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  4. Clarification regarding locally saving images from Hi-Res camera

Clarification regarding locally saving images from Hi-Res camera

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  • David SmythD Offline
    David SmythD Offline
    David Smyth
    Contributor
    wrote on last edited by David Smyth
    #1

    I was wondering if it would be possible to clarify how to locally save images captured by the hi-res camera for post-flight processing? I've looked at some related questions in the forum but it's not fully clear how to do this using the packages currently available on http://voxl-packages.modalai.com/stable.

    My use case is to be able to selectively save individual hi-res images or to start & end a hi-res recording mid-flight using LTE/VPN approach.

    It seems like voxl-logger is probably the tool for this in future but saving NV21 frames isn't supported by it at the moment.

    It seems like the most straightforward options currently are:

    • Use ffmpeg (https://gitlab.com/voxl-public/voxl-sdk/third-party/voxl-ffmpeg)
    • Use voxl-rtsp (deprecated) https://gitlab.com/voxl-public/Deprecated/voxl-rtsp
    • Use voxl-streamer to try to stream the images and save on my laptop connected to the vpn (don't have enough bandwidth so not a realistic option)

    Is that correct or have I missed something? If so which should I use?

    Thanks.

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    • David SmythD Offline
      David SmythD Offline
      David Smyth
      Contributor
      wrote on last edited by David Smyth
      #2

      Apologies, I also forgot to add the following:

      • Follow the approach here https://forum.modalai.com/topic/648/video-recording-from-a-4k-camera-to-a-sd-card/11?_=1648213849768 and use the of voxl-streamer here: https://gitlab.com/voxl-public/voxl-sdk/services/apq8096-camera-server/-/tree/streaming-plus-capturing-hires. There still seem to be a couple of bugs here.
      Eric KatzfeyE 1 Reply Last reply
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      • David SmythD David Smyth

        Apologies, I also forgot to add the following:

        • Follow the approach here https://forum.modalai.com/topic/648/video-recording-from-a-4k-camera-to-a-sd-card/11?_=1648213849768 and use the of voxl-streamer here: https://gitlab.com/voxl-public/voxl-sdk/services/apq8096-camera-server/-/tree/streaming-plus-capturing-hires. There still seem to be a couple of bugs here.
        Eric KatzfeyE Online
        Eric KatzfeyE Online
        Eric Katzfey
        ModalAI Team
        wrote on last edited by
        #3

        @David-Smyth Yes, that is the best way forward. But it really only works in 1080p right now. As you can tell there are still a few bugs to be worked out. That will get you a recording of video, but not individual snapshots. And the video will be h264 / h265 compressed, not raw NV21 frames. 4k and 720p do not work well right now. We are trying to fix all of these issues and add a snapshot capability but that won't be available until we can complete the work.

        David SmythD 1 Reply Last reply
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        • Eric KatzfeyE Eric Katzfey

          @David-Smyth Yes, that is the best way forward. But it really only works in 1080p right now. As you can tell there are still a few bugs to be worked out. That will get you a recording of video, but not individual snapshots. And the video will be h264 / h265 compressed, not raw NV21 frames. 4k and 720p do not work well right now. We are trying to fix all of these issues and add a snapshot capability but that won't be available until we can complete the work.

          David SmythD Offline
          David SmythD Offline
          David Smyth
          Contributor
          wrote on last edited by
          #4

          @Eric-Katzfey That's great, thanks for the info. I'm still getting to grips with how everything works, looking forward to having this functionality up and running 😁

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          • David SmythD Offline
            David SmythD Offline
            David Smyth
            Contributor
            wrote on last edited by
            #5

            I now have a 1080p h265 video which is great, but the focal plane seems to be about a foot in front of the camera. I've seen in other forum posts that I need to twist some black plastic around the lens to focus it. Would it be possible to provide a diagram/video showing how to do this without damaging the camera? There's not much space for a pliers! I've attached a screenshot of a page around 1ft from the camera for reference ! vlcsnap-2022-03-31-17h21m12s560-min.png

            David SmythD 1 Reply Last reply
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            • David SmythD David Smyth

              I now have a 1080p h265 video which is great, but the focal plane seems to be about a foot in front of the camera. I've seen in other forum posts that I need to twist some black plastic around the lens to focus it. Would it be possible to provide a diagram/video showing how to do this without damaging the camera? There's not much space for a pliers! I've attached a screenshot of a page around 1ft from the camera for reference ! vlcsnap-2022-03-31-17h21m12s560-min.png

              David SmythD Offline
              David SmythD Offline
              David Smyth
              Contributor
              wrote on last edited by
              #6

              @Eric-Katzfey sorry meant to tag you.

