Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: anvoice on October 06, 2015, 04:55:24 PM

Title: Robot camera: stream to control pc and a server
Post by: anvoice on October 06, 2015, 04:55:24 PM
I'm trying to build a walking robot that I'd like to equip with a camera. Ideally it would have an ability to stream to both the controlling pc (4th gen Nuc, i5) and a remote server. The feed to the computer would be for CV applications, while the feed to the server could be used for that as well as simple viewing, e.g. remote control.

The best method I found so far to do this is to use a wireless IP camera module, such as the one found here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wireless-HD-IP-camera-2000000-pixel-module-board-P2P-Hass-3516c-12V-network-/171797123970?hash=item27ffe81382 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wireless-HD-IP-camera-2000000-pixel-module-board-P2P-Hass-3516c-12V-network-/171797123970?hash=item27ffe81382)
Assuming I can get 2 streams from it at once, I could use the lower resolution one for the wireless stream. That would mean I don't have to take up processor time to send the video stream to server via the control pc, freeing it up to control the robot.

The only problem I see with this solution is the rather limited selection of such cameras, whereas regular camera modules can be obtained with much better specs (e.g. 5MP or more). Has anyone found a better solution for this type of application? Perhaps another source for such cameras, or dedicated robotics cameras with the 2-stream wireless option?
Thanks.
Title: Re: Robot camera: stream to control pc and a server
Post by: cyberjeff on October 07, 2015, 08:12:19 PM
Google FPV. This is big with the quadcopter and RC plane crowd, a variety of frequencies.
Title: Re: Robot camera: stream to control pc and a server
Post by: anvoice on October 08, 2015, 10:27:17 AM
Thanks for the suggestion. Upon looking at these cameras I'm not sure this applies to my particular application since I'd like the robot to have access to the data for computer vision, as well as the server. From what I can see it's usually just for sending the video for remote viewing, can't find anything about several streams.

The convenient thing about the IP cameras is the availability of several streams, so they can record wired to a pc and wireless to a server. The small selection is what seems to be less convenient.

The other option is to have a primary camera for the robot, and a secondary FPV-type for the server. Only problem is I would like to install 2 identical cameras for stereo view, and it would be best if they can both send data to the robot and server.
Title: Re: Robot camera: stream to control pc and a server
Post by: cyberjeff on October 08, 2015, 11:40:06 AM
Are you indoors or outdoors?

What hardware? What OS?
Title: Re: Robot camera: stream to control pc and a server
Post by: anvoice on October 08, 2015, 04:12:03 PM
Indoors and fairly close (few meters) as a start, it's a test platform so it won't be going far.

Hardware: Intel Nuc 4th gen with i5 processor, will be running either Ubuntu 14.02 or 15 with ROS Jade. Also some arduino microcontrollers for sensor control, but most processing will be done by the Nuc. Probably will task it with inverse kinematics as well as some computer vision, so I was hoping to minimize the workload on the processor by not having it send a video stream to a server, instead letting the camera take care of that. Can't find any good way of doing that though except using a wireless IP camera module or complete wireless IP camera (rather unwieldy).