Raspberry Pi CM4 Powers Camera Hat for Wireless OBS Streaming

Raspberry Pi
(Image credit: Cearka_larue)

Streaming online is more popular than ever, but maker Cearka_larue was feeling a bit tethered to the PC and decided to take things mobile with this clever Raspberry Pi-powered wireless camera project.

According to Cearka_larue, the setup streams directly to OBS without the requirement of any additional software on the PC. It can stream at least 30 frames per second (fps) and consumes just enough power to last a few hours using a small USB battery.

Initial prototypes were constructed with a Raspberry Pi Zero W, but this limited the performance by capping the resolution output to 1280 x 720. This edition was developed using a Raspberry Pi CM4 module for its superior performance capabilities.

Cearka_larue created a custom IO board using Gumstix to keep the overall build small and wearable. This IO board uses USB Type-C for power, features a camera port, Wi-Fi on/off button, a reset button as well as a microSD card slot.

The best Raspberry Pi projects are ones you can recreate yourself, and Cearka_larue was kind enough to share a parts list for interested makers. It’s built on top of an 8GB wireless CM4 module with an external antenna, uses the custom Gumstix IO board, and sports a Raspberry Pi HQ camera to capture video.

A 3D printer was also used to print custom mounting pieces using Formlabs Tough 2000 resin. To see the camera in action, check out the original thread shared to Reddit and check out the demo video

Ash Hill
Freelance News and Features Writer

Ash Hill is a Freelance News and Features Writer with a wealth of experience in the hobby electronics, 3D printing and PCs. She manages the Pi projects of the month and much of our daily Raspberry Pi reporting while also finding the best coupons and deals on all tech.