CameraCommander

Two stepper motors drive pan and tilt. A4988 drivers connect to an ESP8266 (target: ESP32) that keeps motion state and speaks a small serial protocol. A Raspberry Pi Zero 2 runs the Python app: configures the camera via gphoto2, stores images, controls the ESP over serial, and serves a web UI for focus, exposure tests (ISO, aperture), and tripod movement/settings.

What it looks like:

First moving tripod prototype:

Part design (via Freecad):

Example result time-lapse:

Just camera controls, north of Kiruna, Sweden.

Quick Start

• App (Python)

  • Requires: Python 3.11+, libgphoto2, ffmpeg (for video), a serial port for the tripod.
  • Run without installing (uv):
    • cd app
    • uv run cameracommander --help
  • Or install locally:
    • cd app
    • pip install -e .
    • cameracommander --help
  • Use:
    • Build a config: cameracommander ui (opens http://localhost:8000)
    • Test shot: cameracommander snapshot settings.yaml out.jpg
    • Timelapse: cameracommander timelapse settings.yaml

• Firmware (ESP8266)

  • Requires: PlatformIO CLI, NodeMCU v3 (ESP8266), step/dir drivers (A4988/TMC).
  • From repo root (PlatformIO is configured to use firmware/src):
    • Build: pio run
    • Flash: pio upload
    • Monitor: pio device monitor

Structure

• app/ — Python CLI and Gradio UI
• firmware/ — ESP8266 PlatformIO source (src/)
• platformio.ini — Firmware config (points src_dir to firmware/src)

Architecture

• CLI (Typer) loads heavy modules lazily. Commands: snapshot, tripod, timelapse, ui.
• Camera control via gphoto2 (CameraWrapper), tripod via serial (TripodController).
• Timelapse loop: capture → write metadata → move to next absolute pan/tilt → optional ffmpeg render.
• Gradio UI builds/export YAML configs and can run a short prototype timelapse.