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Post by michaelg on Dec 1, 2006 13:21:47 GMT 10
Hi there,
Hey has anyone had any experience with connecting a ccd camera to a PIC? Im thinking of getting one of those monochrome camera's from Futurlec, but have no idea whats involved/how difficult it would be to read data from a camera
Cheers,
Michael
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Post by Dingo on Dec 1, 2006 19:23:05 GMT 10
Are you sure they still stock them? I know they have a USB camera on the site but when I emailed them they said they discontinued it. Also, it depends on the PIC. I've been looking into a camera on my bot and I really think the CMUCam ( www.cs.cmu.edu/~cmucam/ ) or AVRCam ( www.jrobot.net/Projects/AVRcam.html ) are the way to go, the initial cost is worth it when you look at how much effort is required to do it from scratch. I think I'd prefer the AVR Cam as it is open source and I think AVRs are a nice microcontroller to work with. |
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Post by michaelg on Dec 4, 2006 22:01:18 GMT 10
Thanks for those links Dingo, i'll definetly look into those!
Theres a black and white camera on the futurlec australia site for 50 bucks - the american futurlec site has that one, plus a USB one too which is abit more expensive (i assume thats the one u were refering to).
I cant seem to find any datasheet on the net for BWCAMERA though - but if reading the pixel values serially from such a camera isnt too difficult, it would certainly save some money doing it the hard way!
I'm still working on my painting robot - for that one I'll just use a digital camera attached to the PC, but down the track I'd like to see what I can do with all image processing done on a PIC.
What kind of bot are you making Dingo, and how is it coming along? Are you going to write the image processing software for it yourself?
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Post by Dingo on Dec 5, 2006 19:22:40 GMT 10
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Post by Bones on Dec 6, 2006 21:59:14 GMT 10
Hi, They have a few uP cameras out there. As dingo said the AVRcam and the CMUcam. Well they have a version 3 which isn't on there main page. www.cs.cmu.edu/~cmucam3/Looks pretty good and they are using an ARM chip. Cheers Rod |
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Post by michaelg on Dec 8, 2006 13:11:16 GMT 10
thanks for the help guys, you's certainly are a fountain of knowledge! I pulled appart a broken mobile phone to take a look at the camera - it looks very similar to the mobile phone camera for sale on that link! I think i'll tinker with it when i get around to it, to see if i can get it working  Oh hey while im here, i dont suppose you's know any place that sells cheap timing belts/pulleys? Im still working on the painting robot - i need a few metres of timing belt, doesnt have to be super strong/thick or anything. Ive been looking at places like minibearings.com.au etc., they seem rather expensive!! Cheers, Michael btw - I saw an awesome Terminator "robot" (full size) at indooroopilly shopping centre at that sports memorobilia store. Its just a replica though, doesnt move or anything (appart from the red glow in the eyes) - its on sale for $2000. Worth checking out if ur up that way |
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Post by Bones on Dec 8, 2006 17:52:32 GMT 10
Hi,
The old photocopiers and scanners are good for belts and pulleys. Otherwise the cheap power tools. The GMC belt sanders?
Do they use a pulley on the side to drive the belt drums?
Otherwise vacuum cleaners and pretty much most stuff that uses a motor.
Bearing places can get them. But try places that specialise in belt drives. Much cheaper.
Cheers
Bones
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Post by michaelg on Dec 9, 2006 22:09:14 GMT 10
Yea, i think it'll be cheaper scavanging the timing belt than buying it. Maybe a couple of bicycle chains will do the job I've almost finished the PIC code that'll control the stepping motors. It controls 4 motors at the moment, using a couple of shift registers and darlington transistor arrays. The way it works is it receives an array of instructions and controls the motors from there. Each instruction has a start and end time, motor number, and A, B, and C - if A is zero then B is m and C is c in y=mx + c, otherwise it does a quadratic equation line using a b and c. X is the motor position, and Y is time (one time unit is 256 * 128 clock ticks). Its pretty sweet! I'll extend it to control 6 motors so my bot can make any brush stroke. If u's would like the source code for it let me know and i'll email it. Cheers, Michael |
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Post by Dingo on Dec 10, 2006 12:57:35 GMT 10
I've a similar project yet to be started, just to minimize lash in the chains I'm going with threaded rod to that it works like a worm gear.
Very slow be probably (fingers crossed) more accurate.
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Post by michaelg on Dec 10, 2006 19:10:23 GMT 10
Thats a good idea. I think a threaded rod would be too slow for what im trying to do though. I'm gonna use a parabola curve to speed up/slow down the contraption - hopefully that'll get rid of the inaccuracy caused by inertia.
What project is this for Dingo if i may ask?
Cheers,
Michael
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Post by Bones on Dec 13, 2006 21:55:07 GMT 10
Hi, I found this site today. I don't know if it has any info you want but it might be worth a look. www.camerahacking.comI bought one of those micro helicopters off eBay for $50. Owesome. 153mm long, fits in the palm of your hand and remote control. IR remote but works well. And I bought a large electric as well. zoom zoom zoom. Bones |
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Post by Dingo on Dec 14, 2006 18:58:11 GMT 10
Thats a good idea. I think a threaded rod would be too slow for what im trying to do though. I'm gonna use a parabola curve to speed up/slow down the contraption - hopefully that'll get rid of the inaccuracy caused by inertia. What project is this for Dingo if i may ask? Cheers, Michael It is for a automated router....of sorts......basically a prototype of a "3d printer" but not very sophisticated. |
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Post by michael on Dec 29, 2006 16:23:31 GMT 10
Hey bones,
Quick question - how much do u reckon those mini helocopters can lift? Is there any unnecessary parts u can remove so u can lift stuff like a mini camera etc.?
Cheers,
Michael
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Post by Bones on Jan 2, 2007 13:53:35 GMT 10
Hi,
Yeh I know someone that has fitted one of those mini cams from ebay to his helicopter. The receiver is cinnected to a battery with a mini tv with a 3.5" screen.
You can buy a cam and the receiver is built into the tv/dvr so you can record.
Bones
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