webcam for autonomous aircraft project
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From: P.Schuman on 5 Apr 2008 11:49 Adam Chapman wrote:> > The camera is a Trendnet IP-TV301W model, specification at > http://trendnet.com/products/proddetail.asp?prod=110_TV-IP301W&cat=48. It's been interesting reading.... but was wondering why you went with a larger heavy camera vs the tiny 2.4Ghz spycams you see advertised. Do you only need a webcam for a visual view, OR is this part of the onboard autonomous navigation and you need a "good" camera image to use for processing ?
From: Jeff Liebermann on 5 Apr 2008 12:40 On Sat, 5 Apr 2008 10:55:27 -0500, "P.Schuman" <pschuman_no_spam_me(a)interserv.com> wrote: >do you have a UK link for the project, or photos ? Well, he attends the University of Manchester: <http://www.manchester.ac.uk> There might be something on the web site. I'm too lazy to search. Duh. I just noticed that the title is for an "autonomous" aircraft. That means no direct remote control with lots of computing horsepower in the air to avoid obstacles (buildings) and to navigate. This is gonna be a big and heavy aircraft or the computing is going to be done on the ground via a wireless link. (Note: I'm guessing). As I previously mentioned, it's considered good form for students to do their own homework and research. Most universities have adequate resources for answering basic path loss and antenna questions. Hmmm... this is probably not the same project, but the university does have some interesting projects: <http://personalpages.manchester.ac.uk/staff/Dominic.Diston/MyTeaching/MACE31501/Aircraft%20Group%20Design%202007%20v2.1.pdf> -- Jeff Liebermann jeffl(a)cruzio.com 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558
From: P.Schuman on 5 Apr 2008 13:00 "Jeff Liebermann" <jeffl(a)cruzio.com> wrote in message news:63afv35jtmah1u13vkuj3o0bp2p6ogv8eh(a)4ax.com... > On Sat, 5 Apr 2008 10:55:27 -0500, "P.Schuman" > <pschuman_no_spam_me(a)interserv.com> wrote: > >>do you have a UK link for the project, or photos ? > > Well, he attends the University of Manchester: > <http://www.manchester.ac.uk> > There might be something on the web site. I'm too lazy to search. > > Duh. I just noticed that the title is for an "autonomous" aircraft. > That means no direct remote control with lots of computing horsepower > in the air to avoid obstacles (buildings) and to navigate. This is > gonna be a big and heavy aircraft or the computing is going to be done > on the ground via a wireless link. (Note: I'm guessing). > > As I previously mentioned, it's considered good form for students to > do their own homework and research. Most universities have adequate > resources for answering basic path loss and antenna questions. > > Hmmm... this is probably not the same project, but the university does > have some interesting projects: > <http://personalpages.manchester.ac.uk/staff/Dominic.Diston/MyTeaching/MACE31501/Aircraft%20Group%20Design%202007%20v2.1.pdf> > > I've seen on either TLC or Discovery the DARPA competition for the land based vehicles. Pretty amazing..... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DARPA_Grand_Challenge
From: Adam Chapman on 5 Apr 2008 16:19 On Apr 5, 4:49 pm, "P.Schuman" <pschuman_no_spam...(a)interserv.com> wrote: > Adam Chapman wrote:> > > The camera is a Trendnet IP-TV301W model, specification at > >http://trendnet.com/products/proddetail.asp?prod=110_TV-IP301W&cat=48.. > > It's been interesting reading.... > but was wondering why you went with a larger heavy camera > vs the tiny 2.4Ghz spycams you see advertised. > > Do you only need a webcam for a visual view, > OR > is this part of the onboard autonomous navigation > and you need a "good" camera image to use for processing ? I wanted a digital image to be processed in Matlab, which can aquire images over an IP protocol, and is excellent software for image processing because it is built around matrix algebra. Also I wanted a camera that output images in digital 'pixel' format because converiing a frame from line-tracing cameras into digital format is very slow. In another project I am working on for the (http://www.challenge.mod.uk/) we tried using an analogue camera on an RC helicopter and the quality was awful- particularly we had problems with colour synchronisation and ghosting. The