interfacing cameras?

[sonictj]

I am curious of various ways of interfacing cameras to an arduino diecimilla (atmega 168).  I would like to use some kind of wireless camera for experimenting with robot vision.  I have looked into the cmu cams, the avr cam, and the blackfin, but I still want to explore other options.  I have a bluesmirf module from sparkfun, so I have the option of using my laptop for image processing.   


1) My main question is, how do you interface a rf wireless camera like say this one http://www.servocity.com/html/2_4ghz_color_video_system.html.  I am running windows xp . (just in case that is relevant)

2) Also is there a risk of a 2.4GHz camera, like the one above, and the bluesmirf interfering with one another.  I'm curious because I believe bluetooth is also 2.4GHz.       

3) Last I'd like to know if anyone knows of any reasonably cheap wifi (internet) cams that could be used with a range 300-400 ft line of sight. ~$200 or less.


Thanks a lot   

[JesseWelling]

1. The posted one at servo city would need a video capture card like <a http="http://hauppage.com/pages/products/data_pvr150.html">this[/url] but I also think there are some usb kinds available...

2. Bluetooth has the ability to resend info and hop around the 'channels' so there might be some interference but i couldn't really say.

3. Have you tried google?

[sonictj]

3. Have you tried google?

Yes I have.  I have found many cameras in the $300 range but not too many for less, but mostly I'm not entirely sure which ones would work.  I will need to  run the camera off battery power, and I don't know what cameras can be.

[JesseWelling]

I can't think of a single piece of mobile electronics that is not DC. So, pretty much any thing 'can' be run off of batteries. You just have to regulate the voltage going into it and find out where to hook up the DC. I think your best bet, if you are so inclined, would be to go with the Surveyor Blackfin Camera because it runs in the same voltage ranges as most micros, is not too pricey compared to the camera/receiver you posted earlier (surveyor $195, camera/receiver $148+video card), and all processing can be done on the Camera side since it uses a 500mhz DSP like processor. In addition you can get a wifi expansion. Meaning you can later take all your image processing to you laptop if the 500mhz can't keep up.

[Admin]

I am curious of various ways of interfacing cameras to an arduino diecimilla (atmega 168).

You can't.

You need UART, but the Arduino uses it's only UART for the USB adaptor.

Also . . . the Arduino, and basically all microcontrollers today, are entirely incapable of doing video processing (effectively).

If you still want to use a microcontroller, you would need one with an available UART, and a camera that does onboard processing: CMUcam, AVRcam, Blackfin, etc.

Or: use a webcam, your PC, and RoboRealm.

[sonictj]

to admin:

I said in my post

I have a bluesmirf module from sparkfun, so I have the option of using my laptop for image processing

As long as the usb cable is not plugged in, the usb uart does not interfere with the bluesmirf (I use it all the time) so it should not interfere with a camera (cmu or blackfin) interfaced via ttl serial. (I'm just speculating though) 

With that being said, I'm really not so inclined to interface cameras directly to my microcontroller.  I'm exploring wireless pinhole cameras and such at the moment.

p.s.  I agree totally about not being able to do image processing on the arduino or other controllers.   That was not my plan at all sorry for not making that clear.

[Admin]

As long as the usb cable is not plugged in, the usb uart does not interfere with the bluesmirf (I use it all the time) so it should not interfere with a camera (cmu or blackfin) interfaced via ttl serial. (I'm just speculating though)

Yea, as long as USB isn't plugged in, you can use the UART. Just remember to unplug your cam before plugging in USB, or you might fry something . . .

Anyway, you (and about 20 other people who asked the same question) inspired me to write this:
http://www.societyofrobots.com/robot_faq.shtml#camera_microcontroller

Hope it helps!