OpenDashCam: Open-Source Car Surveillance System

Status: Planned

This project is in the design and prototyping phase. Hardware schematics and software will be released under open-source licenses.

Project Overview

OpenDashCam is a comprehensive open-source car surveillance system combining custom hardware and software to provide 24/7 vehicle monitoring. Unlike commercial solutions, OpenDashCam gives users full control over their data, supports self-hosted storage, and can be customized for specific needs.

Repository

GitHub: https://github.com/congruence-foundation/opendashcam (coming soon)

Core Features

24/7 Dashcam + Parking Monitoring

• Continuous recording while driving
• Motion-activated parking mode
• Automatic incident detection
• Seamless transition between modes
• Loop recording with configurable retention

Cloud/NAS Backup

• Automatic upload to cloud storage (S3, Google Drive, Dropbox)
• Self-hosted NAS support (Synology, TrueNAS, generic SMB/NFS)
• Selective sync (incidents only, all footage, time-based)
• End-to-end encryption option
• Bandwidth-aware upload scheduling

Real-Time GPS Tracking

• Live vehicle location
• Route history and playback
• Speed logging with video sync
• Location-tagged incidents
• Export to GPX/KML formats

Intelligent Video Quality Management

• Adaptive bitrate based on storage/bandwidth
• Event-triggered quality boost (collision, motion)
• Configurable resolution per camera
• H.265/HEVC compression
• Storage optimization algorithms

Collision and Theft Alarms

• G-sensor impact detection (configurable sensitivity)
• Motion detection in parking mode
• Glass break detection (with external sensor)
• Tilt/tow detection
• Push notifications to mobile app
• SMS alerts (optional GSM module)

Live Streaming

• Real-time view from any camera
• Mobile app for iOS/Android
• Web dashboard access
• Low-latency streaming (<2 seconds)
• Secure authenticated access

Geofencing

• Define virtual boundaries
• Entry/exit alerts
• Speed zone warnings
• Custom notification rules
• Integration with tracking history

Low Power Consumption

• Hardware voltage monitoring
• Configurable battery cutoff (11.8V default)
• Sleep mode with wake-on-motion
• Solar panel charging support
• OBD-II power state detection
• Typical consumption: <500mA active, <50mA standby

Multi-Camera Support

• Up to 4 camera modules
• 2K (2560×1440) and 4K (3840×2160) options
• Front, rear, interior, side configurations
• Individual camera settings
• Synchronized recording across all cameras

Hardware Architecture

Main Unit

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                 OpenDashCam Main Unit           │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  ┌─────────────┐  ┌─────────────┐              │
│  │   SoC       │  │   Storage   │              │
│  │ (ARM-based) │  │  eMMC/NVMe  │              │
│  └─────────────┘  └─────────────┘              │
│  ┌─────────────┐  ┌─────────────┐              │
│  │    GPS      │  │  4G/LTE     │              │
│  │   Module    │  │   Modem     │              │
│  └─────────────┘  └─────────────┘              │
│  ┌─────────────┐  ┌─────────────┐              │
│  │  G-Sensor   │  │   WiFi/BT   │              │
│  │  (6-axis)   │  │   Module    │              │
│  └─────────────┘  └─────────────┘              │
│  ┌─────────────────────────────────┐           │
│  │      Power Management Unit      │           │
│  │   (12V input, battery monitor)  │           │
│  └─────────────────────────────────┘           │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Camera Modules

Power Management

• Input voltage: 12V DC (10.5V–16V tolerance)
• Low voltage cutoff: Configurable (default 11.8V)
• Supercapacitor backup for safe shutdown
• OBD-II ACC detection
• Hardwire kit included
• Cigarette lighter adapter option

Software Stack

Embedded System

• OS: Custom Linux (Buildroot-based)
• Video Pipeline: GStreamer with hardware acceleration
• Storage: OverlayFS for wear leveling
• Networking: NetworkManager with failover

Recording Engine

• Multi-stream encoding (high/low quality)
• Circular buffer management
• Event marking and protection
• Metadata embedding (GPS, G-sensor, timestamp)

Cloud Sync Service

• Background upload daemon
• Bandwidth throttling
• Resume support for interrupted uploads
• Conflict resolution
• Provider-agnostic API

Mobile App

• Platforms: iOS, Android
• Framework: React Native
• Features:
  • Live view
  • Playback
  • Settings management
  • Push notifications
  • Geofence configuration

Web Dashboard

• Real-time monitoring
• Footage browser
• System health status
• User management
• API access

Alert System

Collision Detection

• 3-axis accelerometer monitoring
• Configurable G-force thresholds
• Pre/post event buffering (30 seconds each)
• Automatic incident file protection
• Immediate notification dispatch

Motion Sensing

• Camera-based motion detection
• Configurable sensitivity zones
• PIR sensor support (optional)
• Intelligent filtering (reduce false positives)
• Scheduled sensitivity profiles

Geofence Triggers

• Polygon and circular zones
• Speed-based alerts within zones
• Time-based rules (e.g., school zones)
• Multi-zone support
• Integration with notification system

Technical Specifications

Minimum Requirements

• 12V vehicle power system
• Windshield or dash mounting space
• WiFi or cellular connectivity for remote features

Storage Options

• Internal: 64GB–512GB eMMC/NVMe
• External: microSD up to 1TB
• Network: NAS/cloud unlimited

Environmental

• Operating temperature: -20°C to +70°C
• Storage temperature: -40°C to +85°C
• Humidity: 10%–90% non-condensing

Certifications (Target)

• CE marking
• FCC compliance
• RoHS compliant

Roadmap

Phase 1: Prototype (Q1 2026)

• Hardware design finalization
• PCB fabrication and testing
• Basic recording functionality
• Single camera support

Phase 2: Core Features (Q2 2026)

• Multi-camera support
• GPS integration
• Cloud sync implementation
• Mobile app MVP

Phase 3: Advanced Features (Q3 2026)

• Live streaming
• Geofencing
• Advanced alerts
• Web dashboard

Phase 4: Production (Q4 2026)

• Manufacturing partnerships
• Certification process
• Documentation completion
• Community launch

Bill of Materials (Estimated)

License

• Hardware: CERN Open Hardware License v2
• Software: MIT License
• Documentation: CC BY-SA 4.0

Get Involved

As a Hardware Developer

• Review and improve schematics
• Test prototypes
• Suggest component alternatives
• Contribute PCB layouts

As a Software Developer

• Contribute to embedded system
• Build mobile app features
• Improve cloud sync
• Write documentation

As a Tester

• Test in various vehicles
• Report issues
• Suggest improvements
• Validate in different climates

As a Sponsor

• Fund prototype development
• Provide testing vehicles
• Support certification costs
• Enable manufacturing scale-up

OpenDashCam is developed by the Congruence Foundation to provide an open, privacy-respecting alternative to proprietary car surveillance systems.

For collaboration inquiries, contact us.