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A Reconfigurable High-Res Network Camera

Posted by michael on Wed Dec 04, 2002 12:00 PM
from the peeping-tom dept.
Software Linux
An anonymous reader writes "This technical article describes the architecture and design philosophy behind the Elphel Model 313, an intelligent 1.3 megapixel network camera that delivers full-sized images at up to 15 frames per second. The design of the Model 313, which has an embedded Linux computer based on an Axis ETRAX 100LX RISC processor, makes use of a reconfigurable Xilinx FPGA for much of the camera's internal control logic. Because both the embedded software and FPGA hardware algorithms are released as open source technologies, developers can readily customize the Model 313's operation to meet specialized requirements."
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  • Yes (Score:5, Funny)

    by Lxy (80823) on Wednesday December 04 2002, @12:02PM (#4810992) Journal
    but can I mount it on my model train?
    • ...but is it wireless?

      Can I put a PCMCIA 802.11b adapter into it? (and use the tracks as an antenna? :P )

      • Re:Yes (Score:2)

        by Lxy (80823)
        that going to be our new catchphrase?

        I doubt it. Only when talking about webcams or trains will this come up.

        Help me out... where did the soviet russia catch phrase come up? And why is it always modded to funny?

  • Slashvertisements work! (Score:5, Interesting)

    by The J Kid (266953) on Wednesday December 04 2002, @12:05PM (#4811010) Homepage Journal
    Yep. Its' offcial:

    Slashvertisements work!
    Just read this:

    [..] and after it was mentioned on Slashdot my company (Elphel Inc.) was flooded with inquiries regarding general purpose network cameras

    • so what's the big deal with 'slashvertisements'? (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Kunta Kinte (323399) on Wednesday December 04 2002, @02:18PM (#4812187) Homepage Journal
      It's ok to showcase the technology of microsoft, apple, ibm, hp, etc.

      But if it is a small company, then discussing it on slashdot is bad?

      I for one would like to see more stories on small companies using open-source to try be make a profit. In a small way this should help promote open source adoption, as well as encourage more of people to support or start open source companies.

    • Re:Slashvertisements work! (Score:5, Interesting)

      by pjrc (134994) <paul@pjrc.com> on Wednesday December 04 2002, @04:53PM (#4813886) Homepage Journal
      Yeah, it's a product. But....

      It offers 1280x1024 at 15 frames per second. That's a LOT faster than other network cameras. That in itself is pretty newsworthy for slashdot.

      It's also open source. The software, drivers, firmware and hardware HDL code are all open. Even if it didn't have incredible performance, this makes it pretty newsworthy for slashdot. The ability to actually tweak the hardware-level processing and compression of the camera data is intriguing.

      The linked web page talks quite openly about the design process and how the thing really works (at least as a high level of abstraction). That in itself is pretty interesting and makes it fairly newsworthy for slashdot... at least as newsworthy as link to various writings describing how certain aspects of modern microprocessors work.

      So, call it a "Slashvertisement", just because it's a product for sale and the author stands to sell some.

      I think this is one of the coolest things slashdot has posted in quite some time. It's certainly a lot more interesting that yet another "sky is falling" story about privacy or copyright policy.

  • Price (Score:5, Insightful)

    by dildatron (611498) on Wednesday December 04 2002, @12:05PM (#4811014)
    I think the thing that stops a lot of people from buying network cameras is that they are too expensive, so people only buy them when they are absolutely necessay. Otherwise, people just get an old machine they had laying around and hook it up to a webcam/video camera/digital camera.

    I know I would like a couple network cams at my house, but the price is still beyond what I would pay for something I don't really need.

    However, the 1.3mp is a plus - but you could probably get an old computer and an older 1.3mp camera for much cheaper. The only reason you would really need a network cam is if space was an issue. If there was ever one for sale for around $100, I would buy one. Until then, I just don't need one that bad.

    Interesting that this one as well as all the axis ones run linux.

    • Re:Price (Score:3, Informative)

      by Hegemony (104638)
      Agreed. We had a couple Axis cameras temporarily "donated" by customers that were incredible products (easy to setup, linux based). Had them pointing at a couple foosball tables. I would definitely get one if the price point wasn't so prohibitive.

