Camera on your bot...

[jzawacki]

I started this thread for shep (and fun), but it is a quick overview of how I would see someone easily adding a camera to their bot for whatever reason.

Here is what you need:

WiFi Camera and WiFi Access point/router that can cover your entire yard OR Wireless camera with receiver and video capture card for PC.
Power for the camera
Webcam software on your PC to receive the video

I believe the easy part is powering the camera.  A quick search at bestbuy.com for a wireless camera "kit" is $90 and it runs on 9V.  The easiest way to power it would be to tap into the onboard 24v battery and use a 9V voltage regulator that only cost about $1.

Now, the hard part is figuring out where you can mount the camera without it getting in the way.  Top and sides are out of the question.  That only leaves the back.  You may be able to come up with some kind of bracket that you can mount to the back handle and try to keep it as low and close to the bot as possible.  Last thing you want is your bot getting stuck on tree branches because of your camera.

Shep, I expect to see a live video feed from your bott by the end of next week. 

[toolbelt]

If the camera is small enough mount it on the front of the bot, right over top of the light. (use the window for the light to feed your cables/antenna through. Then build something like this toy boat has to cover everything up:

 http://www.rc-hobby-universe.com/nitro-rc-boats.html

Tree limbs should not hang it up if you keep nice smooth shapes to everything.

PS.  I found the boat via google images and I have no interest in that site what so ever!

[shep874]

Hey thanks Toolbelt and jzawacki,  My billie is in Billie goat reform school at KA.  I think he was put into solitary confinement...  I packed everything up and sent it to KA to be made to run..  When he gets back I will be mounting a camera on billie.

[prb238]

As far as powering the camera, you would want to know how many amps the camera uses when it is on.  Then you see how many Amp/hours the battery is rated at and divide the two to figure out how long you can power the device.

I just did a similar calculation when I added an RF receiver component to my robot to remotely control it (charge and pause button on the back).  I bought a cheap lead acid battery pack which was rated at 7.5A/hr.  The RF receiver uses 8 milli-amps when at rest and 30 milli-amps when it receives a signal and triggers a relay.  So, if the receiver is always at rest, it can be powered for around 39 days on one battery charge.  So, average out the at rest time and the triggered time and it probably averages out to 30 days before I have to recharge the battery.

Now back to the camera idea.  Ideally you would want a camera that you can turn on and off so that it is not sucking battery when you don't need it on.  And depending on the current that it uses, you may or may not be concerned with the drain it has on the Lawnbott battery if you tap into that.  If you have more than one battery in your robot it is probably not a huge concern.

Sounds like a cool idea!  I would love to have that on my robot because then I could easily tell when it was stuck when I am not home - I could then call home and have my wife or kids bring "Moe" back to the charger.

[jzawacki]

I would love to have that on my robot because then I could easily tell when it was stuck when I am not home

You don't need a camera sucking up power for that.  Just add an accelerometer and you'll be set, as you can see from the data I collected a while ago.

[Modog]

I like the camera idea.  I hope you find a way to make it work.  I'd love to see you guys also find a way to add a solar panel to extend the mowing sessions.  The solar panel could be mounted above the unit from the handle bracket.  Keep thinking!  I thought recently about adding a "cat chip" to Modog to help find my unit in my 3/4 acre yard at night.  We could buy the solar panel at Walmart that is normally used to keep a battery active when the truck battery is left inactive for several weeks during hunting season.  I realize we would need a transformer to convert to the proper voltage for the lawnbott.  Again, be thinking!  I'd certainly buy it and try it. 

[RobotLady]

Hi, Modog, when you say "cat chip" are talking about an RF tag?  We actually have such a device in stock (just one unit).  We are thinking of adding the product to our web site.  The one we have is a high quality pet locating device.  It comes with 2 tags.  It uses beeping and lights that will help you locate your robot (or with the extra tag, your cat, your keys, etc.)  The max range is 400ft, so if your bot was taken by a neighborhood kid, you could get it back easily.  Call if you are interested in purchasing it.  (847) 960-8520 Paradise Robotics  Cheers, Robotlady

[Modog]

At one time when Modog was NOT coming back home consistently, I wasted a lot to time every night on my 3/4 acre yard trying to locate him.  I seriously thought about getting a RF chip locater.  I instead invested in another battery and no longer had to hunt for Modog.  Again, I'm in favor of any solar-powered options and I think many other folks are too.  Weve got some smart folks on the forum and we need to encourage them to design and experiment.  cool!

