System Architecture - UCSD-E4E/intelligent_camera_trap GitHub Wiki

To test:

  • On the BBB, can we stream from the 360 degree camera, and record from a webcam simultaneously? What resolutions can we do this at without exceeding available USB bandwith?

Based on a few experiments, we can shoot 1280x720 on the webcam and up to 480x360 on the 360 camera This is good. That should give us plenty of resolution on the 360 cam as increasing it much beyond that will cripple the frame rate. It works on Riley's laptop with the webcams sharing the same USB bus like they will on the BBB. Still need to test on BBB though. Also, this doesn't take into account processing time, it's purely a test of USB bandwidth limits.

  • What is the power consumption in Active mode currently? Can we reduce that to <500mA?

Beaglebone Idle: ~220 mA @ 5V

> Beaglebone w/ empty USB Hub: ~230 mA @ 5V

> Ninja Turret idle w/ boost: ~110 mA, @ 5->15V 

> Ninja Turret active w/ boost: ~290 mA @ 5->15V

> BBB, no hub, 1 webcam active: ~377 mA @ 5V

> Each active webcam: ~157 mA @ 5V 

> Total active power consumption estimates: 
> * 230 + 110 + 314 =  654 mA (Stationary Turret)
> * 654 + 180 = 834 mA (Moving Turret)
  • Spec out a 4G wireless radio.

Looks like, for $90/month, Verizon caps data usage to 10GB--probably not enough to upload all of our video....Might be better to bring a router to the park and set up a network for the camera trap. (There's an internet connection in the back of the tiger enclosure--about 20 feet from where we've deployed previous iterations).

Major Decisions

  • Independent Capture Camera or Double Webcams?

See GoPro page.

  • Ninja Turtle or Single Stepper Motor Turret?
  • $90 per month hotspot worth it?
  • Hypervisor Atmega328p with custom PCB (already designed) or Arduino Pro Mini?
  • Battery size

~10 AH, still need to choose specific battery