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fix: add camera node USB power ports
2026-05-23 13:33:06 +00:00

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RemoteRig — Camera Node Hardware Design

Version: 0.3.0 | Status: v4 CAD prototype ready for measurement/print validation Target: GoPro Hero 3 Black/Silver + ESP32-C3 Super Mini + ESP-01S + USB power bank

Overview

Each camera node is two ESP boards in a small upright stand-mounted case. The case does not attach to the camera; it straps to a tripod/lighting stand with reusable cloth zip ties / Velcro straps. Powered by a standard USB power bank.

     ┌─────────────────┐
     │  USB Power Bank │
     │  (off-the-shelf)│
     └────────┬────────┘
              │ USB-C cable into bottom USB-C female input
              ▼
     ┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
     │  Camera Node Case v4                │ ← Velcro/cloth straps to stand
     │  ┌──────────────────────────────┐   │
     │  │ Flush/recessed service lid   │   │
     │  │ 1.3 OLED: CAM/REC/BAT/LINK   │   │
     │  │ PWR LED + RGB STAT LED       │   │
     │  │ Small rocker power switch    │   │
     │  └──────────────────────────────┘   │
     │  ESP-01S camera bridge ↔ ESP32-C3   │
     │  side USB-A female power output ────┼── USB cable ──→ GoPro power
     └─────────────────────────────────────┘

Bill of Materials

Item Qty Cost Notes
ESP32-C3 Super Mini 1 ~$4–$6 MQTT / hub-side bridge; known board envelope 22.5 × 18 mm
ESP-01S / ESP8266 module 1 ~$2–$3 Camera-side GoPro Wi-Fi bridge; known envelope ~24.7 × 14.3 × 12 mm
1.3-inch OLED/status screen 1 ~$4–$8 Prototype CAD assumes ~31 × 16 mm visible window / ~37 × 22 mm panel recess; confirm exact module
3 mm power LED 1 <$1 Separate always-power/5V indicator
3 mm RGB status LED 1 <$1 Replaces separate red/green status LEDs; firmware can map node states to color
Small rocker switch 1 ~$1–$3 On/off switch; prototype CAD assumes 13 × 19 mm snap-in opening
USB-C female panel/breakout connector 1 ~$1–$4 Bottom power input; prototype CAD assumes ~10.5 × 4.5 mm rounded visible opening plus shallow underside recess; measure purchased part
USB-A female panel/breakout connector 1 ~$1–$4 Right-side GoPro power passthrough output; prototype CAD assumes ~16 × 8 mm side opening; measure purchased part
USB power bank (5000 mAh+) 1 ~$10 Powers camera node and GoPro
Short USB cables / wiring as needed ~$2–$5 Power bank → node USB-C input; node 5 V passthrough → USB-A female → GoPro USB cable; internal power/signal wiring
M2 or small self-tapping screws 4 <$1 Front service lid screws; pilot holes are parametric
PETG filament ~35–50 g ~$1 3D printed case body + lid
Reusable cloth zip ties / Velcro straps 2 ~$1 Primary stand mount through rear strap channels

Total per node: roughly ~$25–$35 plus GoPro and power bank, depending on display/switch choice.

3D Printed Case

Current source: hardware/case/camera-node-case-v4.scad Pipeline: hardware/DESIGN_PIPELINE.md

The current v4 CAD replaces the rejected wide/low electronics-box layout with a tall appliance-style enclosure matching the original upright reference: a clean vertical body, large inset front panel, OLED near the top, open blank middle area, two long rounded lower slots, a bottom USB-C female power input, and a right-side USB-A female passthrough power port for the GoPro. It also replaces the v3 clamp/dovetail concept with a simpler strap-mounted field enclosure:

  1. Case body — shell sized around ESP32-C3 Super Mini + ESP-01S with service/wiring clearance.
  2. Flush/recessed full-height front service lid — screw-on front panel with locating lip and a restrained raised/recessed border.
  3. Front panel controls/indicators:
    • 1.3-inch OLED/status screen window.
    • 3 mm PWR LED.
    • single 3 mm RGB STAT LED for state-dependent colors.
    • small rectangular rocker switch cutout.
    • two long rounded lower front slots styled after the reference appliance face.
  4. Rear strap channels — two low-profile external belt-loop cloth zip-tie / Velcro strap paths to reduce rotation on a tripod/stand without visually dominating the body.
  5. USB power ports — bottom USB-C female power input and right-side USB-A female passthrough power output for a GoPro USB power cable.