      • Re:Price (Score:3, Informative)

        by dildatron (611498)
        The cheapest ones I can find are around $200 right now... Looks like maybe only another year or so of waiting before they become cheap enough for "fun project" cameras.

        here's a $200 after rebate camera [tigerdirect.com], and the cool 802.11b ones start at around $300-$400. [tigerdirect.com] Yow!

        • Re:Price (Score:2, Interesting)

          by The Salamander (56587)
          That's pretty neat for $200. Does anybody make
          just the encoding/ethernet part without the camera?

          It would be nice to connect some existing cameras
          to my local net.

      • Re:Price (Score:3, Informative)

        by KjetilK (186133)
        Yeah, and that goes for another of Axis' products too, the Bluetooth access point [axis.com]. I would really like one of those for home use, but they are far too expensive right now. Also, I think I could settle for a simpler device.

        Right now, for my own home, which isn't too big, I think something like the MSI transcieving module [msi.com.tw] would be more like it. But I'd rather get something good from Axis which has excellent Linux support, than from MSI who doesn't support Linux explicitly at all.

        I've dumped their sales department an e-mail about this now and then, but never got a response.

    • Re:Price (Score:4, Informative)

      by Psiren (6145) on Wednesday December 04 2002, @12:38PM (#4811272)
      It depends what you want to do with them. Granted for home use they are overly expensive, but at work we are using ~30 network cameras (not this one) for our CCTV, which runs in its own VLAN on our network. Works a treat.
    • Unfortunately, most consumer digital cameras cannot be controlled by computer.

    • Re:Price (Score:4, Informative)

      by angst_ridden_hipster (23104) on Wednesday December 04 2002, @02:24PM (#4812248) Homepage Journal
      Hm.

      I just completed several weekends-worth of crawling around in my attic dragging coax and 12 v power out to points around the perimeter of the house for a secondary security system.

      Rather than doing the network camera thing, I'm bringing all of the cable to a PC running "motion" (http://motion.technolust.cx). This is video, so it's a lot lower resolution than 1.3 mp (~3.8 kilopixels).

      Still, I can get about 15-20 fps on 4 streams easily enough.

      It's enough for decent security monitoring. The cables are basically inaccessible, the thing's all on a UPS, and it'd take an expert to find the box where the stuff's getting recorded.

      If I'd been a better shopper, the system would have priced out much lower. But with buying weatherproof color bullet-cams a couple of years ago, this is not price competitive with the network cams.

      Interesting how quickly this kind of thing changes!

    • Re:Price (Score:2, Informative)

      by Tomun (144651)
      How about the eCamIt [3jtech.com] its about $169 [computechintl.com] ?

      I've been playing with one today, you have to use the windows only software to grab images from it, but the hardware seems nice.
      Personally i'd rather have a camera with a web server built in but those are somewhat more expensive

  • Great, can it be used with the HID program? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by AugstWest (79042) on Wednesday December 04 2002, @12:09PM (#4811042)
    HID is the Human ID at a Distance program that DARPA is working on. Their goal is to develop technology to be able to positively ID individuals from a camera at a distance of 150 feet.

    You can check it out here [darpa.mil].

  • I wish digital cameras were more open... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by EnglishTim (9662) on Wednesday December 04 2002, @12:11PM (#4811057)
    I've recently bought a Fuji S602Z - lovely camera, but there are a few little features it'd be nice to have that it doesn't have at present. I'm sure many of them wouldn't be too hard to code, but currently I just have to hope that Fuji will make the changes in any firmware update that they do.

    An example is exposure gating. Currently my camera will take a series of three pictures, one normal, and two with slightly higher and lower exposure levels than the current setting. I'd like to be able to set this to five or more levels as it would be very useful for taking high dynamic range pictures. (You take a series of pictures at different exposures and combine them to produce a pictures that that a might higher range than a standard picture) Unfortunately, it's a bit of a niche need (useful largely only in post-production) and it seems unlikely that Fuji will implement it.
    • It does Auto bracketing, +/- 3 or 5 steps of 0.3, 0.7, or 1.0 stops. The camera has so many features I have barely begun to explore them. This isn't a Camera that has a computer controlling it, It is a computer that takes pictures. In manual mode it has: 7 different white balance modes, 4 differnt light metering modes, 4 different "film speed" simulations, 3 focus modes, 5 different multi-shot options. I just keep it on automatic mode and it takes great pictures no matter what you throw at; from sunsets to still life flower arangments:
      • I'm not worried about my choice of camera - I didn't actually buy it specifically for taking HDR photos - it's just a good example of the kind of way in which you might want to customise the firmware. I was tempted by the Nikon 4500, but I wanted a longer zoom. The Fuji may only have 3 bracketing shots, but otherwise it does seem very flexible.

