ESP32-CAM Telegram Bot

Ever wanted to check in on your home, workshop, or maybe keep an eye on your 3D printer from anywhere in the world? Well, I've got something really cool to share with you today. We're going to build a Telegram bot using the super affordable ESP32-CAM module that can snap photos and record videos on command. And the best part? You can control everything right from your phone through Telegram!

Why This Project is Awesome

Before we dive in, let me tell you why I'm so excited about this project. The ESP32-CAM is honestly one of my favorite development boards – it packs a camera, Wi-Fi, and a solid 32-bit processor into a tiny package that costs less than your morning coffee. When you combine it with Telegram's bot capabilities, you've got yourself a powerful remote monitoring system that's actually pretty simple to set up.

I've been tinkering with IoT projects for years, and this one strikes that perfect balance between being straightforward enough for beginners while still offering tons of room for customization. Whether you're into home security, want to monitor your pets while you're away, or just love the idea of having a camera you can ping from anywhere, this project's got you covered.

Let's talk hardware first. The beauty of this project is that you really don't need much:

The Main Star:

1. ESP32-CAM module (I'm using the AI-Thinker version, but most variants work fine)
2. A way to program it – either a built-in USB port or an FTDI/USB-to-TTL adapter
3. 5V power supply (2A recommended for stable operation)
4. MicroSD card (optional, but you'll need it for video recording)
5. External antenna (not mandatory, but trust me, it makes a huge difference in performance)

Now here's a quick heads-up about the ESP32-CAM modules out there. You'll find several versions floating around – some with built-in USB, some without. I'm lucky enough to have one with USB built-in, which makes programming a breeze. If yours doesn't have USB, don't worry! You can grab a cheap USB-to-TTL converter and follow along just fine.

Alright, before we get our hands dirty with code, let me walk you through what's actually happening here. Think of it as two main parts working together:

Part 1: The Hardware Side This is actually the easy part! Your ESP32-CAM module is basically a self-contained unit. Once you've got it programmed and powered up, it's ready to rock. The camera's built right in, Wi-Fi is on board, and if you want to record videos, you just pop in a microSD card.

Part 2: The Software Magic This is where things get interesting. Here's the workflow:

1. First, we create our own personal bot using Telegram's BotFather (yeah, that's actually what it's called – pretty cool, right?)
2. We grab something called a Chat ID from another bot called myidbot – this is basically like giving your ESP32 your phone number so it knows who to talk to
3. We upload our code to the ESP32, which includes your bot credentials
4. You send a quick "/start" message from Telegram to wake everything up
5. From then on, you can request photos or videos anytime you want!

The neat thing is, once everything's set up, using it feels just like chatting with a friend on Telegram. You send a command, and boom – you get a photo or video back.

Let's get your bot up and running. Open up Telegram on your phone or computer and let's do this:

Creating Your Bot:

1. Search for "@BotFather" (make sure you get the verified one!)
2. Tap "Start" to begin chatting
3. Send the command: /newbot
4. Give your bot a friendly name (like "My ESP32 Camera")
5. Choose a unique username ending in "bot" (try something like "myesp32_camera_bot")
6. BotFather will hand you an HTTP API token – copy this somewhere safe! You'll need it soon.

Getting Your Chat ID: Now we need to tell your bot who you are:

1. Search for "@myidbot" in Telegram
2. Hit "Start"
3. Send the command: /getid
4. Copy the number it gives you – that's your Chat ID!

Pro tip: Keep both these numbers handy in a note on your phone. You'll be pasting them into the code in just a bit.

Now comes the fun part – getting your ESP32-CAM ready to be a Telegram superstar. Don't worry if you're not a coding wizard; I'll walk you through everything.

Setting Up Arduino IDE: First, make sure you've got the ESP32 board support installed in Arduino IDE. If you haven't done this yet:

1. Go to File → Preferences
2. Add this URL to Additional Boards Manager URLs: https://dl.espressif.com/dl/package_esp32_index.json
3. Head to Tools → Board → Boards Manager
4. Search for "ESP32" and install it

The Libraries You'll Need: Some libraries come built-in, but you'll need to grab a couple extras:

1. UniversalTelegramBot (for talking to Telegram)
2. ArduinoJson (for handling data from Telegram)

Just search for these in the Library Manager (Sketch → Include Library → Manage Libraries) and install them.

