<![CDATA[Motion Detector]]>I’ve published the Motion detector module that I’ve been using for a while. It uses a web camera connected to a Raspberry Pi.

You can find it here:

https://github.com/alexyak/motiondetector

The configuration should be pretty straightforward.

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/topic/490/motion-detectorRSS for NodeWed, 15 Apr 2026 16:40:07 GMTThu, 11 Aug 2016 23:25:12 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Motion Detector on Thu, 25 Apr 2019 18:22:49 GMT]]>trying to use a variant of this module…my camera works fine and the module works fine…bt after aout 10 min…the camera turns off ( still has power but stops recieveing video)

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/56438https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/56438Thu, 25 Apr 2019 18:22:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Motion Detector on Sun, 04 Nov 2018 19:22:58 GMT]]>@bhepler, you’re my hero !

Thank you so much for your kind advice !
Starting motion with pm2 solves the issue.
I just did not dare to start also the magic mirror with it as I’ve read somewhere that they would start simultaneously and as a consequence everything would fail… I will try but later on !

Thank you agin !
Nat

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/46300https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/46300Sun, 04 Nov 2018 19:22:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Motion Detector on Wed, 31 Oct 2018 02:41:11 GMT]]>@natacha3 - It’s been a really long time since I wrote that Motion post. But I’ll try to help. IIRC, the lastsnap.jpg is intended to be a capture of the last image that the Motion system grabbed. It will continually overwrite that file. You may (or maybe not) have disabled the “capture screenshots to folder” functionality and left the “save last image to folder” feature running. Or not. I’d have to see your motion.conf file to be sure.

Motion never did close gracefully, to my knowledge. It seems that motion is definitely detecting motion of some form and writing to the lastsnap.jpg file. So that’s a plus. If you read the whole thread that @Hawking linked, you’ll see that I had problems with Motion crashing. When it crashes, it stops detecting properly and never runs the script to wake up the monitor.

I suspect that if you check the lastsnap.jpg timestamp, you’ll see that it was created at some point between “works fine” and “won’t turn the monitor on”. That would be the last time that motion successfully wrote to the disk before the process crashed.

Try starting Motion with pm2. I found that pm2 will detect when the Motion process crashes and restart it for you. That should keep the detection active.

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/46141https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/46141Wed, 31 Oct 2018 02:41:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Motion Detector on Mon, 29 Oct 2018 15:08:45 GMT]]>Hi all,

I just come back on this topic because I followed the install process as described by hawking:

@hawking said in Motion Detector:

@Natacha3
Are you aware of https://forum.magicmirror.builders/topic/988/motion-detection-with-raspicam-non-module-version
The linked thread provides a precompiled version of Motion and some recommended settings.

So I just open a command window and do the following command ./motion -c motion.conf
then I open another window and I start the MagicMirror with npm start

Everything works fine for a couple of hours then the Mirror stays dark

I do a CTRL Q
and in the motion window I get the following :

[1] [NTC] [ALL] motion_loop: fps: 3.998576 idle 63.46% over 0.00%
[1] [NTC] [EVT] event_newfile: File of type 2 saved to: /run/shm/lastsnap.jpg
[1] [NTC] [ALL] motion_loop: fps: 3.998768 idle 61.99% over 0.00%
[1] [NTC] [ALL] motion_loop: fps: 3.999344 idle 62.23% over 0.00%
[1] [NTC] [EVT] event_newfile: File of type 2 saved to: /run/shm/lastsnap.jpg
[1] [NTC] [ALL] motion_loop: fps: 3.998928 idle 62.18% over 0.00%
[1] [NTC] [ALL] motion_loop: fps: 3.998960 idle 62.16% over 0.00%
[1] [NTC] [EVT] event_newfile: File of type 2 saved to: /run/shm/lastsnap.jpg
[1] [NTC] [ALL] motion_loop: fps: 3.999136 idle 62.54% over 0.00%
[1] [NTC] [ALL] motion_loop: fps: 3.995844 idle 61.22% over 0.00%
[1] [NTC] [EVT] event_newfile: File of type 2 saved to: /run/shm/lastsnap.jpg
[1] [NTC] [ALL] motion_loop: fps: 3.997186 idle 61.51% over 0.00%
[1] [NTC] [ALL] motion_loop: fps: 4.001200 idle 62.69% over 0.00%
[1] [NTC] [EVT] event_newfile: File of type 2 saved to: /run/shm/lastsnap.jpg
[1] [NTC] [ALL] motion_loop: fps: 3.999360 idle 60.96% over 0.00%
[1] [NTC] [ALL] motion_loop: fps: 3.998641 idle 59.35% over 0.00%
[1] [NTC] [EVT] event_newfile: File of type 2 saved to: /run/shm/lastsnap.jpg
[1] [NTC] [ALL] motion_loop: fps: 3.999232 idle 59.59% over 0.00%
[1] [NTC] [ALL] motion_loop: fps: 3.999088 idle 58.86% over 0.00%
[0] [ERR] [ALL] main: Thread 1 - Watchdog timeout, trying to do a graceful restart
[0] [ERR] [ALL] main: Thread 1 - Watchdog timeout, did NOT restart graceful,killing it!
[0] [INF] [ALL] motion_cleanup: Calling vid_close() from motion_cleanup
[0] [INF] [VID] vid_close: calling video source cleanup
[0] [ALR] [VID] MMAL Camera cleanup

