Turtle alert system built with Telnyx AI, IoT, and SMS

In an innovative demonstration, developer Jorge Kleinerman showcased the power of Telnyx AI, IoT, and messaging services by creating a fully wireless, real-time alert system. This project combines AI-powered detection and SMS alerts, offering a glimpse into how IoT devices can enhance situational awareness using Telnyx technology.

The setup

To build the solution, Jorge designed a custom hardware setup comprising a Raspberry Pi, a webcam, a battery for complete wireless functionality, and a Telnyx IoT SIM card. This setup allows the device to be entirely untethered, making it portable and versatile. The Raspberry Pi runs a custom Python application developed by Jorge himself, which communicates with Telnyx AI services to recognize specific events.

How it works

The demo showcases a practical example: monitoring a backyard for a turtle’s movements. When the Raspberry Pi’s camera detects motion—in this case, a turtle—the device sends a real-time SMS alert to Jorge’s phone, detailing what the camera captures and describing the event. Telnyx’s AI inference capabilities analyze the camera feed and identify objects within its view, allowing the software to alert users only when relevant events occur.

The SMS alert isn’t the only way the system communicates. Jorge has configured Telnyx’s messaging service to send the alert to a webhook endpoint as well. This functionality enables integration with additional systems, logging platforms, or any cloud-based application that can leverage the webhook, making it an ideal fit for applications that need multi-channel notifications.

Benefits of integrating multiple Telnyx products

By combining Telnyx AI, IoT, and messaging services, Jorge created a seamless and responsive device with multiple advantages:

Real-time alerts

The system sends instant SMS notifications when predefined events occur, enabling quick responses.

Flexibility and portability

Powered by a battery and connected through Telnyx IoT SIM card, the setup can be deployed virtually anywhere with cellular coverage, free from the constraints of power and WiFi.

Multi-channel notifications

With Telnyx’s messaging service configured to deliver alerts via both SMS and a webhook, users can receive alerts on multiple platforms, enhancing the system’s adaptability to various use cases.

This demo illustrates the potential of Telnyx’s technology to transform the way IoT devices operate. With Telnyx AI and messaging services, developers can now add intelligent features and connectivity to their projects, turning passive devices into smart, interactive systems.

Jorge’s project is just one example of how developers are innovating with Telnyx’s platform. By integrating AI, messaging, and IoT connectivity, developers can build solutions that address real-world challenges in new ways. Whether for security, environmental monitoring, or even wildlife tracking, this demo highlights how easy it is to add AI-driven insights and immediate alerts to IoT setups.

In the coming years, we can expect to see even more use cases as developers like Jorge continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible with Telnyx.

Working with Telnyx

Jorge’s work underscores Telnyx’s commitment to empowering developers with flexible, powerful tools. From a simple backyard experiment to scalable IoT solutions, Telnyx makes it easy to create, connect, and communicate with the world around us.

Whether you’re interested in developing a project similar to Jorge’s or exploring other applications, Telnyx messaging, IoT, and AI capabilities offer a robust foundation for innovation.