Firmware release 5.2.0! (and version 4.18.0 for DIY with same features).
In between Mothbox workshops, we managed to tackle some long standing features that we have wanted to implement for the Mothbox Firmware (and even close 2 year old issues ).
Power and memory saving features like
- Wifi only turns on in DEBUG or PARTY modes, otherwise off
- GUI only loads for DEBUG mode--- !!!This means that the $20 cheaper RPI 5 2GB can now work with this!!! (image was tested on 2GB), (We haven’t super field-tested a 2GB board for months like our other parts, so I should only actually recommend a minimum of RPI 5 4GB device to run a mothbox, but if you feel like being cheap and daring!?)
UI features
- Can program the pro with SWITCHES: flip switch "U1" and the device will use "Switch Priority" and physical switches will override internal schedule!
- Photo interval - you can set how often photos get taken (default every 1 min). Min 1 minute, in 1 min intervals. This is in mothbox_settings.csv
- more scripts between Pro and DIY have parity for easy updating
Lots of major reliability fixes
- separating user-editable controls and ones set by the system
- doing atomic writes in safer ways when writing controls for the firmware
- Checks against some race conditions
- minor bug and scope fixes
You can download the latest firmware now (for free, of course!)!
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1o3aGB1MZUrNxRoGycFVw_ofUQehrjuqF?usp=sharing
Have you used a mothbox? Send us some data and we will train the new model to work better for you!
Reminder, if you have a mothbox, or have collected data, send us some sample files! We are about to start training a new detection model, and the more variety we have the more robust it will be!
Also we are making a map of where mothboxes are being used, if you are using one somewhere on earth, please fill out this form for us!
More Documentation on Using the Pro
It’s here! we have a video and updated step-by-step photo info
https://youtu.be/4CIvh947Z08?si=0mn1SLvd6K61nFoD
https://digital-naturalism-laboratories.github.io/Mothbox/docs/usage/basic_pro/
Mothboxing in Oceania? Contact Bri!
The rad mothboxin PhD student, Bri Johns, is helping coordinate getting a batch of supplies for making mothboxes to Australia and New Zealand area. If you want to get in on this with her, contact her: @briannajohns !
Mothboxing in Europe? Contact Patrice!
Patrice at psl3D is helping organize distribute mothboxes and kits to europe
By the way, if you are in Europe, you should totally go to the…
Open Hardware Summit - Berlin May 23-24
We will be doing a mothbox workshop and performance at TU berlin! Nobody is turned away from the conference for lack of funds! It’s a nice conference!
Mothboxing Elsewhere? Fill this form!
Fill out our interest form and we will start trying to contact folks individually and help get them to you!
https://forms.gle/BnBhjBC4csW4BwTE7
21 March 2026 7:25pm
oh and one other fun update, we finally got https://www.mothbox.org! It just redirects to the same documentation site as before, but it's much easier to type!
Andrew Quitmeyer