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AI Thinker ESP32-CAM Development Board

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Ekostra Electronics

On April 13, 2025

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AI Thinker ESP32-CAM Development Board

WiFi + Bluetooth with OV2640 Camera Module – Arduino Compatible IoT Camera Solution

Introduction

The ESP32-CAM is a compact development board combining ESP32-S chip with OV2640 camera module, perfect for IoT vision projects. It features WiFi/Bluetooth connectivity, microSD card slot, and GPIO pins in a minimal footprint.

Key Features

📷 Camera Module

OV2640 (2MP with JPEG output)

📶 Dual Connectivity

WiFi + Bluetooth 4.2

💾 Storage Options

MicroSD card slot (up to 4GB)

⚡ Low Power

Deep sleep current ~6μA

Technical Specifications

Core Processor	ESP32-S (Xtensa LX6 dual-core)
Clock Speed	240MHz (up to 600 DMIPS)
Wireless	802.11 b/g/n WiFi + Bluetooth 4.2
Camera	OV2640 (2MP, 1600×1200 max)
Image Formats	JPEG, BMP, Grayscale
RAM	520KB SRAM + 4MB PSRAM
Flash	4MB (default)
GPIO	9 usable pins (shared with camera)

Pin Configuration

Pin	Function	Notes
3V3	3.3V Power	Max 500mA
5V	5V Input	When not using 3V3
GND	Ground
GPIO 0	Boot Mode	Pull LOW to flash
GPIO 2	LED/Serial	Connected to onboard LED
GPIO 4	SD Card/General	SD_MMC_D1
GPIO 12	SD Card/General	SD_MMC_CLK
GPIO 13	Camera/General	CAMERA_PCLK
GPIO 14	Camera/General	CAMERA_XCLK
GPIO 15	Camera/General	CAMERA_VSYNC

Note: Many GPIO pins are shared with camera functions – check documentation before use

Basic Setup

Install Arduino IDE (1.8.10+)
Add ESP32 board support via Boards Manager (URL: https://dl.espressif.com/dl/package_esp32_index.json)
Select “AI Thinker ESP32-CAM” board
Connect GPIO0 to GND to enter flash mode
Connect via USB-to-TTL adapter (RX→TX, TX→RX, 3V3→3V3, GND→GND)

Camera Web Server Example

#include "esp_camera.h"
#include <WiFi.h>

// Camera pins (AI Thinker ESP32-CAM)
#define PWDN_GPIO_NUM     32
#define RESET_GPIO_NUM    -1
#define XCLK_GPIO_NUM      0
#define SIOD_GPIO_NUM     26
#define SIOC_GPIO_NUM     27
#define Y9_GPIO_NUM       35
#define Y8_GPIO_NUM       34
#define Y7_GPIO_NUM       39
#define Y6_GPIO_NUM       36
#define Y5_GPIO_NUM       21
#define Y4_GPIO_NUM       19
#define Y3_GPIO_NUM       18
#define Y2_GPIO_NUM        5
#define VSYNC_GPIO_NUM    25
#define HREF_GPIO_NUM     23
#define PCLK_GPIO_NUM     22

const char* ssid = "YOUR_SSID";
const char* password = "YOUR_PASSWORD";

void startCameraServer();

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  
  // Initialize camera
  camera_config_t config;
  config.ledc_channel = LEDC_CHANNEL_0;
  config.ledc_timer = LEDC_TIMER_0;
  config.pin_d0 = Y2_GPIO_NUM;
  config.pin_d1 = Y3_GPIO_NUM;
  // ... (complete all pin assignments)
  config.xclk_freq_hz = 20000000;
  config.pixel_format = PIXFORMAT_JPEG;
  
  if(psramFound()){
    config.frame_size = FRAMESIZE_UXGA;
    config.jpeg_quality = 10;
    config.fb_count = 2;
  } else {
    config.frame_size = FRAMESIZE_SVGA;
    config.jpeg_quality = 12;
    config.fb_count = 1;
  }
  
  esp_err_t err = esp_camera_init(&config);
  if (err != ESP_OK) {
    Serial.printf("Camera init failed: 0x%x", err);
    return;
  }
  
  // Connect to WiFi
  WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
  while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
    delay(500);
    Serial.print(".");
  }
  Serial.println("");
  Serial.println("WiFi connected");
  
  startCameraServer();
  Serial.print("Camera Ready! Use 'http://");
  Serial.print(WiFi.localIP());
  Serial.println("' to connect");
}

void loop() {
  delay(10000);
}

#include "esp_camera.h"

#include <WiFi.h>

// Camera pins (AI Thinker ESP32-CAM)

#define PWDN_GPIO_NUM 32

#define RESET_GPIO_NUM -1

#define XCLK_GPIO_NUM 0

#define SIOD_GPIO_NUM 26

#define SIOC_GPIO_NUM 27

#define Y9_GPIO_NUM 35

#define Y8_GPIO_NUM 34

#define Y7_GPIO_NUM 39

#define Y6_GPIO_NUM 36

#define Y5_GPIO_NUM 21

#define Y4_GPIO_NUM 19

#define Y3_GPIO_NUM 18

#define Y2_GPIO_NUM 5

#define VSYNC_GPIO_NUM 25

#define HREF_GPIO_NUM 23

#define PCLK_GPIO_NUM 22

const char* ssid = "YOUR_SSID";

const char* password = "YOUR_PASSWORD";

void startCameraServer();

void setup() {

Serial.begin(115200);