So I can see that some detection occured properly and pictures have been saved in /run/shm/lastsnap.jpg
(I checked, this function is deactivated but … anyway ! Only 1 pic is stored so it’s not a matter of folder flooded)

The Watchdog timeout would be a possible lead but google does not help me so much as so many different issues are linked… :cry:

I hope that you will forgive me if I asked a stupid question and what you will be rather indulgent not to turn me down !

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/46074https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/46074Mon, 29 Oct 2018 15:08:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Motion Detector on Sun, 17 Dec 2017 14:15:50 GMT]]>No one an Idea?

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/32401https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/32401Sun, 17 Dec 2017 14:15:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Motion Detector on Sat, 16 Dec 2017 11:41:23 GMT]]>Hello all,
I updated my raspberry to stretch and now my MM disable the Monitor and the Monitor start immediate without motion. I got this massage:

0_1513424415280_5f35abe7-d769-4bc5-97d7-d0294b8e3dc2.jpg

Does someone know why this happen?
Thanks a lot!

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/32372https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/32372Sat, 16 Dec 2017 11:41:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Motion Detector on Thu, 21 Sep 2017 11:33:11 GMT]]>@Hawking Thank you so much for your input !
It works as a charm !

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/28365https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/28365Thu, 21 Sep 2017 11:33:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Motion Detector on Sun, 17 Sep 2017 00:49:21 GMT]]>@Natacha3
I also tested the motiondetector of alexyak, without success and therefore installed Motion, which works without problems. However, I understand, that the process to compile it for your self is not easy for a beginner.
Are you aware of https://forum.magicmirror.builders/topic/988/motion-detection-with-raspicam-non-module-version
The linked thread provides a precompiled version of Motion and some recommended settings.

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/28165https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/28165Sun, 17 Sep 2017 00:49:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Motion Detector on Sat, 16 Sep 2017 17:12:26 GMT]]>@mongo116 Thank you for your advice but I’m a complete ignorant and I must admit that I’ve been affraid by reading https://github.com/Motion-Project/motion/blob/master/motion_guide.html

As a total noob, I guess it’s a bit out of reach for me. (maybe after 3 or 4 decades I will play the easy side with that ! ) ;-)

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/28152https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/28152Sat, 16 Sep 2017 17:12:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Motion Detector on Sat, 16 Sep 2017 14:54:21 GMT]]>@j.e.f.f Thank you again Jeff but … I use a Pi camera, not a PIR sensor ! ;-)

I’ve checked that the camera was operating normally (sorry again, I’m not able to recover the link but … at least i’ve seen the picture !

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/28147https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/28147Sat, 16 Sep 2017 14:54:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Motion Detector on Sat, 16 Sep 2017 12:36:31 GMT]]>@Natacha3 it took me a while to get my motion detector to work too. I suggest making a simple script independent of MagicMirror to test that your PIR sensor is working and tuned correctly. Mine has two adjustment screws on it that I needed to play with before it behaved properly.

More information here:
https://www.raspberrypi.org/learning/physical-computing-with-python/pir/

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/28143https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/28143Sat, 16 Sep 2017 12:36:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Motion Detector on Sat, 16 Sep 2017 11:35:02 GMT]]>@Natacha3 I had issues with Motion Detector, so ended up installing motion alongside Magic Mirror and using that - https://github.com/Motion-Project/motion

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/28142https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/28142Sat, 16 Sep 2017 11:35:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Motion Detector on Sat, 16 Sep 2017 10:46:38 GMT]]>So I’ve installed motion detector as Sean explained
I’ve modified the config.JS file, restarted the mirror but no change!

Is there something more to do to activate this function ?