Configuring Your Code: Here's where you personalize everything. Open up the code and look for these lines:

Replace those placeholders with your actual Wi-Fi details and the bot credentials you got earlier. One important thing to remember: the ESP32 only works with 2.4GHz Wi-Fi networks, not 5GHz. Make sure you're connecting to the right band!

Understanding What's Happening: The code does a few key things:

1. Connects your ESP32 to Wi-Fi
2. Initializes the camera with optimized settings
3. Checks for an SD card (if you want video recording)
4. Listens for commands from Telegram
5. Captures and sends photos or videos when you ask

The video recording feature is pretty slick – it creates proper AVI files that'll play on any device. By default, videos are set to 10 seconds, but you can totally customize that in the code.

Alright, moment of truth! Select "AI Thinker ESP32-CAM" as your board (under Tools → Board), choose the right port, and hit upload.

Once it's done uploading, open the Serial Monitor (set it to 115200 baud rate) and watch the magic happen. You should see your ESP32 connecting to Wi-Fi, and then – if everything's working – you'll get a welcome message right in Telegram!

This is where it gets really fun. Open up Telegram and find your bot. Here are the commands you can use:

1. /start – Wakes up the bot and shows you all available commands
2. /photo – Grabs a fresh photo and sends it to you
3. /record – Records a 10-second video (needs SD card!)
4. /status – Tells you system info like IP address and camera settings
5. /storage – Checks your SD card status

When you send /photo, you'll see the bot thinking for a second, and then boom – a picture appears. The speed depends on your Wi-Fi signal (this is where that external antenna really helps).

For videos, pop in an SD card first, then try the /record command. It'll capture about 10 seconds of footage and send you the file. You can download it right from Telegram and watch it anywhere.

Let me share some common hiccups I've run into and how to fix them:

Bot not responding?

1. Double-check your bot token and Chat ID are correct
2. Make sure your ESP32 is actually connected to Wi-Fi (check the Serial Monitor)
3. Try restarting the ESP32

Slow image transmission?

1. Install that external antenna I mentioned
2. Move closer to your Wi-Fi router
3. Try reducing the image quality in the code settings

Can't record video?

1. Make sure your SD card is properly inserted
2. Restart the ESP32 after inserting the card
3. Check that your SD card is formatted correctly (FAT32 works best)

Once you've got the basics working, your imagination is the limit! Here are some ideas I've either tried or seen others do:

1. Set it up as a simple home security camera
2. Monitor your 3D printer or CNC machine
3. Keep an eye on pets while you're out
4. Create a baby monitor system
5. Watch a remote location like a workshop or garage
6. Even use it for wildlife observation!

This microcontroller project is awesome for learning and personal use, but let's talk security. Your bot token and Chat ID are basically the keys to your camera – if someone gets hold of them, they can access your bot. So:

1. Don't share your credentials publicly (yeah, that means no posting them on GitHub!)
2. Use a strong Wi-Fi password
3. Only deploy this in places where you're okay with the security level
4. Consider adding extra authentication if you're using it for anything sensitive

And there you have it! You've just built yourself an ESP32-CAM telegram bot that you can control from anywhere in the world. Pretty cool, right? The total setup time is usually less than an hour once you've got all your parts, and the end result is something genuinely useful.

What I love most about this project is how it opens doors to other ideas. Maybe you'll add motion detection next, or integrate it with other smart home devices, or come up with something totally new that I haven't even thought of.

The ESP32-CAM is such a capable little board, and Telegram's bot system makes it incredibly easy to interact with. Together, they're a powerhouse combo for IoT projects. I've been using variations of this setup for months now, and it's been rock solid.

So go ahead, give it a try! And hey, if you come up with any cool modifications or run into any interesting challenges, I'd love to hear about them. That's how we all learn and make these projects even better.