connect the camera module to the Pi Zero using the supplied ribbon cable. Ensure the camera module is securely connected and re-insert the microSD card.

Step 4:Configure the Raspberry Pi Camera Module

Once more, power on the Raspberry Pi Zero. To configure the camera module, go to the terminal and type:

sudo raspi-config

This command will launch the Raspberry Pi Configuration Tool. Navigate to the 'Interfaces' tab, select 'P1 Camera,' and enable the camera. You can also enable SSH from this menu if you haven't done so earlier. Save the changes and reboot your Pi.

Creating the Body Camera Application

With the camera module enabled, we will now create a Python script to control the recording functionality of our body camera.

Step 1:Install Python Library for the Camera

To use the camera with Python, we need to install the `picamera` library. Type the following command in the terminal:

sudo apt-get updatesudo apt-get install python3-picamera

Step 2:Create the Python Script

Using an editor like nano, vim, or your preferred choice, create a new Python script and name it 'body\_cam.py.'

nano body_cam.py

Now, add the following code to create a basic app that captures a video when the script is run:

import picameraimport timeimport datetimetimestamp = datetime.datetime.now().strftime('%Y%m%d_%H%M%S')filename = 'video_{}.h264'.format(timestamp)with picamera.PiCamera() as camera: camera.resolution = (1280, 720) camera.framerate = 30 camera.start_recording(filename) time.sleep(10) camera.stop_recording()

This app records a 10-second video with a timestamp in the filename. Save the file and exit the editor.

Step 3:Run the Body Camera App

To run the body camera app, execute the following command in the terminal:

python3 body_cam.py

The app will record a 10-second video and save it on your Raspberry Pi Zero.

Enclosure and Attachment Options

Depending on your preference, you can choose from a variety of cases and mounts for the Raspberry Pi Zero body camera. Some popular options include 3D-printed cases, clips, and straps that comfortably attach to your clothing, backpack, or elsewhere.

By following the steps in this blog post, you will have successfully transformed your Raspberry Pi Zero into a powerful DIY body camera perfect for various needs. Feel free to modify the script to suit your requirements and experiment with different cases, mounts, and functionalities. Stay safe and happy recording!