Build a Telegram Bot with ESP32-CAM for Remote Image & Video Capture

Introduction

In this post, I’ll walk you through how to build a wireless image/video capture system using the ESP32‑CAM (AI-Thinker version) and the Telegram Bot API. The goal is to enable remote control of a camera module via Telegram commands—snap a photo, record a short video, and have the bot send it directly to your chat. Whether you’re prototyping an IoT surveillance node, a workshop camera, or simply exploring remote monitoring, this engineer-friendly guide delivers a precise, descriptive path to execution.

Why This Project?

The ESP32-CAM module packs Wi-Fi and a camera on one affordable board, making it a logical choice for embedded vision + connectivity projects.
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Telegram bots offer a convenient channel for remote interaction (commands and media transfer) without building a custom server.
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The combination means you can deploy a ready-to-go remote monitoring device with minimal external hardware and leverage widely-available mobile chat infrastructure.

From an engineering standpoint: it's a good exercise in embedded programming (camera, WiFi, SD card), network service integration (Telegram API), and reliability/hardware considerations (power supply, antenna, secure access).

Overview of the System

Hardware

ESP32-CAM module (AI-Thinker variant) which includes the camera, WiFi radio, flash, and needed connectors.

USB-to-TTL adapter (if the board lacks a USB programming interface).

5 V / 2 A (or similar stable) power supply. Note: ESP32-CAM modules can suffer brown-out resets if power is marginal.
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Optional: MicroSD card (for video capture and storage) and external antenna (for improved WiFi signal).

Software & Workflow

Create a Telegram bot via the BotFather interface—obtain the bot token.

Determine the Telegram Chat ID of your user (or group) via a helper bot (e.g., @myidbot) so that only authorised chats interact with your device.

In Arduino IDE (or equivalent), configure the board support for ESP32, select the correct board variant (AI-Thinker ESP32-CAM), and install necessary libraries (WiFi, esp_camera, UniversalTelegramBot, ArduinoJson, SD_MMC, etc).

Upload the code, including the WiFi SSID/password, bot token, chat ID, camera pin definitions, and optional video/SD settings.

After booting, the ESP32 will connect to WiFi, initialise the camera and optionally the SD card, then send a startup message via Telegram (IP address, SD card status, resolution, etc).

From your Telegram app, you can issue commands (like /photo, /record) and receive the captured media from the device.

Bot Command Handling

In the loop() function, the code checks for new Telegram messages, interprets commands (such as /photo, /record ), triggers the capture function, and sends media.

> “While (isRecording && videoMode) { captureVideoFrame(); return; } … handle new messages when not recording.” :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}

Video Capture (Optional)

If you include a MicroSD card and enable video mode, the system captures frames at e.g. 5 fps, writes AVI file headers and frames, stops recording after a duration, then uploads the resulting file to Telegram.

Step-by-Step Setup Summary

1. Connect the ESP32-CAM to your PC via USB/TTL, ensuring correct wiring (especially if using an external FTDI).
2. Select the board “AI Thinker ESP32-CAM” in Arduino IDE, and install the necessary libraries.
3. Insert the WiFi credentials, bot token & chat ID in the code. Upload.
4. If using SD card/video mode: insert the MicroSD card, ensure it mounts correctly (check Serial Monitor for SD card detection).
5. Power up the module using a stable 5V supply. Monitor Serial output: it will connect to WiFi and send a Telegram message with IP and status.
6. On Telegram, open your bot chat, send /start (or the configured initial command). Then issue /photo – you should receive a photo. Send /record 10 for 10 seconds of video (if SD card present) – you should receive the video file.
7. To refine image/video quality: adjust camera resolution in code, ensure antenna/placement & WiFi signal strength.
8. Secure your setup: keep your bot token & chat ID private, and use a strong WiFi password. If deploying in production, consider additional authentication layers.

Tips / Best Practices

• Power supply: Use a dedicated 5 V/2 A (or higher) power supply. Brown-out events are common with WiFi + camera bursts.
• WiFi signal: If you place the module far from the router, consider an external antenna (if the board supports) and choose a 2.4 GHz band.
• SD card usage: For video capture, the SD card must mount and have sufficient capacity; otherwise, the code will skip video mode.
• Security: Don’t share your bot token or chat ID in public repos. Consider restricting bot access to one chat or a whitelist. The chat ID essentially authorises the Telegram user interacting with your bot.
• Image/video file size: Telegram imposes limits on upload size (~50 MB or less). Keep resolution/frame-rate moderate (e.g., VGA at 5 fps) to stay within limits.
• Debugging: Use the Serial Monitor heavily. Typical failures include WiFi not connected, camera init error, wrong pin definitions, SD card not detected, or wrong bot token/chat ID.

Use Cases & Applications

• Home-security snapshot/alert system: send a photo when a motion sensor triggers; view remotely via Telegram.
• Workshop monitoring: watch a long CNC or 3D-print job, send periodic frames or video on demand.
• Wildlife or remote inspection: deploy the module outdoors (with protection), connect to WiFi or hotspot, request photo/video remotely.
• Educational/IoT prototyping: great for learning camera capture, file handling (SD), WiFi, and bot interaction—all in one project.

Conclusion

By following this tutorial, you’ve built a fully functional remote-monitoring camera system using the ESP32-CAM Telegram bot. The setup is compact, affordable, and extensible. You now have a system where you can message your device, ask it to take a photo or record a video, and receive the output directly via Telegram. For engineers, this demonstrates embedded system integration (camera + WiFi + file system + network service) in a practical way.

You can now expand on this foundation: add motion detection, live-streaming, scheduled captures, multiple users, group chat support, or integrate with other IoT services.

If you found this helpful, feel free to check out the original guide on CircuitDigest and share your extensions or use cases. Good building!