      • Yeah, sorry - bracketing - I only just got the camera, but as on the Fuji you can set the amount by which it changes the exposure each way, it should be possible to use it for generating the HDR images that we normally by setting the exposure by hand for each shot. Normally we use a higher end SLR digital, but if you adjust the exposure by hand you can sometimes jog the camera on its tripod, that results in the images being slightly offset. With cameras like the Nikon D1 you control them from an attached laptop, but it's easier if you can get the camera to do them itself.

  • Wow! (Score:4, Funny)

    by Koos Baster (625091) <ghostbusters@NOspAM.xs4all.nl> on Wednesday December 04 2002, @12:13PM (#4811073)
    > Because both the embedded software and FPGA hardware algorithms are released as open source technologies, developers can readily customize the Model 313's operation to meet specialized requirements.

    Great. I'll start reconfiguring it to capture 5 Megapixels right away!

    --
    Drug, Noun: A substance that, injected into a rat, produces a scientific paper

    • Re:Wow! (Score:3, Funny)

      by Virus1984 (624552)
      Great. I'll start reconfiguring it to capture 5 Megapixels right away!

      Your digital camera may be capable of higher resolutions, download BonziBooster now !

  • Open source camera (Score:4, Funny)

    by arvindn (542080) on Wednesday December 04 2002, @12:14PM (#4811087) Homepage Journal

    Hmm... Lemme guess what the license for an open source camera would be like:
    Whenever you distribute pictures taken with this camera, you have to distribute the negatives too :)

  • FPGAs rule! (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Leto2 (113578) on Wednesday December 04 2002, @12:20PM (#4811130) Homepage
    FPGAs are so cool.

    Imagine you whole processor made out of FPGAs. Then, when the compiler detects there's a whole bunch of multiplication coming up, it instructs the processor to reconfigure itself to be good at multiplication, on the fly!.
    Or, when you do a lot of I/O, reconfigure the processor to have more concurrent access to your cache.

    The possibilities are endless.

    • Re:FPGAs rule! (Score:3, Informative)

      by Anonymous Coward
      A lot of research has been (and still is) devoted to this. A lot of work still has to be done before this can become a practical and commercial reality. A couple of companies even tried to commercialize such technology over the last couple of years, and most went belly-up (I did my Master's in cooperation with such a company).

      One of the major issues with current FPGAs is the ability to reconfigure only part of the device without affecting the rest. Also, configuring larger devices takes a *long* time. I work with big Xilinx Virtex-II devices, and with a board with 9-10 on them, it can take a long time before they all get configured, even with the fastest configuration interface.

    • Re:FPGAs rule! (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Space cowboy (13680) on Wednesday December 04 2002, @12:41PM (#4811299) Journal
      Yes, they're cool.

      They do not (and won't for some time) run anywhere near current CPU speeds. 200MHz in the sort of FPGA he's talking about takes very good knowledge of the internal FPGA architecture, and excellent HDL skills. There's a top end limit (not sure where it is, but it's about 3-400MHz in an FPGA that cost $2k)

      There is no way you'll be reconfiguring your CPU any time soon, but having an FPGA resource on-hand would be useful. Reconfiguring for sorenson/MPEG/M-JPEG would be a neat trick.

      FPGA's get their speed not from the clock as much as from their inherent parallelism - you can run each of the units slower, but have multiple units where it may not make sense in the general case.

      Simon

  • The main question is... (Score:5, Funny)

    by DarkHelmet (120004) <mark @ s e v e n t h cycle.net> on Wednesday December 04 2002, @12:21PM (#4811138) Homepage
    Yes, it runs linux, but can you get Apache and bind working on it?

    The moment I get mysql running on my webcam is the moment I realize I'll be single for life.

  • and you have a top notch security system. Real time cam monitoring from a laptop or other portable. Track the criminals down on the fly. Or what bout roaming cameras in high risk venues. Just my $.032 CDN

  • This is news? (Score:3, Funny)

    by CaffeineAddict2001 (518485) on Wednesday December 04 2002, @12:30PM (#4811208)
    I mean come on - it wasn't even attatched to a model train!

