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Hardware Setup

SPARROW is a solar-powered edge AI computing unit built around the NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano. It collects data from camera traps, acoustic sensors, and environmental monitors, processes it on-device using PyTorch-Wildlife models via the NVIDIA Triton Inference Server, and transmits results via Starlink satellite.

This page summarizes the hardware components needed to build a SPARROW unit. For full step-by-step assembly instructions, wiring diagrams, and part numbers, download the official guides:

Hardware Components by Category

Brain — Compute

Component Role
NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano Super Developer Kit Primary edge compute unit — runs AI models and all SPARROW services
2TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD Local image/audio storage for offline operation
DS3231M RTC (I²C) Real-time clock for accurate timestamps in remote deployments
BME688 Environmental Sensor (I²C) Temperature, humidity, pressure, and gas sensing
SHTC3 Temperature/Humidity Sensor (I²C) Redundant environmental measurement
I²C Relay Board Controlled power switching for peripheral components
Pi 3 Click Shield + mikroBUS Shuttles Adapter to connect Mikroe Click boards to Jetson GPIO

I²C Board Compatibility

The assembly guide is developed around Mikroe MikroBUS click boards. Generic I²C boards may work but require custom address mapping and are recommended only for advanced users.

Power — Solar + Battery

Component Role
MPPT Solar Charge Controller (24V/15A+) Maximizes solar panel harvest; recommended: Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/20
100W Monocrystalline Solar Panels (×2) Primary power source — wired in 24V series configuration
24V 50–100Ah LiFePO4 Battery Energy storage for overnight and cloudy-day operation
Solar Panel Mount Brackets (45") Tiltable mounting for optimal sun angle
10AWG Weatherproof Cabling Solar panel → charge controller → battery wiring

Network — Satellite Connectivity

Component Role
Starlink Mini Kit Low-Earth-orbit satellite internet for remote data uplink
Starlink RJ45 Weatherproof Ethernet Adapter Weatherproof wired connection from Jetson to Starlink dish
Cat 6 Outdoor Ethernet Cable Direct-burial UV-rated cable between Jetson and Starlink
Dual-band WiFi Antenna (MHF4/IPEX to RP-SMA) Internal WiFi for camera trap connectivity
10dBi Long-Range Outdoor WiFi Antenna (optional) Extended WiFi range for large camera trap deployments (up to 150 cameras)

Audio — Acoustic Monitoring

Component Role
AudioMoth Dev Board + Case Open-source acoustic sensor for bioacoustic monitoring (bird calls, bat echolocation, etc.)

Camera

Component Role
Solar WiFi Camera Trap (×1+) Camera traps for wildlife image capture — SPARROW supports up to 150 cameras per unit; recommended: Reolink Argus Eco+

Enclosure

Component Role
IP65 Weatherproof Junction Box (17"×13"×7") Houses all electronics; rated for outdoor/field deployment
Weatherproof Cable Gland Set (PG7–PG19) Sealed cable routing in/out of enclosure
18AWG Speaker Wire, Zip Ties, DC Barrel Plugs Internal wiring and cable management

Assembly Process Overview

  1. Enclosure preparation — drill gland holes, mount DIN rail or panel
  2. Power wiring — solar panels → charge controller → battery → Jetson
  3. Sensor installation — connect I²C boards (RTC, BME688, SHTC3, relay) to Jetson GPIO via Click Shield
  4. Camera network — mount outdoor WiFi antenna(s); configure camera trap SSIDs
  5. Starlink setup — weatherproof cable routing and dish alignment
  6. AudioMoth — connect via USB; configure recording schedule
  7. Final check — verify all connections before first power-up

For detailed instructions with photos and wiring diagrams, see the SPARROW Assembly and Setup Guide.

Once hardware is assembled, proceed to Software Setup.