Lab Play: 1/24/15 (Time Lapse Camera with 180 degree turret)

Started up a small project this weekend. I am utilizing a Raspberry Pi B+ model micro controller loaded with Raspbian with a Pi camera attached to the board for image capture. Using an external power source (6 volt battery pack) to provide positive and ground to bread board rails, I was able to attach the signal pin of a Radio Shack 4.6V - 6V standard servo to GPIO pin 4. Utilizing the software PWM (Phase Width Modulation) module and some time conversions for Milliseconds to Microseconds moving the servo a 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 degrees are all possible by sending the proper length signals. Picture log below.

TO DO:

• Create API based service which allows for turret and camera control. The service should also manage disk space either preventing disk full conditions with some sort of notification - or moving files to the cloud or external storage.
• Utilize ffmpeg & image magick to provide commonly used filters for video/audio
• Add a microphone.
• Add status lights to indicate recording in progress or possible issues such as disk space.

Attaching PiCam

Preparing Micro SD with OS install

Booting Up OS / Configure system

OS Config continued

OS Updates

Pi with Cam and Cam modules loaded

Just testing the cam to ensure it works. Test the limitations of the ribbon

Beginning to wire the board to power and control the servo

Power was an issue, swapped to regulated bread board PS

Working on Phase Width Modulation controls

Software Oscilloscope to monitor the GPIO currents

Getting the camera housing prepared

Placed camera in housing / calibrating servo

The Ms need conversion to Microseconds (*1000) in order to configure the proper signal for servo motion

Used a heat gun to fasten the housing to the servo plate. Adhesive sticky holds the servo to the Rasberry casing

Calibrating the turret for proper camera contr

The beta version demo. Software side is not yet complete, this is a simple demonstration of