              Eric KatzfeyE 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • David SmythD David Smyth

                @Eric-Katzfey sorry meant to tag you.

                Eric KatzfeyE Online
                Eric KatzfeyE Online
                Eric Katzfey
                ModalAI Team
                wrote on last edited by
                #7

                @David-Smyth Can you post a picture of the camera you want to refocus? I'll ask around the office to see who knows how to refocus it properly without damaging anything.

                David SmythD 1 Reply Last reply
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                • Eric KatzfeyE Eric Katzfey

                  @David-Smyth Can you post a picture of the camera you want to refocus? I'll ask around the office to see who knows how to refocus it properly without damaging anything.

                  David SmythD Offline
                  David SmythD Offline
                  David Smyth
                  Contributor
                  wrote on last edited by David Smyth
                  #8

                  @Eric-Katzfey sure thing, it's the hi-res on the voxl m500 (circled in blue).
                  277836242_1126790018157171_6339154366612428922_n(1)(1).jpg

                  Eric KatzfeyE 1 Reply Last reply
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                  • David SmythD David Smyth

                    @Eric-Katzfey sure thing, it's the hi-res on the voxl m500 (circled in blue).
                    277836242_1126790018157171_6339154366612428922_n(1)(1).jpg

                    Eric KatzfeyE Online
                    Eric KatzfeyE Online
                    Eric Katzfey
                    ModalAI Team
                    wrote on last edited by Eric Katzfey
                    #9

                    @David-Smyth Here's some advice from one of our technicians: "He has to use thin needle nose pliers or tweezers to get access to the notches on the hires camera. Extreme caution is needed here. It's very simple for the pliers to slip & scratch the lens. Turn counter-clock-wise bit by bit to focus. To be cautious, I would really recommend taking off the top bar off, take the two front screws off the hires camera, take out the hires form the flight deck, use pliers from the side to initially break the seal and focus it, then place back reassembled"

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                    • Adrian HidalgoA Offline
                      Adrian HidalgoA Offline
                      Adrian Hidalgo
                      ModalAI Team
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #10

                      @David-Smyth, I can help out. If you want to attempt at adjusting the hires without taking it out, use either thin needle nose pliers or paddle tweezers to grab the notches & turn counterclockwise. Will have some resistance, that's normal. Arrows in the pic show the flat spots to grab. See image below:
                      IMG_1378.jpg
                      Be cautious using this method as the pliers slip really easily and scratch the lens.

                      Other method would be to take out the hires from the flight deck adjust and place back in. Minimum risk to scratching the lens.
                      First take out both Philips head screws on the side retaining the top bar. There are two on either side. See pic below:
                      IMG_1380.jpg
                      Take out the bar.
                      IMG_1379.jpg
                      Then push out quantity two M1.6 screw holding the hires in
                      IMG_1381.jpg
                      Slide the hires out. It'll still be attached to the Voxl-Flight(should have enough slack to slide out from its recess
                      Use pliers to grab notches and twist counterclockwise.
                      IMG_1382.JPG
                      IMG_1383.JPG
                      Hope that helps clarify things. Feel free to reach out if you have any more questions!
                      Adrian

                      David SmythD 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • Adrian HidalgoA Adrian Hidalgo

                        @David-Smyth, I can help out. If you want to attempt at adjusting the hires without taking it out, use either thin needle nose pliers or paddle tweezers to grab the notches & turn counterclockwise. Will have some resistance, that's normal. Arrows in the pic show the flat spots to grab. See image below:
                        IMG_1378.jpg
                        Be cautious using this method as the pliers slip really easily and scratch the lens.

                        Other method would be to take out the hires from the flight deck adjust and place back in. Minimum risk to scratching the lens.
                        First take out both Philips head screws on the side retaining the top bar. There are two on either side. See pic below:
                        IMG_1380.jpg
                        Take out the bar.
                        IMG_1379.jpg
                        Then push out quantity two M1.6 screw holding the hires in
                        IMG_1381.jpg
                        Slide the hires out. It'll still be attached to the Voxl-Flight(should have enough slack to slide out from its recess
                        Use pliers to grab notches and twist counterclockwise.
                        IMG_1382.JPG
                        IMG_1383.JPG
                        Hope that helps clarify things. Feel free to reach out if you have any more questions!
                        Adrian

                        David SmythD Offline
                        David SmythD Offline
                        David Smyth
                        Contributor
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #11

                        @Adrian-Hidalgo @Eric-Katzfey Thanks for the reply, much appreciated. I'll give that a go.

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