  • @Mykle1 and @j-e-f-f => I’ve done as you said: back up done! Thank your for your kind advice and … yes! I sleep better and I expect no tears now ;-)
]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/28141https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/28141Sat, 16 Sep 2017 10:46:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Motion Detector on Mon, 11 Sep 2017 14:24:29 GMT]]>@Natacha3 I second @Mykle1 's suggestion to make a backup of your SD card, especially before you make any significant change. This way if you mess up the change, you can revert to your backup and try again. Furthermore, take another backup immediately after you are successful in implementing the new change. This way if you SD card becomes corrupt and unbootable (say due to a power outage, pulling the power cable without a proper shutdown, etc), you’ll have a fully up-to-date backup that you can restore in 30 minutes or so. This will save you many MANY tears.

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/27963https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/27963Mon, 11 Sep 2017 14:24:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Motion Detector on Mon, 11 Sep 2017 11:03:17 GMT]]>@Natacha3 said in Motion Detector:

I’m so affraid to “break” my magic mirror which works fine now !

Suggestion:

Make a backup image of your mirror’s SD card.

You’ll sleep better. :^)

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/27955https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/27955Mon, 11 Sep 2017 11:03:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Motion Detector on Mon, 11 Sep 2017 10:06:21 GMT]]>Thank you so much Sean, I will try this at home tonight !
Thanks again for your patience and quick reply !
Nat

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/27951https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/27951Mon, 11 Sep 2017 10:06:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Motion Detector on Mon, 11 Sep 2017 09:55:20 GMT]]>@Natacha3

cd ~/MagicMirror/modules 
git clone https://github.com/alexyak/motiondetector

In your config.js

{
  module: "motiondetector"
},

I think it would work, maybe…

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/27950https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/27950Mon, 11 Sep 2017 09:55:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Motion Detector on Mon, 11 Sep 2017 09:39:14 GMT]]>Hello all,
I m totally new to Raspberry Pi and it’s an absolute miracle that I succeed to make it works and to add some modules .
So I feel sorry to ask and I beg your pardon if my request hurts some of you but can someone could explain me how to install this module ?
So far I’ve only installed the ones in the MichMich page (https://github.com/MichMich/MagicMirror/wiki/MagicMirror²-Modules)
Sorry again to ask but I’m so affraid to “break” my magic mirror which works fine now !
if I disturb let me know I will delete my post.

Thanks for your help

Nat

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/27949https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/27949Mon, 11 Sep 2017 09:39:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Motion Detector on Thu, 07 Sep 2017 02:24:31 GMT]]>@jdahli1 Anyone have any thoughts as to what else to try? I have had no luck so far. Mirror continues to not turn back on randomly. Nothing I have changed so far seems to have worked. Any thoughts are appreciated.

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/27733https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/27733Thu, 07 Sep 2017 02:24:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Motion Detector on Tue, 29 Aug 2017 13:23:07 GMT]]>@reaper81 You can use the same camera for both, but you’ll want to use a different module for motion detection. If you check out my posts, I put up a tutorial on using the PiCam for motion detection outside of the MirrorMirror framework. There’s no reason you can’t use my tutorial to get motion detection to turn your mirror display on and then the facial recognition module to switch the layout.

At least… no reason that I know of.

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/27210https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/27210Tue, 29 Aug 2017 13:23:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Motion Detector on Thu, 24 Aug 2017 17:28:51 GMT]]>@reaper81 said in Motion Detector:

Can I use the Pi-Camera for Motion Detection and Face-Recognition at the same time or have I to use seperate cameras for each module?

This uses a pir-sensor

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/26982https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/26982Thu, 24 Aug 2017 17:28:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Motion Detector on Thu, 24 Aug 2017 12:26:17 GMT]]>Can I use the Pi-Camera for Motion Detection and Face-Recognition at the same time or have I to use seperate cameras for each module?

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/26972https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/26972Thu, 24 Aug 2017 12:26:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Motion Detector on Fri, 04 Aug 2017 02:51:32 GMT]]>@Hawking So running that command has the same result - nothing happens until I ctrl + c. I have been messing with the hdmi_* commands, but no luck so far.

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/26176https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/26176Fri, 04 Aug 2017 02:51:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Motion Detector on Thu, 03 Aug 2017 20:44:17 GMT]]>@jdahli1
Can you just execute /opt/vc/bin/tvservice --preferred to see if it is tvservice or chvt that does not respond?

Here https://news.screenly.io/how-to-automatically-turn-off-and-on-your-monitor-from-your-raspberry-pi-5f259f40cae5 also problems with turning the screen back on using tvservice are mentioned. Maybe the other methods mentioned in the article are worth a try. If they work you can simply change the commands used in ~/MagicMirror/modules/motiondetector/node_helper.js

]]>https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/26172https://forum.magicmirror.builders/post/26172Thu, 03 Aug 2017 20:44:17 GMT