Camera trigger device using Distance Sensors

[Informatic0re]

Hello,

I'd like to share a project I've been working on for a while now. During my trip to Peru in May 2023 to collaborate with Fauna Forever, an NGO partnered with Wilderness International, I had discussions with scientists about challenges they faced that could be addressed with electronics.

One specific issue highlighted was the use of buckets to capture lizards and other small animals for population and variety studies. Unfortunately, this method is invasive, leading to potential harm or death for the animals due to rain or being preyed upon. More details can be found on my project page at Hackaday or on my https://www.open-things.de/thing-2.html

Using infrared (IR) for cold-blooded animals like lizards proved ineffective due to their size and the limitations of IR sensors. To address this, I developed the RepTrap
https://hackaday.io/project/192032-openthing-2-reptrap

The RepTrap utilizes the VL53L4CD Time of Flight sensor to measure height and trigger a DSLR camera's shutter and focus. While the current MCU is the RP2040 for simplicity, I am considering alternatives due to complexity and sensitivity issues.

Here's a brief overview of how the sensor operates:

• It measures offsets and calibration values for the glass used (similar to black IR glass in remote controls).
• It calculates a suitable threshold for triggering based on the current height from the sensor to the ground.
• It calibrates each of the four ToF sensors using this data.
• It's ready to detect anything passing by that meets the threshold.

The RepTrap is already performing well. If you're interested in the project or eager to contribute, feel free to PM me, follow the project, or give it a like.
One challenge I'm working on is the power consumption of the sensors, which, despite claiming "very low power consumption," poses difficulties in low-power modes affecting project functionality.
Any insights or assistance on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

[Informatic0re]

I just uploaded a new version using the ESP32 instead of the RP2040.
Now I can add BLE support to change the configuration of the sensors