Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: Jonny on June 15, 2009, 02:39:13 PM

Title: Robot Vision
Post by: Jonny on June 15, 2009, 02:39:13 PM

Is it possible to add a pair of CMOS cameras to the $50 Robot without having to get a better microcontroller, so the robot can run off of virtual vision?

Title: Re: Robot Vision
Post by: sonictj on June 15, 2009, 02:55:24 PM

you can't simply interface a camera to a microcontroller there is actually quite a lot involved.  The $50 dollar robot does not have enough power.  You have to either buy a camera board like the cmu or blackfin, or you have to use a computer for image processing. 

Title: Re: Robot Vision
Post by: SmAsH on June 15, 2009, 04:03:58 PM

simple answer, no.
complicated answer, yes...
a small microcontroller board like the atmega8 does not have the processing power required to process video feed.
now, if you want a camera with onboard video processing there are 3 choices for you to pick from:
blackfin: http://www.surveyor.com/blackfin/ (http://www.surveyor.com/blackfin/)
avrcam: http://www.jrobot.net/Projects/AVRcam.html (http://www.jrobot.net/Projects/AVRcam.html)
and cmucam: http://www.active-robots.com/products/sensors/cmucam.shtml (http://www.active-robots.com/products/sensors/cmucam.shtml)
the other option is you use your laptop to interface with a camera, ie. plug it in ;D and then get roborealm
http://www.roborealm.com/ (http://www.roborealm.com/) and run it, but then you will need boards to interface your pc with servos/sensors etc...

Title: Re: Robot Vision
Post by: Jonny on June 15, 2009, 04:57:52 PM

So you would simply need a more advanced microcontroller? I mean, can the complicated video processing be done on a more advanced microcontroller? Also, would CMOS cameras be the way to go? Where can you learn of the internal circuitry in microcontrollers? Sorry for all the quesitons, and thanks for helping me.

Title: Re: Robot Vision
Post by: SmAsH on June 15, 2009, 05:15:51 PM

all microcontrollers are different... i guess you could study the datasheet to learn the "internal workings".
you dont need a microcontroller to process this stuff but more a microprocessor...

Title: Re: Robot Vision
Post by: HyperNerd on June 18, 2009, 02:27:22 AM

A good way to go (I have never tried this though) would be to use an embedded controller, such as a GumStix, or Windows CE platform. These devices come at a cost, but they pack tons of processing power for their size

 -HyperNerd