DSLR Sound Trigger

Projects General Guidance
1

I am planning to build a sound trigger for my DSLR camera using an Arduino Uno R3 and a sound sensor. There are already several tutorials and code written for this project so I don’t think I need help on that front just yet.

My issue is I need to run the system off a battery pack. The arduino needs to run for at least 24 hours, preferably longer. I would like to keep this as simple as possible and use AA batteries. I researched this and found several different answers. I’d like advice on the best solution.

Full project details:

I am a photographer covering a SpaceX rocket launch in a few weeks. I am setting up several cameras at the launch pad. The cameras are setup hours before the launch and are triggered to turn on and take pictures by the sound of the rocket. The camera and trigger must sit for sometimes over 24 hours until the launch happens. There are companies that make these triggers already, however they can be expensive. I want to setup 2-3 cameras and these triggers go for $220 a pop. I am buying one of the expensive commercial triggers but would like to try to make a second one using arduino.

2

If your sound sensor has a digital output, you can use it to wake up the arduino from sleep.
https://www.google.com/search?q=arduino+low+power+interrupt

But do your camera batteries even last that long?

3

Yes, the camera sits on standby until the trigger gives the signal to shoot. Then it wakes up and fires away. There’s also an extended loop battery pack.

I was planning on using this
Sound Detection Module LM393

This sensor may be too sensitive, I will have to experiment with it. The sound waves coming from a rocket launch are enough to kill a human standing where the cameras will be. So photographers set their triggers to the lowest sensitivity setting where you’d have to actually smack the sensor for it to go off.