Export wrappers

Simple per-part OpenSCAD wrappers are included:

  • hardware/case/camera-node-case-v4-body.scad
  • hardware/case/camera-node-case-v4-lid.scad
  • hardware/case/camera-node-case-v4-preview.scad
  • hardware/case/camera-node-case-v4-front-review.scad

Example CLI exports, if OpenSCAD is installed:

openscad -o hardware/case/camera-node-case-v4-body.stl hardware/case/camera-node-case-v4-body.scad
openscad -o hardware/case/camera-node-case-v4-lid.stl hardware/case/camera-node-case-v4-lid.scad
openscad -o hardware/case/camera-node-case-v4-preview.stl hardware/case/camera-node-case-v4-preview.scad
openscad -o hardware/case/camera-node-case-v4-front-review.stl hardware/case/camera-node-case-v4-front-review.scad

Or render the main file directly:

openscad -D 'part="body"' -o hardware/case/camera-node-case-v4-body.stl hardware/case/camera-node-case-v4.scad
openscad -D 'part="lid"' -o hardware/case/camera-node-case-v4-lid.stl hardware/case/camera-node-case-v4.scad
openscad -D 'part="preview"' -o hardware/case/camera-node-case-v4-preview.stl hardware/case/camera-node-case-v4.scad
openscad -D 'part="front_review"' -o hardware/case/camera-node-case-v4-front-review.stl hardware/case/camera-node-case-v4.scad

camera-node-case-v4-preview.stl is the seated fit-check assembly. camera-node-case-v4-front-review.stl is a non-print review layout with the body and front panel separated/angled so the OLED, LED, rocker, USB connector, and lower-slot cutouts are obvious in a slicer.

Print Settings

  • Material: PETG preferred for heat/outdoor use and strap-tab durability.
  • Layer: 0.2 mm typical.
  • Infill: 20% gyroid minimum; 30%+ recommended around rear strap bridges.
  • Supports: likely minimal/none depending on orientation; verify rear strap bridge spans and USB-C/USB-A port cutouts in slicer.
  • Post-processing: fit 4 lid screws; deburr OLED/LED/switch cutouts; soften strap-channel edges if the printed radius is too sharp for cloth ties.

Expected Status Screen Content

Preferred 1.3-inch OLED layout/content style:

CAM 03   REC ●
BAT 87%  LINK OK
00:12:34

Suggested fields:

  • CAM / node ID.
  • REC state with a clear recording indicator.
  • Battery percentage or supply estimate.
  • LINK OK / degraded / disconnected state.
  • Recording/session timer.

Wiring

USB Power Bank
  └── USB-C cable → bottom USB-C female input on Camera Node Case
          ├── rocker switch → node power rail
          ├── PWR LED indicator
          ├── ESP32-C3 Super Mini
          ├── ESP-01S / ESP8266
          ├── 1.3-inch OLED display
          ├── RGB status LED
          └── 5 V passthrough rail → side USB-A female output
                                      └── USB cable → GoPro USB port
                                          (power only — no data)

UART / control inside case:
  ESP-01S TX  ──→ ESP32-C3 RX
  ESP-01S RX  ←── ESP32-C3 TX
  ESP-01S GND ─── ESP32-C3 GND

Power note: exact wiring depends on the regulator/power board used. Confirm OLED voltage, LED current limiting, and whether the rocker switches USB 5 V input or a regulated node rail.

Wi-Fi Topology

GoPro Hero 3 ──(AP @ 10.5.5.1)──→ ESP-01S / ESP8266 camera bridge
                                             │
                                        UART │ (inside case)
                                             │
Travel Router ──(AP)────────────────────→ ESP32-C3 MQTT bridge
(10.60.1.1)                                │
                                             │
                                        MQTT │
                                             ▼
                                   Pi Hub (10.60.1.56)

The ESP8266/ESP-01S and GoPro talk over Wi-Fi. The only cable to the GoPro is USB power from the case side USB-A passthrough port.

Field Setup

  1. Mount GoPro on tripod/stand.
  2. Route two reusable cloth zip ties / Velcro straps through the rear v4 case channels.
  3. Strap the case to a tripod/stand leg; use both strap paths to resist rotation.
  4. Connect the power bank to the case bottom USB-C input; connect the GoPro USB power cable to the case side USB-A passthrough output.
  5. Toggle rocker switch on.
  6. Verify PWR LED, RGB status LED, and OLED status: camera ID, REC state, battery, link, timer.
  7. Monitor from http://10.60.1.56:8080.

Case Dimensions

Prototype v4 nominal CAD dimensions:

Part / feature W × D × H (mm)
Case shell external ~56 × 36 × 82
Case with rear strap bridges ~56 × 40 × 82
Front recessed lid visible panel ~48 × 2 × 74; total with locating lip ~48 × 3 × 74
OLED visible window assumption ~31 × 16
Rocker cutout assumption ~13 × 19
Bottom USB-C power input cutout ~10.5 × 4.5 opening with ~18 × 10 shallow underside recess
Right-side USB-A passthrough cutout ~16 Y/front-back × 8 Z opening through side wall
Rear strap channels two low-profile external belt-loop paths, ~33 mm usable slot width, ~4.2 mm strap-thickness clearance
Board clearance targets ESP32-C3 22.5 × 18 mm + ESP-01S 24.7 × 14.3 × 12 mm plus wiring/service clearance

These dimensions are placeholders for the first CAD prototype. Measure the actual OLED module, rocker switch, LEDs, screws, USB-C/USB-A connector flanges and body depths, USB cable bend radius, and strap width/thickness before committing to production prints.

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