Difference between revisions of "Bullet Time Camera"
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(Put a sample .gif here!) | (Put a sample .gif here!) | ||
(Put a pic of the Bullet Time Camera here) | (Put a pic of the Bullet Time Camera here) | ||
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| + | =Slack Channel= | ||
| + | We actively discuss the Bullet Time Camera system in the MakerFX Slack workspace in the #mfx-bullet-time channel. | ||
=Hardware= | =Hardware= | ||
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*The control application is written in Swift and runs in Xcode | *The control application is written in Swift and runs in Xcode | ||
*The control scripts are run from a mac terminal window | *The control scripts are run from a mac terminal window | ||
| + | *To be able to run the scripts, you'll need to have an ssh key already setup on each pi | ||
=Hardware Setup= | =Hardware Setup= | ||
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=Todo= | =Todo= | ||
*Remove hard coded paths from source | *Remove hard coded paths from source | ||
| + | *Register domains | ||
=Ideas for Improvements= | =Ideas for Improvements= | ||
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*Continuous Video to avoid timing issues | *Continuous Video to avoid timing issues | ||
*Clamps to mount lights to frame | *Clamps to mount lights to frame | ||
| − | *Move to POE (power over ethernet) - for example, 3 of [https://www.amazon.com/BV-Tech-Port-Switch-Ports-Uplink/dp/B005GAATOG these switches] ($73 at amazon), and 24 of [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MDLUSE7/ these adapters] ($10.89 at amazon - need to find something less expensive) | + | *Move to POE (power over ethernet) - for example, 3 of [https://www.amazon.com/BV-Tech-Port-Switch-Ports-Uplink/dp/B005GAATOG these switches] ($73 at amazon), and 24 of [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MDLUSE7/ these adapters] ($10.89 at amazon - need to find something less expensive) New find: AliExpress - $75.04 for an 8-port POE switch and all the cables. (So $300 to get 4 so that we have a spare...) |
*Use the new [https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/piserver/ Raspberry Pi PiServer] to reduce the need for SD Cards by using PXE "pronounced pixie" booting | *Use the new [https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/piserver/ Raspberry Pi PiServer] to reduce the need for SD Cards by using PXE "pronounced pixie" booting | ||
| + | ** We talked about using one of the small donated computers - disk space will be an issue, as you need to have enough disk space for each OS image (yikes!) | ||
*Use some nature of computer vision to help with aiming | *Use some nature of computer vision to help with aiming | ||
*Make props for photos | *Make props for photos | ||
*Make a black box for kids to stand on - or for women to put their purse / phone in | *Make a black box for kids to stand on - or for women to put their purse / phone in | ||
| + | *Switch the control app from MacOS to a Raspberry Pi | ||
| + | *Create website for BTCam | ||
Latest revision as of 04:46, 16 January 2018
Contents
Overview
Created by Ben Rigas, the Bullet Time Camera uses 24 Raspberry Pis and Pi Cameras to take 24 simultaneous photos, stitch them together and share a 360 degree animated image.
(Put a sample .gif here!) (Put a pic of the Bullet Time Camera here)
Slack Channel
We actively discuss the Bullet Time Camera system in the MakerFX Slack workspace in the #mfx-bullet-time channel.
Hardware
- Custom bent PVC frame, 10 foot diameter, 7 feet tall. Breaks into sections, fits into minivan.
- 24 Raspberry Pi Computers
- 24 Pi Cameras
- 24 SD Cards
- 24 Custom 3D-Printed Pi + Pi Cam mounts
- 24 USB power cables (6 ft?)
- 25 custom ethernet cables
- 4 Anker USB Power Supplies (this one?)
- 48 port network switch
- Zipties
- Velcro Cable Ties
- Black draping material
- Large television & mount for crowd
- MacOS Computer to run the swift application
Software Stack
- BulletTimeControl - Github
- The control application is written in Swift and runs in Xcode
- The control scripts are run from a mac terminal window
- To be able to run the scripts, you'll need to have an ssh key already setup on each pi
Hardware Setup
- Build PVC Frame
- Mount 24 Pi + Pi Cam assemblies
- Run USB power cables, connect to Pis and USB power supplies
- Run Ethernet cables
- Connect all Pis and control computer to ethernet switch
- Connect control computer to network with ethernet adapter
- Test Operation
- Attach Drapes
- Setup Lighting
Operation
Ben is working to simplify this - here's the process for now :)
Startup
- start all the webservers (one per pi) using the run-server.sh script
Taking photos
- click the button
- look at the preview
- find the file
- share the file
Shutdown
- Turn on all the lasers with the turn-on-lasers.sh script - since the lasers go off when the pi shuts down, this lets you confirm shutdown of each pi
- Shutdown all the pis with the shutdown-pis.sh script
Todo
- Remove hard coded paths from source
- Register domains
Ideas for Improvements
- Metal pins instead of zip ties. Ian bought an assortment at Harbor Freight that can be tested
- Add watermark / footer to images / animation to promote the makerspace, maker faire, foundation, or other event, etc.
- Some nature of kiosk to let the person get their own image without the operator needing to send
- Tablet control
- Video monitor
- Continuous Video to avoid timing issues
- Clamps to mount lights to frame
- Move to POE (power over ethernet) - for example, 3 of these switches ($73 at amazon), and 24 of these adapters ($10.89 at amazon - need to find something less expensive) New find: AliExpress - $75.04 for an 8-port POE switch and all the cables. (So $300 to get 4 so that we have a spare...)
- Use the new Raspberry Pi PiServer to reduce the need for SD Cards by using PXE "pronounced pixie" booting
- We talked about using one of the small donated computers - disk space will be an issue, as you need to have enough disk space for each OS image (yikes!)
- Use some nature of computer vision to help with aiming
- Make props for photos
- Make a black box for kids to stand on - or for women to put their purse / phone in
- Switch the control app from MacOS to a Raspberry Pi
- Create website for BTCam
