Watchbot – Intruder Detection Using Pi Camera and Video Storage With Telegram BoT

The Watchbot system integrates optical capture with passive infrared (PIR) motion detection to monitor a designated area via a Raspberry Pi platform. At the core of the circuit is a PIR motion sensor, designated as S1, which continuously monitors changes in ambient infrared radiation caused by the movement of warm bodies within its field of view. When S1 detects motion, its output pin transitions, sending a digital signal to the Raspberry Pi. This signal acts as a hardware trigger for a Python script running under Raspbian OS via Python 3 and Thonny IDE. Upon receiving the trigger event, the script commands the 5MP Pi camera, connected via the camera serial interface, to begin recording. The camera captures a short video clip of the intrusion event, which is temporarily buffered onto the 16GB SD card. Immediately following the capture, the script utilizes the Telegram Bot API over an internet connection to securely upload and transmit the video file directly to the user's mobile device or desktop via Telegram. Power to the entire system is supplied steadily by a 5V 2A DC power source, ensuring reliable operation of both the single-board computer and the peripherals.