Re: Wiring two cameras
 

Actually, conceptually it is not that simple. Remember, the challenge is to come up with a real stereo correlation solution, not a simple geometric one. The biggest problem is that there are multiple vision tetras out on the field. You have to compute the true correlation between the camera images to determine if both cameras are looking at the same target. Only then can you back-solve the geometry.

If I am going to give away six dozens tasty treats without allowing any for myself, I have to make sure that the challenge is really worth it! C'mon, are you all going to leave Kevin as the only contender?

-dave

Re: Wiring two cameras
 

Ummmmmmmmmmm....
I like Donuts :D

if i cant get some more funds maybe i can convince our programmer to do it
....He likes donuts too :cool:

Re: Wiring two cameras
 

I think it's doable, with enough if statements. :p But, once again, my inspiration is not limited by lack of programming prowess, or lack of time, but rather lack of resources. Pity we don't have a mob boss *coughbeattycough* doing our fundraising, or I'd be all over this. ;) Enjoy the donuts, Kevin.

Re: Wiring two cameras
 

Dave,

Well, I've hit a snag. After an all-night Mountain Dew and pizza-fueled programming session, I've got 19 robot controllers setup as a pipelined stereo vision processor running the 27,000 lines of MER stereo vision code that I ported to PIC C18. I have an additional 53 robot controllers running a pipelined version of the MER "GESTALT" local path planner. Everything seems to run pretty well, but my EX18-12 battery completely discharges in only 5 seconds. I asked the crack FIRST engineering staff to make an exception to rule <R46> and allow me to add the additional three batteries I need, but they wouldn't budge. I then asked if I could use a flux capacitor for power, but that didn't go over too well, either (they did say I could use it for decorative purposes, though). Anyway, can I get some partial credit for the effort? I'd be pretty happy with just two dozen.

-Kevin

Re: Wiring two cameras
 

If you use the flux capacitor your robot will still have to drive 88mph. :ahh:

Re: Wiring two cameras
 

Dave, is IFI giving you a kickback? For $40 out of your own pocket you get multiple teams buying $200 cameras from IFI. That's not to mention the 60+ robot controllers that Kevin bought ;)

Re: Wiring two cameras
 

I thought the flux capacitor let you travel through time, it was the plutonium that gave that 1.21 giga-watts of power (then came Mr. Fusion, which kinda makes me wonder, where did all that extra plutonium go anyways? If it never left the car, then when the train killed the delorean, wouldn't there be a big problem?).</offtopic>

Kevin, what about a wall outlet (with an adapter, of course)? 500ft extention cord? =D

Re: Wiring two cameras
 

Kevin,
The flux capacitor should have been allowed under the flowchart as long as it met the single component maximum cost. I did check with Digikey and they no longer carry the line. Apparently there is a world wide shortage of material now that we are approaching a sunspot minimum. The plutonium is another problem as it does not pass the hazardous material test and the Mr. Fusion would not either for the smell of the garbage you put in. (Inspection list "Do you have anything that smells bad or can damage the carpet?") However, you could charge it up by having all the competition attendees hold hands and shuffle across the carpet. (I am not volunteering for the last person in the line, I am going to be busy that day!) See, only simple solutions, I don't drink Dew so my head is clear.

Re: Wiring two cameras
 

I believe the unit of measure was jiga-watts vice giga-watts... ;)

Re: Wiring two cameras
 

Instead of coming up with a complex stereocamera system, could you come up with a somewhat mechanical one. If memory serves me correct, you can set up the CMUcams to drive servos to center a color on the screen. If you then read the rotation with a potentiometer, couldn't you just triangulate the distance?

Re: Wiring two cameras
 

You don't even need potentiometers... you can just read the values of the pan servos. If you scroll up a ways, I talked about how you could triangulate it, and then Dave explained why it's not quite that simple.

Re: Wiring two cameras
 

Thus we come to the nut of the problem. That would work if you could guarantee that only one object of the target color could ever be in the field of view of the cameras. But since there may be up to four vision tetras visible from any location, plus the potential for background items of the same color to be detected, you will need to deteremine the true correlation of the objects in the image to determine if the cameras are looking at the same target object.

-dave

Re: Wiring two cameras
 

So in the Team Update 3, it said we could use another vision camera on our robot. Does that include any other types of cameras, such as USB? Some teams will be using Co-Processors, and thus have the capabilities to use more than two cameras, is this use even allowed? Thanks for all your help, and 955 will be the ones who win the donuts.

Re: Wiring two cameras
 

And yet after... 3 days of trying I still havent gotten one camera to control anything but the servo on the camera board :( . Back to re-reading for a 20th time.



I think I know how to get two involved and finding the correct tetra between the cameras but again I need to get it working with one first.

-Mike

Re: Wiring two cameras
 

Two cameras? Jeez, we're still trying to figure out how to implement one camera... :confused: