Learning new skills in electronics

For a long time, I have been interested in learning more about electronics and embedded systems. This project provided a great opportunity to dive into this field and apply my knowledge in a practical way. I started by researching components and technologies to create a "smart nest box" capable of monitoring the environment and providing useful data.

My colleague Pieter-Jan was a huge help during the initial stages. He answered my "stupid" questions and guided me through the basics of electronics and embedded systems. With his help, I was able to quickly get up to speed and begin designing the system.

The basics and first challenges

Soon after receiving the components, I managed to set up a basic working prototype. As long as you are close to the Wi-Fi and connected to a USB power source, it’s smooth sailing...

I absolutely loved the hardware side of this project. It feels great to fiddle with components, soldering, and connecting wires. Once you get the hang of it, the process is very intuitive. Since I used the camera module designed for the Seeed Studio XIAO, I didn't have to worry about complex pinout connections, and the software was straightforward to set up. I quickly had a working prototype that could capture pictures and send them to a server.

Integration and the power consumption issue

After the basic prototype worked, I started integrating the components and adding features. Hans—who built the beautiful wooden nest box—joined the process. I had to ensure the electronics fit perfectly and could withstand outdoor conditions. Hans did a great job, and the fit was seamless.

I also added a solar panel to power the system, but that’s where I hit a snag. The power consumption is quite high, especially with the camera module active. This means the solar panel often struggles to provide enough juice to keep the system running 24/7. Even after upgrading to a much larger battery, our calculations seem a bit off; we are still heavily dependent on daily sunlight to stay online.

AI: Always there?

Throughout this journey, I’ve used AI tools to assist with everything from sourcing components to writing code and troubleshooting. AI has been an incredible asset, allowing me to find solutions to problems that would have taken much longer on my own. However, it’s not a magic fix; you still need a solid understanding of the underlying concepts to use these tools effectively.

Overall, working with AI is a joy—provided you know what you’re doing. It feels like having a critical thinker, a fantastic coder, and a master problem solver by your side at all times.

I feel like janary 2026 has been a turning point in how AI improved. I can’t wait to see how it continues to evolve and what new capabilities it will bring to projects like this in the future. But this might be a topic for another blog post!

To be continued...

Now, we just need the sun to shine and — hopefully — some birds to move in. This project has been a massive learning experience, helping me develop new skills in electronics. The only hurdle left to clear is optimizing that power consumption!

From the start, I knew this would be a prototype, and that’s perfectly fine. The goal was to learn and experiment, and we’ve definitely achieved that. I’m excited to see how this project evolves and what we can do to improve it in the future.

Check out the project for yourself.