Sensing Layer
A distributed network of six or more ESP32-CAM nodes with hardware-masked PIR sensors or active IR break-beams to reduce false triggers from wind, snowfall, and drifting debris.
Sentinel Winter // Off-Grid Security
Autonomous surveillance for remote northern properties.
Sentinel Winter is a low-power, motion-triggered security network built for extreme cold, deep snow, limited connectivity, and long periods without human intervention.
Discuss Sentinel Winter Designed for Northern Québec conditions
Mission
Provide autonomous, low-power, wide-area surveillance and remote intervention for off-grid properties where standard commercial security systems fail because they assume reliable grid power, broadband, easy access, and mild weather.
Core System
Security stack
Intelligence Hub
An industrial ARM gateway running OpenWrt handles routing, local video storage, event logic, and secure bridging between the remote user and the property.
Remote Response
An ELRS radio-link bridge lets an operator pilot a rugged tracked UGV from anywhere to investigate, document, or deter intruders in real time.
Satellite Backhaul
Starlink is gated behind a physical power relay so the 50W to 75W draw only occurs during confirmed events or scheduled maintenance windows.
Northern Deployment
Built around winter, not despite it.
- 200W+ vertical solar array mounted at 90 degrees to shed snow and capture low-angle winter sun.
- 100Ah self-heating LiFePO4 battery banks with BMS-controlled heating pads for safe cold-weather charging.
- Industrial buck converters for direct 12V DC distribution and fewer conversion losses.
- Tracked winter UGV with high-torque motors, IP-rated camera, ELRS receiver, and sub-zero operating assumptions.
Value Proposition
From alert fatigue to response.
Energy Efficient
Idle draw stays under 2W, preserving autonomy for up to six days through heavy winter storms without solar input.
Actionable Intelligence
The system records local video first, then brings satellite online only when there is evidence worth reviewing.
Physical Deterrence
A remotely piloted UGV turns the system from a passive witness into an active site guardian.