Components and sensors
I will use the Raspberry Pi 3 that has been lying around for a while. It sounds like a great limitation on its own because it only has 1GB of RAM, enough to run a logger, but definitely not enough to run any image recognition algorithm.
The list of components is as follows, all from AliExpress, with the implicit goal of costing less than an additional $100, not including the Pi I already own.
| Component | Model | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camera | IMX219 - FOV 130 deg | $18.06 | Link |
| GPS | BE-880 | $24.31 | Link |
| Accelerometer | MPU9250 | $3.43 | Link |
I also purchased an additional accelerometer, which will be used with an ESP32 and placed as close as possible to the car's center of gravity. I intend to position the camera and GPS on the windshield, under the rear-view mirror. Nothing is stopping me from putting the accelerometer there as well, but I would rather have it in the center console's glove box and just transmit data to the Pi over wifi. More work, but theoretically better data. Needless to say, I also have an ESP32 lying around doing nothing.