mpourossell/Centralised-Multi-RPi-Recording-System: A centralised multi-unit recording system for automated, off-grid animal observation and environmental monitoring

Here, we present a flexible, multi-unit video monitoring system based on Raspberry Pi microcomputers for detailed, long-term animal observation and environmental monitoring. Our system uniquely uses central control for both autonomous data collection, synchronization, and storage across multiple child units and their optimal use of power. It relies on solar energy and battery power to operate in off-grid environments and supports remote connectivity and automated data transfer. Accommodating a wide range of sensors and configurations, it offers an adaptable, scalable solution for diverse research needs. We provide a Python pipeline for dealing with the large amount of data the system can generate, integrating open electronics with computer vision and deep learning. As a proof of concept, we describe the implementation of our system for detailed monitoring of parental care in a social bird species throughout the reproductive cycle. It enabled us to successfully collect continuous data on parental effort and coordination of breeding pairs over four months, alongside episodic data on nesting activities, predation events and social interactions with conspecifics.