DIY Thermal Camera Project Tracked Garden Visitors
A new open-source thermal detector helps you monitor your garden without relying on cloud-connected smart cameras.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Landscaping
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Developer William Rigby has released an ESP32-based thermal camera system designed to detect warm objects in garden environments. The device operates locally, eliminating the need for cloud-based computer vision services.
Why it matters
This system offers a private alternative for garden monitoring by processing thermal patterns locally instead of sending video to a cloud server. It specifically targets warm objects that are otherwise difficult to see in total darkness.
The system utilizes an 80x62 thermal sensor powered by an ESP32-S3 microcontroller, featuring 16MB of flash storage and 8MB of OPI PSRAM. It achieves a 20fps target frame rate and triggers alerts for any region at least 3°C above background levels.
The players
William Rigby
The software developer who designed the open-source ESP32 thermal sensing project.
Home Assistant
A popular local-first home automation platform used to manage smart device alerts and integrations.
The details
The device monitors thermal patterns and establishes a background model following a two-minute initial learning period. Users define specific monitoring zones by drawing a region of interest within a browser interface. Once configured, the system uses a 500ms detection presence duration and a 2-second alert clearance delay to manage garden traffic notifications sent to Home Assistant.
Timeline
October 6, 2026: The thermal camera project was officially published.
The Home Front
This project reflects a broader trend of moving smart-home sensing away from cloud-reliant computer vision toward local processing power. It marks a departure from subscription-based surveillance tools by utilizing open-source hardware and MIT-licensed firmware.
If you plan to deploy this system, be aware that the interface currently lacks authentication, so keep the device on a segmented or secure local network. Test the 3°C threshold during your garden's peak night hours to ensure the system distinguishes between ambient background heat and target objects.
The takeaway
This project demonstrates the potential for local-only garden monitoring using ESP32 hardware and MIT-licensed firmware. Prospective users should verify the system firmware regularly for updates, particularly regarding the current lack of HTTP and MQTT security.
Further reading
Explore more projects for your outdoor space in our Landscaping section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Electronics For You - Official Site ElectronicsForU.com.
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