Hi all,this post is an "how to" for an Arduino pan and tilt camera moved by a Nintendo Wii Nunchuck.Here's the video so you can check how it'll be the result. The most important thing is the precision and responsiveness of the system.Here it is for all that asked me in the past and for those interested in putting something similar in their UAVs.It's an "old" project I've posted the following video on YouTube more than a 5 months ago but never had the time to post schematics and the code online, even if a lot of people asked for it.I use an Arduino Diecimila board to have a Nintendo Wii Nunchuck control a camera mounted on a pan and tilt mechanism with two servos (Hitech HS-422).Nunchuck's accelerometer (an ADXL330) is used to move the camera.As you can see, if the Nunchuck's "Z" button is pressed, the camera position is locked.Here is picture of the pan&tilt mechanics with servos:
The code is here.You can find more infos about the code in the two links I mentioned before, but feel free to ask.The only section you should customize to adapt to your servos an need is a list of variables:refreshTime (set to 20) - minimum refresh time for servo pulseminPulse (set to 1000) - minimum pulse value for servo 1minPulse2 (set to 500) - minimum pulse value for servo 2dtime (set to10) - delay (in milliseconds) for each looppwbuffsize (set to 10) - how many values has to be buffered and the averaged (that's the same value for both servos)Next post will be regarding the evolution of that interface: changed camera and servos with a smaller and ligher one (this one) and made the connection between the Nunchuck and the camera, wireless.Hope that can be helpful and feel free to ask anything about that.Thank you and ciao,Andrea
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Hi all,this is my first blog and I wanted to share that experience with you as most of my projects are about UAV and robotics. First of all I got to thank the whole "DIYDrones" community that gave me a lot of informations and ideas in the past. And continues but... now I think it's my time to share my findings while developing my "ideas". I usually work with the Arduino open platform but lately I've been working with Gumstix hardware and I have to say that they are both great "technologies" to start you project with. My actual project is to develop and autopilot for my Omei 2000 motor glider. That's part of a series of projects, all related. In my project the authopilot module will: stabilize the flight, follow a GPS programmed path and come back home, send informations to the base station, etc. Nothing particular, nothing that you guy haven't done already. And what about sensing thermal and trying to "follow" them authomatically to increase authonomy and flight times? I've been thinking about putting very light solar panels on the wings to "recharge" batteries while flying. But I'll write more on next posts. I'd like to add something more like a pan&tilt camera, radio linked to virtual glasses with head tracking, so that has you move your head the camera moves accordingly. About that I've already made some test a few months and probably my next post will be about that. I got a video and Arduino code to share. Personally I flew with paraglider, and now I fly small and light airplanes and motor hang glider. Can't stay too much away from it. But lately (let's say one year) I don't have much time for flying and that's where it came the idea of starting with RC flight. That's all for now. I only forgot to say... forgive me for my mistakes in english as it's not my mother language. I'm italian. Thanks. Thanks. A presto, Andrea Read more…
