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What are options for cameras/images and Propeller use? — Parallax Forums

What are options for cameras/images and Propeller use?

T ChapT Chap Posts: 4,249
edited 2008-12-03 05:33 in General Discussion
Has anyone already explored capturing an image with a Prop (and assumed external hdwr) at some rate (ie 1 per sec) and transmitting the image to another Prop? I am looking into methods to have a camera at various locations, and want to be able to access any camera and capture the images at whatever the fastest rate is using 9600 baud. BW or color. Not knowing anything about it, I would assume you would have some chip that can grab an image, then send out the data of the image to the processor, or send it as controlled by the processor.

Comments

  • Jay KickliterJay Kickliter Posts: 446
    edited 2008-12-02 20:07
    I can't say for sure, but I think you may be able to do this with the CMUCam
  • T ChapT Chap Posts: 4,249
    edited 2008-12-02 20:56
    Good call Jeff, the boebot CMU seem a bit elaborate but I will find out how to dissect that down to the core elements.

    Thanks
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2008-12-02 21:00
    There's also a thread on a PropCam: http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=592076
  • T ChapT Chap Posts: 4,249
    edited 2008-12-02 21:07
    Thanks Mike, I do remember that but thought it was abandoned or on hold, I haven't read the entire thread though. Maybe Phil will give an update.
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2008-12-03 03:27
    It's definitely not abandoned: I've got too much invested. But it's a device still waiting to become a product. I'm current working on a small Propeller board that it will plug into. More on this soon! (I promise.)

    -Phil

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    'Just a few PropSTICK Kit bare PCBs left!
  • T ChapT Chap Posts: 4,249
    edited 2008-12-03 03:44
    I am looking for an option to put video cams inside residential rooms and exterior as well, plus businesses, etc, so that someone can monitor either on site or off site (by net) any cam they choose. If monitoring locally, the cams would have their own set of lines on an RS485 cable where the master can pick any cam by ID and read it's current state at some still frame rate allowed by 9600 baud. Higher baud may likely be achieved, as is claimed by RS485. There is no real need for video speeds. If I can get 1 image per sec (several seconds) that is good. Another thing I want to try is using the Xtend systems to broadcast the images, so the user has a handheld unit with LCD (maybe oLED 128) to monitor any cam.
  • SRLMSRLM Posts: 5,045
    edited 2008-12-03 03:50
    TChapman said...

    ...to put video cams inside residential rooms...

    I hope that your residents know this...
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2008-12-03 05:12
    TChapman,

    Notwithstanding the privacy implications, have you done the math? 9600 baud is about 960 bytes per second. Translated into frames, with an absolute minimum 4 bits per pixel (grayscale — no color), that's 1920 pixels per second, or a picture size of 52 x 37 pixels, at one frame per second. At that resolution, you won't see much anyway.

    -Phil

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    'Just a few PropSTICK Kit bare PCBs left!
  • T ChapT Chap Posts: 4,249
    edited 2008-12-03 05:33
    No Phil, I don't know much about how the math works out, just looking into. Below is a mockup I had done that may help illustrate the concept for the cameras. For security reasons, users can put cameras however they want, that is not really my concern. I believe that with RS485 there will be much better baud. When I get the boards back I can test the baud possibilities at various wire runs.
    hotel.jpg
    800 x 762 - 484K
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