Facial Recognition with ESP32-CAM

Difficulty Level: Advanced

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to use an ESP32-CAM to implement facial recognition. The ESP32-CAM has built-in camera support and works with the ESP32's Wi-Fi capabilities to enable real-time face detection and recognition over a web interface.

Components Required

• ESP32-CAM Module
• FTDI Programmer (for uploading code)
• Jumper wires
• External antenna (optional for better Wi-Fi range)
• MicroSD card (optional for storing captured images)

Wiring the ESP32-CAM

The ESP32-CAM has specific pins for camera connections. You’ll need to use an FTDI programmer to upload code.

• Connect **GND** to **GND**.
• Connect **VCC** to **5V** (power supply).
• Connect **U0R** (RX) to **TX** of FTDI.
• Connect **U0T** (TX) to **RX** of FTDI.
• Connect **GPIO 0** to **GND** (for programming mode).

Ensure that the **FTDI programmer** is set to 5V, as the ESP32-CAM works with 5V for the camera module.

Setting Up the Code

We will use the ESP32-CAM’s built-in capabilities for facial detection and recognition. The example code for facial recognition is available in the **ESP32 examples library**.

Step 1: Installing the ESP32 Board in Arduino IDE

To program the ESP32-CAM, you need to have the ESP32 add-on installed in your Arduino IDE.

• Go to **File** > **Preferences**.
• In the “Additional Boards Manager URLs” field, paste the following URL: https://dl.espressif.com/dl/package_esp32_index.json
• Go to **Tools** > **Board** > **Boards Manager** and install the **ESP32** by Espressif Systems.

Step 2: Upload the Code

Open the **CameraWebServer** example in Arduino IDE (File > Examples > ESP32 > Camera > CameraWebServer). Before uploading, you need to make a few changes to the code.

Wi-Fi Credentials

Find the lines where the **SSID** and **password** are defined:

#define WIFI_SSID "your_wifi_name"
#define WIFI_PASSWORD "your_wifi_password"
        

Replace these with your Wi-Fi network credentials.

Pin Definitions for ESP32-CAM

If you're using the ESP32-CAM AI-Thinker module, make sure to select the right camera model:

#define CAMERA_MODEL_AI_THINKER
        

Uncomment the above line and make sure other models are commented out.

Step 3: Upload Code

Once you’ve made the necessary changes, connect your FTDI programmer and upload the code to the ESP32-CAM. Make sure you set the ESP32-CAM in programming mode by connecting **GPIO 0** to **GND** before uploading.

Accessing the Web Interface

1. After the code is successfully uploaded, open the **Serial Monitor** to find the ESP32-CAM’s IP address.
2. Copy the IP address and paste it into your web browser. This will open the camera feed interface.
3. Scroll down and find the “Face Recognition” and “Face Detection” options. Enable these features to allow the camera to detect and recognize faces.

Facial Recognition in Action

Once the facial recognition is enabled, the ESP32-CAM will detect faces in the camera’s field of view. When a face is detected, it will draw a box around the face. If you’ve enabled facial recognition, the system will attempt to match the detected face with any previously saved faces.

Registering Faces

To add a new face for recognition, click the **“Enroll Face”** button in the web interface. This will store the face data in the ESP32-CAM’s memory for future recognition.

Conclusion

By following this tutorial, you can set up a facial recognition system using the ESP32-CAM module. This can be used for various IoT applications like security systems, access control, or smart home automation. The ESP32-CAM makes it easy to integrate facial recognition into your projects with minimal cost and effort.