Security monitoring over IP Camera Android app
Use the Clawd Sentinel pattern to turn any old Android smartphone into a sovereign, frugal, and intelligent motion detection system.
Setup
- Android Side: Install "IP Webcam" (by Pavel Khlebovich) and start the server.
- Connectivity: Note the local IP (e.g.,
192.168.1.100:8080). - OpenClaw Workspace:
bin/sentinel_ultra_frugal.sh: The core logic for pixel comparison.bin/sentinel_runner.sh: The background loop runner.
Detailed API Interaction
The IP Webcam server provides a REST-like API for full remote control. Base URL: http://<IP>:8080/
Visual Captures
- Standard Snapshot:
/shot.jpg(Fastest, current frame) - Autofocus Snapshot:
/photoaf.jpg(Triggers autofocus before capture, highest quality) - Video Recording:
- Start:
/startvideo?name=alert_123 - Stop:
/stopvideo - List recordings:
/list_videos(returns JSON/HTML) - Download:
/v/<filename>.mp4
- Start:
Camera Control & Settings
- Focus Distance:
/settings/focus_distance?set=<0.0-10.0>(0.0 is often Infinity) - Torch (Flash):
/enabletorch|/disabletorch - Focus Mode:
/settings/focusmode?set=<on|off|macro|infinity|fixed> - Scene Mode:
/settings/scenemode?set=<auto|night|action|party...> - White Balance:
/settings/whitebalance?set=<auto|daylight|cloudy...>
Device Telemetry
- Sensors Data:
/sensors.json(Battery, light level, proximity, accelerometer) - System Status:
/status.json(Camera state, recording status, uptime)
Audio
- Audio Feed:
/audio.wavor/audio.opus(Live audio stream)
Integration Examples (curl)
# Get battery level via jq
curl -s http://<IP>:8080/sensors.json | jq '.battery_level[0][1][0]'
# Toggle flash remotely
curl http://<IP>:8080/enabletorch
Recommended Thresholds
- Daytime (Haze/Clouds): 2500
- Nighttime (ISO noise): 1500
Notes
- Frugality: No tokens are consumed unless the pixel differential exceeds the threshold.
- Privacy: Raw frames remain local. Only alert-triggered frames are sent to the AI.
- Maintenance: Periodically check phone battery and Wi-Fi stability.
- Lens flare: Long rainbow flares in night mode usually indicate static lights, not vehicles.