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prop controlled camera? — Parallax Forums

prop controlled camera?

adriadri Posts: 34
edited 2010-01-31 00:29 in Propeller 1
Anyone used the prop to control a camera?

I'm after a system that will take a jpeg every 30 mins and transmit using an xbee.

I don't normally do electronics so if anyone has any suggestions as to components etc they'd be most welcome.

Many thanks

Adri

Comments

  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,876
    edited 2010-01-30 14:34
    Here's code for a simple serial camera:

    http://www.rayslogic.com/propeller/Programming/Cameras/cameras.htm

    Also, I recently managed to boost the baud rate to ~600kbps or so...· I posted that code in this forum somewhere...

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    My Prop Info&Apps: ·http://www.rayslogic.com/propeller/propeller.htm
  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2010-01-30 23:51
    There is no JPEG for the prop. The Prop only outputs/reads bitmaps (.BMP). If this tells you anything, I own a book, "Compressed Image File Formats", that reviews almost all formats for image files. There is one chapter on bitmap that is 10 pages long. There are 8 chapters on JPEG compression and decompression that totals 100+ pages that utilize advanced math and file manipulation that could only be done on a PC. You can send bitmaps, but NEVER JPEG.

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    Computers are microcontrolled.

    Robots are microcontrolled.
    I am microcontrolled.

    SX Spinning light display·

    http://designedbymemicros.blogspot.com/
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,876
    edited 2010-01-31 00:20
    true, but he doesn't want to view the jpg, just send it over xbee, so the c328 class camera should work fine...

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    My Prop Info&Apps: ·http://www.rayslogic.com/propeller/propeller.htm
  • Dr_AculaDr_Acula Posts: 5,484
    edited 2010-01-31 00:29
    I've been working on this for the last couple of years!

    Getting close, but not quite there yet. www.4dsystems.com.au/prod.php?id=76

    I've got it working with vb.net but identical code coming out of a propeller isn't quite working yet. But the day I did that testing was 44C so maybe some timing things were out with the serial interface.

    You can send .jpg files but you need a file transfer protocol. I've been sending .jpg files wirelessly using xmodem, but to run xmodem you need an operating system (eg CP/M) and a temporary place to store pictures (large amounts of ram and/or and sd card). All this is working on the propeller dracblade. But not quite the video capture.

    Going off on a tangent, I bought a keychain video recorder for $15 off ebay. It is surprisingly good quality - better than 640x480. Writes to a micro sd card. I put one on a model helicopter and filmed flying over my house. It writes .jpg or .avi files depending on still or video mode. Now, the propeller can read micro sd cards, so in theory, if you wrote to a micro sd, then switched the 4 pins (4066 or equivalent) you could then read the files into a propeller.

    OR - there are long range video transmitters that take standard video off a security cam. Up to 5W at 2.4Ghz. It might be an easier solution than xbee. I have all the parts for that and they do work and it probably is the cheapest solution, but the catch is you can really only have one operating at any one time as they would interfere.

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    www.smarthome.viviti.com/propeller

    Post Edited (Dr_Acula) : 1/31/2010 12:41:17 AM GMT
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