Edge Cam: Embedded Wireless Live Stream and Image Capturing

The rapid evolution of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies has enabled the deployment of smart, lightweight, and connected camera systems capable of performing real-time monitoring and surveillance tasks.This paper presents "Edge Cam," an embedded, IoT-based image capturing and live streaming system designed for realtime video acquisition in low-cost and resource-constrained environments.Edge Cam is a microcontrollerbased hardware device that captures still images and streams video over a network (Wi-Fi) in real time, making it highly suitable for smart surveillance, home automation, agricultural monitoring, and other real-world applications.The primary objective of this study is to detail the implementation strategy, review similar existing technologies, and evaluate the system's performance in terms of image quality, transmission latency, stability, and usability.Unlike many modern systems that emphasize AI-based analytics and inference, this paper focuses purely on core image acquisition and streaming functionalities.The system is developed using the ESP-IDF framework, which improves cross-platform compatibility, minimizes dependency issues, and enhances the portability across different hardware environments.