[toolbelt]

Hi Modog,
If I wanted a light on my Junior I would consider mounting one of those solar powered walkway lights.  They have LEDs in them, are solar powered and very small in size. Plus the light lasts most of the night.  If I were to get creative I would mount it like those old whip CB antennas.  That would allow for it going under low hanging limbs without getting hung up.  Or, I would just take the light apart and using the parts install the unit directly onto the shell.  Walmart sells them for just a few bucks each.

[shep874]

I have put a solar light on my Billie.  I used a piece of flat aluminum (easy to work with and strong enough to hold the light).  I used a solar light off of mailbox light house that I sell.  any small light will do.  I bent the aluminum in the shape of a U.  Mounted it to the hood of the Bott leaving enough height so that when it goes into the docking station, it hang over the station. 

I am still looking for a camera that I can mount on the bot and see on my computer what he is looking at..  I do not have much knowledge on this, so if you can give me a brand and model that would do the job, I would be most appreciative.

[shermbb]

The only inexpensive (relatively) option that I have seen is the x10 cameras. You can also daisy-chain the x10 receivers and transmitters to extend the range a little.

There are other options that I have seen on the internet, but they tend to get pricey, and require the use of their own software for viewing the image.

I may try the x10 stuff. I already have Insteon hardware, dvr cards, Active Webcam software, and the  Homeseer software, so a test of the x10 camera wouldn't require too much effort.   

[prb238]

Nobody taken a leap with this idea yet?

I took some next steps. Here is where I am and what I plan to do:

- I have a small mini color wireless camera (operates on 900mhz range so does not conflict with wireless network) and wireless receiver. It says it can operate up to 300 feet (clear line of sight) but I ordered a +5db antenna to increase the range.
- The camera operates on 9v DC. It even has a built-in 9v battery connector, but my first thoughtl is to have a separate rechargeable LiFePo pack in the robot that supplies power to the camera. The battery will charge when the robot is in the garage with the same method as the robot batteries.  Or, I may decide to just pull the power from the robot battery and not worry about an extra battery - this would be a lot simpler!
- I'll have a voltage regulator between the battery and the camera to supply 9v DC
- I also have an RF receiver with relays in my robot which needs 12v DC. Right now I have an extra battery powering that device (see thread on RF Winter project for details) - this allows remote control of the charge, pause, on, and off buttons on the back panel. So, if I decide to just use the robot battery I'll likely put in a voltage regulator circuit for this device as well.
- I will likely also add another relay/RF receiver to allow remotely turning the camera on and off to save battery power.
- The camera I bought uses 500ma when on and the RF receiver uses very little power when it is asleep and 30ma when triggered
- I plan on positioning the camera so that it points out the hole in front for the blinking light. I may just remove the plastic covering and replace it with a clear material - maybe acrylic or something like that.
- I am waiting for the new antenna for the camera receiver to come in as well as the voltage regulators. Once I have those parts I can start testing.

I'll post an update as I progress.

If anyone else has tried this so far please let me know what worked or didn't work so I don't repeat the same mistakes.

I also welcome additional ideas and ways to make this a cost-effective solution.

Paul

[prb238]

I just got the new +5db antenna today for the wireless receiver.  I tested it out and it looks like it works throughout my entire yard.  Just so you know what I am using:

- SecurityMan SM7034 Wireless receiver
- Antenna from L-Com - RE905U-SM
- SecurityMan wireless camera (900Mhz band) SM-8009 CMOS

Still waiting for the voltage controllers so I can put the camera in the robot.  I have a separate LiFePo battery coming as well, so I may use that at first just to do some testing before tapping into the robot battery.

[prb238]

I got it working tonight!

I wired everything up - the LiFePo (14.8v) battery to my RF receiver/relay, the receiver to a voltage regulator (adjusted to 9.6v) and then out to the camera.  I can turn the camera remotely on/off with my iPhone/iPad through the X10 commander app so the camera is not using battery when I don't need it.  I don't have the camera secured on the robot yet, but I'll work on that tomorrow.  I am going to be pointing it out of the light hole in the front - I removed the yellow plastic cover from the hole.  For now I'll probably use velcro to secure the camera and may go to a more permanent solution later.

I'll take some pictures and maybe a movie and show it in action.

Fun.

[shep874]

Hey I be looking for your video..  I would really like to try this. thanks for the info