  • Will it allow me to see all the hot chicks? (Score:3, Funny)

    by AugstWest (79042) on Wednesday December 04 2002, @12:31PM (#4811222)
    You know, the ones that are hanging out in my house all the time when I'm not home?

    Will there be popup ads? God I love popup ads.
  • I require about 12 pages of overly detailed story before I can make the informed decision of whether to put this on my model train.

  • I know they're upset... (Score:3, Funny)

    by jaredcoleman (616268) on Wednesday December 04 2002, @12:45PM (#4811331)
    ...about Augusta not letting females play there and all, but to break off and start an FPGA is going to far.

  • 1. Detect when hot chicks are in front of the camera
    2. Start recording at maximum frames per second

  • Speed to burn at lower resolution frame rates (Score:5, Interesting)

    by CodeShark (17400) <ellsworthpc&yahoo,com> on Wednesday December 04 2002, @12:55PM (#4811405) Homepage
    This is impressive work. As an avid follower of any technological improvement that can be used to lower the cost of creating high quality CAE (computer aided education), this looks like a winner -- but more so at a lower resolution than the top end of 1280x1024. Consider the author's text:
    "There are a couple things that need to be cleaned up to fix that frame skipping, and then the camera will provide 15fps at 1280x1024 pixels, 60 fps at 640x480 pixels, and 240 fps at 320x240 pixels over the LAN connection."
    Interpolating a bit, it seems reasonable that the camera could send 800x600 images at around 40 fps, which is a faster frame rate than standard NTSC video (60 half frames per second interpolated, 30 fps real), and at a resolution supportable by nearly all recent vintage consumer grade PC's, etc.

    Granted, this is hardware speed, so encoding the massive data steam from the camera into a compressed but high quality playback format is another task for another machine or machines. But I'm still impressed.

    As an example of why, take three of these, throw in some quality studio lighting, and come up with some editing software and hardware to mix the feeds together -- it looks to me like a person [with the technical knowledge to use the equipment and get good looking results] could create their own low cost production facility -- while still delivering image quality higher than is currently broadcast by most network and/or cable TV channels.

    • The frame rate of the Kodak KAC-1310 sensor used in the camera runs at pixel clock up to 20MHz,and the frame rate is calculated by the following formula:
      fps=1/(((H-1)*(W+44)+2672)*0.00000005)
      W : H : fps
      1280 : 1024 : 14.73704687
      640 : 480 : 60.54954769
      320 : 240 : 223.0450105
      160 : 120 : 742.1701054
      Hardware compression provides standard (quality,frame size) -> filesize ratios, for 1280x1024 50% quility gives 50-100k, so 15fps can be easily sent over the LAN. For smaller sizes/higher frame rates data rate over the LAN stays about the same, you just need to format image in multiple of 16x16 pixels.
      Andrey
  • Michael Crichton's new novel Prey involves what could be described as a reconfigurable high-res network camera.

    It learns to eat people.
    • Interesting. Would you mind telling me what kind of application you need that high of a resolution for (in a network/webcam)? 6 MP is a lot for a fixed camera! or are you doing remote photography for prints or something? I'm interested.
        • Oh okay. That makes sense. I remember the last theme park I went to developed all their film, and the majority of people didn't buy the pictures, yet they had to develop every picture anyways. I can see how digital cameras would very quickly pay for themselves in reducing the large amount of work and waste!
    • How many 6 Megapixel shots from your fixed network camera do you need? Do you think your fishtank is that interesting to people?

      Honestly, the interesting part here is that it's a self-contained network camera. Jamming features into a device doesn't necessarily make it better. If it's primary purpose is a webcam, then you don't want huge downloads... hence the jpeg compression.
    • What would you have? Streaming images of beowulf clusters with their cases being removed, complete with 21" LCD monitors basking in a sauna heated by 3GHz Pentium 4's and large fibrechannel hard disk arrays?
      • Actually, most of the (Score:5 Funny) crap on Slashdot is mine too. ;)

        Good Artists, make sure you steal the Good Stuff.

        • Yeah. That's what I meant. All your upmodded stuff tends to be crap. I mean... Also, wtf is the origin of the IN SOVIET RUSSIA joke? It's funny as hell. It's up there with my favorite joke of all:

          "Why did the girl fall out of the swing?"

          [pause]

          "Because she didn't have any arms."

          Go, team, go!

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