// Initialize camera

camera_config_t config;

config.ledc_channel = LEDC_CHANNEL_0;

config.ledc_timer = LEDC_TIMER_0;

config.pin_d0 = Y2_GPIO_NUM;

config.pin_d1 = Y3_GPIO_NUM;

// ... (complete all pin assignments)

config.xclk_freq_hz = 20000000;

config.pixel_format = PIXFORMAT_JPEG;

if(psramFound()){

config.frame_size = FRAMESIZE_UXGA;

config.jpeg_quality = 10;

config.fb_count = 2;

} else {

config.frame_size = FRAMESIZE_SVGA;

config.jpeg_quality = 12;

config.fb_count = 1;

}

esp_err_t err = esp_camera_init(&config);

if (err != ESP_OK) {

Serial.printf("Camera init failed: 0x%x", err);

return;

}

// Connect to WiFi

WiFi.begin(ssid, password);

while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {

delay(500);

Serial.print(".");

}

Serial.println("");

Serial.println("WiFi connected");

startCameraServer();

Serial.print("Camera Ready! Use 'http://");

Serial.print(WiFi.localIP());

Serial.println("' to connect");

}

void loop() {

delay(10000);

}

Image Capture to SD Card

#include "FS.h"
#include "SD_MMC.h"

void captureToSD() {
  camera_fb_t *fb = esp_camera_fb_get();
  if(!fb) {
    Serial.println("Camera capture failed");
    return;
  }
  
  // Initialize SD card
  if(!SD_MMC.begin()){
    Serial.println("SD Card Mount Failed");
    return;
  }
  
  // Save image
  String path = "/image" + String(millis()) + ".jpg";
  fs::FS &fs = SD_MMC; 
  File file = fs.open(path.c_str(), FILE_WRITE);
  
  if(!file){
    Serial.println("Failed to open file");
  } else {
    file.write(fb->buf, fb->len);
    Serial.printf("Saved: %s\n", path.c_str());
  }
  file.close();
  SD_MMC.end();
  
  esp_camera_fb_return(fb);
}

#include "FS.h"

#include "SD_MMC.h"

void captureToSD() {

camera_fb_t *fb = esp_camera_fb_get();

if(!fb) {

Serial.println("Camera capture failed");

return;

}

// Initialize SD card

if(!SD_MMC.begin()){

Serial.println("SD Card Mount Failed");

return;

}

// Save image

String path = "/image" + String(millis()) + ".jpg";

fs::FS &fs = SD_MMC;

File file = fs.open(path.c_str(), FILE_WRITE);

if(!file){

Serial.println("Failed to open file");

} else {

file.write(fb->buf, fb->len);

Serial.printf("Saved: %s\n", path.c_str());

}

file.close();

SD_MMC.end();

esp_camera_fb_return(fb);

}

Optimization Tips

Image Quality

config.frame_size = FRAMESIZE_VGA;
config.jpeg_quality = 12; // 0-63 (lower=better)

1 2	config.frame_size = FRAMESIZE_VGA; config.jpeg_quality = 12; // 0-63 (lower=better)

Adjust resolution and quality based on available RAM

Power Saving

esp_sleep_enable_timer_wakeup(10000000);
esp_deep_sleep_start();

1 2	esp_sleep_enable_timer_wakeup(10000000); esp_deep_sleep_start();

Use deep sleep between captures to save power

Motion Detection

if(abs(new_pixel - last_pixel) > threshold) {
  // Motion detected
}

if(abs(new_pixel - last_pixel) > threshold) {

// Motion detected

}

Implement basic motion detection to trigger captures

Troubleshooting

Camera Not Initializing

Verify all camera pins are properly defined
Check power supply (needs 500mA+ for camera)
Ensure proper board selection in Arduino IDE

WiFi Connection Issues

Check antenna is properly connected
Try reducing WiFi transmit power
Verify credentials and network availability

SD Card Problems

Format card as FAT32 (max 4GB)
Check card detect pin (GPIO13)
Verify proper voltage level conversion if needed

Hotline 24/7

AI Thinker ESP32-CAM Development Board

AI Thinker ESP32-CAM Development Board

Introduction

Key Features

📷 Camera Module

📶 Dual Connectivity

💾 Storage Options

⚡ Low Power

Technical Specifications

Pin Configuration

Basic Setup

Camera Web Server Example

Image Capture to SD Card

Optimization Tips

Image Quality

Power Saving

Motion Detection

Troubleshooting

Camera Not Initializing

WiFi Connection Issues

SD Card Problems

Project Ideas

Wireless Security Cam

Time-Lapse Camera

Smart Doorbell

Get to Know Us

Shop

Useful Links

Subscribe Newsletter

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Hotline 24/7

Blogs

AI Thinker ESP32-CAM Development Board

Introduction

Key Features

📷 Camera Module

📶 Dual Connectivity

💾 Storage Options

⚡ Low Power

Technical Specifications

Pin Configuration

Basic Setup

Camera Web Server Example

Image Capture to SD Card

Optimization Tips

Image Quality

Power Saving

Motion Detection

Troubleshooting

Camera Not Initializing

WiFi Connection Issues

SD Card Problems

Project Ideas

Wireless Security Cam

Time-Lapse Camera

Smart Doorbell

Get to Know Us

Shop

Useful Links

Subscribe Newsletter

Safety Payments