Small rs232 RC 4 servo with PIC 16F648 for webcam control: made a webpage

[Jan Panteltje]

I have made a web page for this little project:

http://www.home.zonnet.nl/panteltje/pic/camc_pic/

Many new features have been added, such as auto panning.

Current version is 0.1.3
For any further updates keep checking the webpage from time to time.

JP

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

I have made a web page for this little project:

http://www.home.zonnet.nl/panteltje/pic/camc_pic/

Many new features have been added, such as auto panning.

Current version is 0.1.3
For any further updates keep checking the webpage from time to time.

Some photos would be nice..

Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

 

[Garrett Mace]

I have made a web page for this little project:

http://www.home.zonnet.nl/panteltje/pic/camc_pic/

Many new features have been added, such as auto panning.

Current version is 0.1.3
For any further updates keep checking the webpage from time to time.

JP

Want to join forces? I have a servo webcam project that hasn't been touched
in a while. I've been meaning to draw up some plans so others can build
this: http://www.macetech.com/cambig.jpg It also operates through the serial
port. Didn't bother with the MAX232 since communication is only one way;
just used a dropping resistor. I also have software that looks like this:
http://www.macetech.com/screenshotbig.jpg You can set "bookmarks" which are
saved pan/tilt locations you can instantly move to by double-clicking the
name. It's a Windows program but I also had a Linux/QT version somewhere if
I can dig it up.

Also made one a few years back that used a USB microcontroller to run
stepper motors and receive commands from the computer. The PC software
actually allowed remote control over the internet, it looked like this:
http://www.macetech.com/controlscrshot.jpg and the remote control was in
Java and looked like this: http://www.macetech.com/remotescrshot.jpg. It
used UDP. What I never got into was capturing the video myself and streaming
it to the remote application.

I guess you've probably got things pretty well under control on the software
side, but if I drew up my plexiglass servo pan/tilt unit, that might be
useful...

 

[Si Ballenger]

I have made a web page for this little project:

http://www.home.zonnet.nl/panteltje/pic/camc_pic/

Many new features have been added, such as auto panning.

Current version is 0.1.3
For any further updates keep checking the webpage from time to time.

JP

I checked the page and it sounds like an interesting project.
I've got a pan/tilt cam at the below page with links to how I do
it. Simple stuff that should be equally transportable to linux.
My problem is finding a dead simple and inexpensive way to
program a PIC or AVR to control the servos (I use a mini-ssc II
controller currently). Just can't seen to get things to line up
for a success.

http://www.geocities.com/zoomkat/ppswitcher-demo.htm

 

[Garrett Mace]

I checked the page and it sounds like an interesting project.
I've got a pan/tilt cam at the below page with links to how I do
it. Simple stuff that should be equally transportable to linux.
My problem is finding a dead simple and inexpensive way to
program a PIC or AVR to control the servos (I use a mini-ssc II
controller currently). Just can't seen to get things to line up
for a success.

http://www.geocities.com/zoomkat/ppswitcher-demo.htm

What, does everyone have a pan/tilt cam project? Probably.

Mine currently uses a 16F84, but I've been looking with interest Motorola's
68HC908QT1:
http://e-www.motorola.com/webapp/sps/site/prod_summary.jsp?code=68HC908QT1&nodeId=03t3ZGpnLn84498634

You'll have to cut and paste that link, I believe. Anyway, it's an 8-pin DIP
or SOIC, with 5 I/O pins and 1 input-only pin. It's also programmable
in-circuit; you can set it to enter low-voltage programming mode when pins
are pulled into certain states during startup. I think an ideal solution
would be to some of the control pins, say DTR and RTS on the serial port, to
reset the microcontroller and enter programming mode. You'd be able to
reprogram the device by merely running the right program, no jumpers
necesary and you don't have to pull the chip and stick it in a programmer.
It's also extremely cheap, 70 cents from Motorola in quantity and $2.02 from
Digikey. It has an internal oscillator you can use, but the error is +-5%
and might not be acceptable for serial comms. Seems like a neat little
low-cost chip that doesn't have any more pins than you need to control a few
servos, and can be programmed in-circuit.

 

[Jan Panteltje]

Some photos would be nice..

Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/all/1/m/019/1M129869847EFF0338P2953M2M1.JPG
Paddos on mars

Women on earth
http://www.guba.com/c/101/i/412/2004-02-16/1.phtml

 

[Jan Panteltje]

Want to join forces? I have a servo webcam project that hasn't been touched

I am not much of a team player, but if you can live with that...

in a while. I've been meaning to draw up some plans so others can build
this: http://www.macetech.com/cambig.jpg

Looks nice, transparent plastic MAC style...

It also operates through the serial
port. Didn't bother with the MAX232 since communication is only one way;
just used a dropping resistor.

Mine sends back status (position etc).

I also have software that looks like this:
http://www.macetech.com/screenshotbig.jpg You can set "bookmarks" which are

Nice control pannel, the 'home' functions I need to implement myself

saved pan/tilt locations you can instantly move to by double-clicking the
name. It's a Windows program but I also had a Linux/QT version somewhere if
I can dig it up.

Also made one a few years back that used a USB microcontroller to run
stepper motors and receive commands from the computer. The PC software
actually allowed remote control over the internet, it looked like this:
http://www.macetech.com/controlscrshot.jpg and the remote control was in
Java and looked like this: http://www.macetech.com/remotescrshot.jpg. It

Nice, simple but effective.

used UDP. What I never got into was capturing the video myself and streaming
it to the remote application.

Does not UPD lose packets? Without feedback you cannot be sure, OK
visual feedback, got it.

I guess you've probably got things pretty well under control on the software

The idea was also motion tracking, I still have to write that part.
The processing would be on the PC client side.
I have it connected now to mcam:
http://www.home.zonnet.nl/panteltje/mcam/
but the mcam server client should be modified to add the serial port, or
indeed use something like you do as a separate program.
mcam is too slow however to be usefull, I have an other USB cam that is
much faster, but only win soft for it.
mcam has been used over the web, IIRC someone even had it on a building
site in some far away place.

side, but if I drew up my plexiglass servo pan/tilt unit, that might be
useful...

Yes, the mechanics is the difficult part for me, your design looks good, and
easy to make.
JP

 

[Jan Panteltje]

I checked the page and it sounds like an interesting project.
I've got a pan/tilt cam at the below page with links to how I do
it. Simple stuff that should be equally transportable to linux.
My problem is finding a dead simple and inexpensive way to
program a PIC or AVR to control the servos (I use a mini-ssc II
controller currently).

Have a look on google for noppp (16F84)
If you use Linux I can make an archive from my modified version
for several other PICS, 'noppp' stands for no parts programmer.
Well, few parts, not more the 2$ worth, it works on a PC par port.

Just can't seen to get things to line up
for a success.

http://www.geocities.com/zoomkat/ppswitcher-demo.htm

I have played a bit with the camera position, seems to work just fine
JP

 

[Jan Panteltje]

What, does everyone have a pan/tilt cam project? Probably.

Mine currently uses a 16F84, but I've been looking with interest Motorola's
68HC908QT1:
http://e-www.motorola.com/webapp/sps/site/prod_summary.jsp?code=68HC908QT1&nodeId=03t3ZGpnLn84498634

You'll have to cut and paste that link, I believe. Anyway, it's an 8-pin DIP
or SOIC, with 5 I/O pins and 1 input-only pin. It's also programmable
in-circuit; you can set it to enter low-voltage programming mode when pins
are pulled into certain states during startup. I think an ideal solution
would be to some of the control pins, say DTR and RTS on the serial port, to
reset the microcontroller and enter programming mode.

The more expensive PICs you can program via RS232, if a bootloader is installed,
no need for hardware handshaking.
on www.voti.nl (in Dutch) you can get one with a bootloader installed I think.
Well, PICs also start in taht size and about 1.83$ or so a piece.

reprogram the device by merely running the right program, no jumpers
necesary and you don't have to pull the chip and stick it in a programmer.
It's also extremely cheap, 70 cents from Motorola in quantity and $2.02 from
Digikey. It has an internal oscillator you can use, but the error is +-5%
and might not be acceptable for serial comms. Seems like a neat little
low-cost chip that doesn't have any more pins than you need to control a few
servos, and can be programmed in-circuit.

For a mass production this price is important, for the playing field it does not hurt
to have some more IO pins...