wildberryeye | UCSC OSPO

Halfway Blog - WildBerryEye: Mechanical Design & Weather-Resistant Enclosure

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Hi everyone! My name is Teodor Langan, and I am an undergraduate studying Robotics Engineering at the University of California, Santa Cruz. I’m happy to share the progress I have been able to make over the last six weeks on my GSoC 2025 project. Over the last six weeks, I have been working on developing the hardware for the WildBerryEye project, mentored by Carlos Isaac Espinosa.

Project Overview

The WildBerryEye project enables AI-powered ecological monitoring using Raspberry Pi cameras and computer vision models. However, achieving this requires a reliable enclosure that can support long-term deployment in the wild. The goal for my project is to address this need by designing a modular, 3D-printable camera casing that protects WildBerryEye’s electronics from outside factors such as rain, dust, and bugs, while remaining easy to print and assemble. To achieve this, my main responsibilities for this project include:

Implementing a modular design and development-friendly features for ease of assembly and flexible use across hardware setups
Prototyping and testing enclosures outdoors to assess durability, water resistance, and ventilation—then iterating based on results
Developing clear documentation, assembly instructions, and designing with open-source tools
Exploring material options and print techniques to improve outdoor lifespan and environmental resilience

Designed largely with FreeCAD and tested in real outdoor conditions, the open-source enclosure will ensure WildBerryEye hardware can be deployed in natural environments for continuous, low-maintenance data collection.

Progress So Far

Over the past 6 weeks, great progress has been made on the design of the WildBerryEye camera enclosure. Some key accomplishments include:

Full 3D Assembly Model of Electronics: Modeled all core components used in the WildBerryEye system to serve as a reference for enclosure design. For parts without existing CAD models, accurate measurements were taken and custom models were created in FreeCAD.
Initial Enclosure Prototype: Designed and 3D-printed a first full prototype featuring a hinge-latch mechanism to allow tool-free easy access to internal electronics for development and maintenance.
Design Iteration Based on Testing: Based on the results of the first print, created an improved version with better electronics integration, port alignment, and more functionality.

Challenges & Next Steps

Field-Ready Integration: Preparing for field testing with upcoming prototypes by making sure that all internal electronics are securely mounted and fully accessible within the enclosure.
Latch Mechanism Refinement: Finalizing a reliable hinge-latch design that can keep the enclosure sealed during outdoor use while remaining easy to open for maintenance.
Balancing Modularity, Size, and Weatherproofing: Maintaining a compact form factor without compromising on modularity or weather resistance—especially when routing cables and mounting components.
Material Experimentation: Beginning test prints with TPU, a flexible filament that may provide improved seals or gaskets for added protection.
Ventilation Without Exposure: Exploring airflow solutions such as labyrinth-style vents to enable heat dissipation without letting in moisture or debris.

Final Thoughts

These past 6 weeks have helped me immensely to grow my skills in mechanical design, CAD modeling, and field-focused prototyping. The WildBerryEye system can help researchers monitor pollinators and other wildlife in their natural habitats without requiring constant in-person observation or high-maintenance setups. By enabling long-term, autonomous data collection in outdoor environments, it opens new possibilities for low-cost, scalable ecological monitoring.

I’m especially grateful to my mentor Carlos Isaac Espinosa and the WildBerryEye team for their ongoing support. Excited for the second half, where the design will face real-world testing and help bring this impactful system one step closer to field deployment!

Midterm Blog - WildBerryEye User Interface

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Hi, my name is Sophie Tao, I am an alumn at the University of Washington, with majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering, I’m happy to share the progress I have been able to make over the last six weeks on my GSoC 2025 project, WildBerryEye, mentored by Carlos Isaac Espinosa.

Project Overview

WildBerryEye is an open-source initiative to support ecological monitoring of pollinators such as bees and hummingbirds using edge computing and computer vision. The project leverages a Raspberry Pi and YOLO for object detection and aims to provide an accessible, responsive, and real-time web interface for researchers, ecologists, and citizen scientists.

This project specifically focuses on building the frontend and backend infrastructure for WildBerryEye’s user interface, enabling:

Real-time pollinator detection preview
- Real-time image capture
- Real time video capture
Responsive, User-friendly UI
Object detection
Researcher-friendly configuration and usability

Progress So Far

✅ Phase 1: Setup

Frontend: Completed React + TypeScript project initialization with routing and base components. Pages include:
- Home page (with image preview)
- Dashboard page (pollinator image & video)
Backend: Flask server initialized with modular structure. Basic API endpoints stubbed as per the proposal.

✅ Phase 2: Core Features

Real-Time Communication: Frontend successfully receives image stream using WebSocket.
UI Components:
- Implemented image carousel preview on homepage.
- Image Capture (Image download)
- Video Capture (Video Preview, Video Recording)
- Sidebar-based navigation and page structure fully integrated.
API Development:
- Implemented core endpoints such as /home, and/dashboard routes.
- Backend handlers structured for image and video capture.

Challenges Encountered

⚠️ Real-time Image Testing: Lack of consistent live camera input made local testing inconsistent.
⚠️ Allocate the camera module for both capture image and capture video.
⚠️ Obtain the proper format of the video.

Next Steps

Enable more features for video capture
Integrated with Machine Learning Model
Conduct at least one usability test (self + external user) and incorporate feedback.
Final Testing & Docs

Summary

At this midterm stage, the WildBerryEye UI project is on track with core milestones completed, including real-time communication, component setup, and backend API structure. The remaining work focuses on refinement, visualizations, testing, and documentation to ensure a polished final product by the end of GSoC 2025.

WildBerryEye: Mechanical Design & Weather-Resistant Enclosure

Sat, 14 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Hello! My name is Teodor Langan, an undergraduate student currently persueing a Robotics Engineering degree at the University of California, Santa Cruz. This Summer, I’ll be working on developing the hardware for the WildBerryEye project, mentored by Carlos Isaac Espinosa. Here is my project proposal!

My project focuses on tackling the hardware challenge for WildBerryEye, an open-source ecological monitoring platform built on Raspberry Pi. To reliably support the real-time object detection provided by the system, it requires a robust and weather-resistant camera enclosure that can reliably protect its electronics in the field. To address this, I will be designing and prototyping a modular, 3D-printable camera case using FreeCAD this Summer. The case will be able to protect electrical components from rain and dust while incorporating proper ventilation and heat dissipation features. Designed using FreeCAD, the entire model will be fully open-source, allowing for easy adoption and modification by the community. Over this Summer, this work will incorporate multiple rounds of field testing to test and refine the design under accurate field conditions. Ultimately, my project aims to deliver a detailed open-source FreeCAD model, full assembly documentation, and a user guide.

I’m excited to see what we can learn througout the development of my project!