aircraft in this project is for the ESO-UAS competition (http:// www.hertfordshire-connect.com/default.asp?ContentID=1234) where we are legally allowed a UAV weighing up to 20kg! We can't make it this heavy though because the wingspan would be ridiculous. I wanted to put a mini-itx computer onboard to do the processing but the weight (~2kg) was not justified. Basically I chose a camera that had a good digital quality and allowed tuning of parameters like frame rate, exposure time etc. I also liked the fact that it had a serial output, which could perhaps be used on a future aircraft to drive servos, allowing a pan/tilt system or even the aircraft flight control system! I'm only working towards an image recognition capability at the moment so that's why I chose a good quality camera. I can probably take the casing off to save some weight too. Next year I would like to develop a visual gudance capability, which would be really cool and far more accurate than GPS. I think I have my antenna setup sorted- although I have another question: If I use a 2-way splitter on the aircraft to feed the 2 antennas, will there be any problems with recieving a signal from the ground station? What I mean is; is a splitter a bi-directioinal component or does it only allow a signal to travel in one direction? Adam
From: Adam Chapman on 5 Apr 2008 16:29 On Apr 5, 9:19 pm, Adam Chapman <adam.chap...(a)student.manchester.ac.uk> wrote: > On Apr 5, 4:49 pm, "P.Schuman" <pschuman_no_spam...(a)interserv.com> > wrote: > > > Adam Chapman wrote:> > > > The camera is a Trendnet IP-TV301W model, specification at > > >http://trendnet.com/products/proddetail.asp?prod=110_TV-IP301W&cat=48. > > > It's been interesting reading.... > > but was wondering why you went with a larger heavy camera > > vs the tiny 2.4Ghz spycams you see advertised. > > > Do you only need a webcam for a visual view, > > OR > > is this part of the onboard autonomous navigation > > and you need a "good" camera image to use for processing ? > > I wanted a digital image to be processed in Matlab, which can aquire > images over an IP protocol, and is excellent software for image > processing because it is built around matrix algebra. > Also I wanted a camera that output images in digital 'pixel' format > because converiing a frame from line-tracing cameras into digital > format is very slow. In another project I am working on for the > (http://www.challenge.mod.uk/) we tried using an analogue camera on an > RC helicopter and the quality was awful- particularly we had problems > with colour synchronisation and ghosting. > The aircraft in this project is for the ESO-UAS competition (http://www.hertfordshire-connect.com/default.asp?ContentID=1234) where we are > legally allowed a UAV weighing up to 20kg! We can't make it this heavy > though because the wingspan would be ridiculous. > I wanted to put a mini-itx computer onboard to do the processing but > the weight (~2kg) was not justified. > Basically I chose a camera that had a good digital quality and allowed > tuning of parameters like frame rate, exposure time etc. I also liked > the fact that it had a serial output, which could perhaps be used on a > future aircraft to drive servos, allowing a pan/tilt system or even > the aircraft flight control system! > I'm only working towards an image recognition capability at the moment > so that's why I chose a good quality camera. I can probably take the > casing off to save some weight too. Next year I would like to develop > a visual gudance capability, which would be really cool and far more > accurate than GPS. > > I think I have my antenna setup sorted- although I have another > question: If I use a 2-way splitter on the aircraft to feed the 2 > antennas, will there be any problems with recieving a signal from the > ground station? What I mean is; is a splitter a bi-directioinal > component or does it only allow a signal to travel in one direction? > > Adam I think our aircraft mass is 12kg, 6m wingspan. We won't release photos until the competition is held in June/July so other teams can't steal our ideas. I'd be happy to fill you all in with info then though. I am also working on the air-to-air refuelling project but it's nothing to do with the aircraft this thread is about. Adam
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