Charter 11 · count · programme assignment

Path Tripwire

PIR Passage Detector

Measure path activity without relying on sunlight-sensitive IR beams.

Difficulty
★★☆
Prefix
pt
Zone
outdoor-1
Type
path-node
Device
pt-01
Build time
7 hours

Mission

Build this

A shaded PIR passage detector with optional modulated IR comparison indoors.

One kit, one team repository.

Borrowed parts are labelled below and have a fallback. The assigned device ID is fixed; sensing and behaviour decisions remain yours.

Bill of materials

Parts

SourcePartFallback
● kitPIR sensor
● kitIR emitter and receiver
● kitSG90 servo

Disconnect USB before rewiring. Motors, the relay, and the servo need appropriate power and a shared ground. Never drive an actuator from the ESP32 3V3 pin.

Assembly

Build in evidence-producing steps

  1. Prove the connection first. Flash the unmodified first-message example with this charter’s zone, device type, and device ID.

    done when: pt-01 is alive on the developer view.

  2. Bench-test one input. Read the sensor or control in Serial Monitor before publishing or moving an actuator.

    done when: repeated physical conditions produce repeatable raw readings.

  3. Publish one registered measurement. Use the exact measurement and unit below.

    done when: the reading appears without a reject.

  4. Add the physical response. Keep spine.loop() running and avoid blocking delays.

    done when: repeated movement does not interrupt publishing or reset the board.

  5. Run the investigation. Collect the planned trials before tuning the final logic.

    done when: the build log contains observations, method, and a limitation.

Contract

Your topics

TopicUnitSuggested interval
garden/outdoor-1/path-node/pt-01/counteventson change
garden/outdoor-1/path-node/pt-01/motionenumon change

Read another team

garden/entrance/counter/gk-01/count

Physical behaviour

Alive

Make a short startled gesture for each debounced passage.

Your call: Choose the sensor placement and refractory period.

Engineering evidence

Compare detection rates in sun, shade, near motion, and distant motion.

  1. Mark a repeatable walking path.
  2. Run at least 20 trials in each condition.
  3. Report detection rate and double-count rate.

If you are fast: Compare path events with the entrance counter without claiming individual tracking.

Acceptance

Ready when all six are true

  • The registered device is alive and publishing its required topics.
  • The reject feed is clear after the final firmware starts.
  • The device reads at least one declared cross-team topic.
  • A physical output responds to real data without blocking MQTT.
  • The build log contains method, evidence, uncertainty, and a known limitation.
  • The enclosure exposes no unsafe wiring and the device ID can be scanned.

Backbone now

Live status

Updates from the same public event stream

Checking pt-01…