A comprehensive tool for managing IP cameras via RTSP and ONVIF, enabling PTZ movement, snapshots, and auto-discovery.
Install & Download
1. ClawHub CLI
The fastest way to install a skill directly from the registry.
npx clawhub@latest install ipcam
2. Manual Installation
Copy the skill folder to one of these locations
~/.openclaw/skills/ <project>/skills/ Priority: Workspace > Local > Bundled
3. Prompt Installation
Copy this prompt to OpenClaw to install it automatically.
Help me install ipcam using Clawhub. If Clawhub is not installed, install it first (npm i -g clawhub).
Prefer to download?
Get the raw skill files in a ZIP archive.
What is IP Camera Control (RTSP & ONVIF)?
This skill provides a robust interface for interacting with IP cameras using the Openclaw Skills framework. It leverages RTSP for media handling like snapshots and video recording while utilizing the ONVIF protocol for hardware-level control, including Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) movements, preset management, and device discovery. It is designed to work seamlessly with major brands such as TP-Link, Hikvision, Dahua, and Axis, making it an essential addition to any automation or security workflow.
By integrating this skill, developers can bridge the gap between AI-driven logic and physical security hardware. Whether you need to capture a frame for visual analysis or move a camera to a specific coordinate based on a trigger, this implementation provides the necessary CLI tools and scripts to handle complex camera protocols efficiently.
IP Camera Control (RTSP & ONVIF) Use Cases
- Automating security snapshots and video recordings during specific triggers.
- Controlling camera movement (PTZ) programmatically or via AI agents.
- Discovering and configuring multiple cameras across a local network automatically.
- Integrating live camera feeds into broader home automation or monitoring systems.
- Testing and verifying ONVIF Profile S/T compatibility across different hardware vendors.
How IP Camera Control (RTSP & ONVIF) Works
- Initializes by scanning the network for compatible ONVIF Profile S/T devices or reading from a manual configuration file.
- Establishes communication via the ONVIF protocol to fetch stream URIs and hardware capabilities.
- Uses ffmpeg to process RTSP streams for high-quality snapshots or timed video captures.
- Executes PTZ commands (move, stop, home, or goto) by sending SOAP requests to the camera's ONVIF service.
- Manages and recalls camera presets for rapid repositioning to specific areas of interest.
IP Camera Control (RTSP & ONVIF) Setup
To get started with this skill within the Openclaw Skills environment, follow these steps:
# Install dependencies and the skill
bash skills/ipcam/install.sh
# Automatically discover and add cameras to your configuration
ptz.py discover --add
# Manually configure if discovery is not possible
nano ~/.config/ipcam/config.json
IP Camera Control (RTSP & ONVIF) Data Schema & Taxonomy
The skill maintains a configuration file in JSON format to manage camera metadata and connection strings. This allows the Openclaw Skills agent to persist device information.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| ip | The local IP address of the camera. |
| username / password | Credentials for RTSP and ONVIF authentication. |
| rtsp_port | Port for RTSP streaming (usually 554). |
| onvif_port | Port for ONVIF control (e.g., 2020, 80, 8000). |
| rtsp_main_path | The URL path for the high-resolution stream. |
| rtsp_sub_path | The URL path for the low-resolution stream. |
IP Camera Control (RTSP & ONVIF) Advanced Features
- Multi-camera management using the --cam flag to target specific hardware in a multi-device setup.
- Automated stream URI detection and saving to config, reducing manual setup time.
- Environment variable overrides for IP, credentials, and ports, ideal for secure or containerized deployments.
- Support for absolute coordinate positioning (goto) and granular movement speed control.
- Integration-ready CLI output via camera.sh info and list-cameras for upstream automation scripts.
SKILL.md
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