I really like remote controlled cameras. Unfortunatelly, affordable ones are very rare these days (like Pentax Optio S1) . An infrared remote control was considered standard accessory during the good old days of mini-dv and other tape camcorders but now one has to try hard to find the little red-purple piece of plastic at the front face of contemporary video equipment.
So,I decided to make an arduino infrared remote controlled camera array . An arduino prototype board with an infrared led and two servos controls at least four different pieces of video equipment and has a few options useful for nature and wild life photography as well. A motorized camera rig is on the way.
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| Oblique view of the camera array |
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| Rear view of the camera array |
Camera array in action
Arduino sends infrared remote codes to the cameras in order to control functions like shutter press/release, zoom in /out, snapshot recording and video recording toggle. Arduino infrared is controlled remotely by either by a PWM R/C remote control , a serial digital link (or Xbee) , a 433MHZ 4-Channel button remote control or locally using butons on the arduino board itself. Even two servos can be connected on the board to control shutter and zoom in manual-only cameras. A relay output and an user configurable input can be connected to a PIR detector or an infrared barrier.
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| A "hacked" 433MHZ radio link -we just get TTL Rx/Tx signals and 5V to feed Arduino |
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| Arduino infrared prototype feeded by a 7.4V LiPo (5400mah!!) , a 3A/ 5V swiching regulator, and a hacked 433Mhz serial link . Bottom center is the Infrared led and one of the two optional servos for shutter and zoom functions. |
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| The not-so-innocent cheap helicopter model remote control and hacked 433Mhz serial receiver. Everything inside original remote was discarded and a 433Mhz serial link (the same as the receiver) was added together with an arduino mini at 16 Mhz, another two axis left joystick and two extra buttons below it. Power comes from 4 NimH batteries and a 5V/3A switching regulator, Line-of-view range is about 300 meters. |
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| Arduino infrared prototype is controlled by an -also hacked - 4-channel 433 Mhz garage door receiver. The minimalistic remote shown on the right has a line-of-view range of 300 meters ! It can control shutter , Video recording and Zoom functions of every camera in the array. |
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| 2 channels of a common PWM R/C receiver are connected to the arduino prototype. We can control
shutter , Video recording and Zoom functions of every camera in the array also, using flap (CH6) switch for shutter and Video record toggle, and throttle (or elevator) joystick (CH3/CH1) for Zooming functions. |
Another useful option is the built-in intervalometer which takes time-lapse videos like this one :
You can see a FHD of the above video if you click on the following link :
or this one :
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