The Camera Control System

Ruth Ayalon - ME Erin Gillespie - ME Claudia Forero - ISE Jennifer Grant - EE Manny Maceda - EE Chris Nimon - EE Edward Yiu - EE SPONSORS : National Science Foundation Par Technology Corporation Team Members

Outline Background & Project Description Customer Needs Final Concept –Packaging –Hardware –Design –Graphical User Interface (GUI) Specifications Strengths & Weaknesses Future Implementations

Background & Project Description Customer –Avid Photographer –Recently Disabled Camera –Canon EOS 1Ds Mark ll –16.7 Megapixel Project –Portable –User friendly –Remotely control camera

High Level Customer Needs Manipulate camera settings via an external interface Portable Ability to use system in a variety of settings (indoor-outdoor) Ability to interface with another computer Communication with camera using FireWire

Final Concept Description Packaging –Custom case Aluminum frame with plastic sides Hinged lid for adjusting the screen angle Three sided bellows to enclose internal components Battery Case

Final Concept Description Hardware –CPU VIA 10000M Mini-ITX –Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) NEC NL6448DC26-01 –Hard Drive Seagate Momentus 5400, 60 GB –Rechargeable Battery 12V NiMH

Final Design Concept

Final Concept Description Graphical User Interface (GUI) Control Unit Trackball Battery Bellows

Control Unit Specifications Survive an impact resulting from being dropped 3 ft Internal temperatures must be between 0°C and 50°C –Average Internal Temperature: 27°C External temperatures must be less than 40°C –Average External Temperature: 29°C Battery life must be at least 1.5 hours –Average battery life: 2.2 hrs The control unit must be usable in both indoor and outdoor light conditions Size smaller than 8x10x5 and weight less than 10lbs –Control Unit Size: x 8.25 x 4.5 inches –Control Unit Weight: 4.95 lbs –Control Unit + Battery Weight: 7.71 lbs

Customer rating of comfort must be greater than three on a scale of 1-5 –Unbiased Tester Average: 4.36 –Customers Representatives Average: 3.9 Font size must be 16 point –Too large to fit in screen –12 point font used –Customer representatives accepted change The control unit must be able to withstand mild exposure to water (splash resistant) Exposed cables must be less than 36” –Maximum exposed cable length: 32” The control unit must require only one step to turn on and off Control Unit Specifications

All customer’s 1 st & 2 nd priority settings must be accessible through interface –Prevented by SDK Auto Focus Set Bulb Mode Set Time and Date –Time constraints Initialize memory card Protect Images from being erased Interface must automatically set the customer’s preferred settings to camera upon power up Budget of $1200 –Total Control Unit Expenses: $1,170 Control Unit Specifications

The customer must not be required to purchase any additional software licenses The control unit must include a portable case A photo must be taken through the interface 100% The interface must display the image after the photo is taken Minimum possible time between successive pictures must be less than 3 seconds A useful reference guide must be included The control unit must go into sleep mode after 3 minutes idle Control unit must not interfere with normal download of pictures Control Unit Specifications

Strengths of Final Design Meets customer’s basic needs and provides some additional desired functionality Testing was successful Customers satisfied with final prototype Projected completed within budget

Weaknesses of Final Design Limited portability Font size may not be readable to someone with poor vision Inability to use <1 second delays Does not include all customer desired functions

Future Implementations Refine continuous capture mode to allow intervals <1 second between shots Photos are not immediately downloaded to control unit unless desired Option to download & delete pictures stored on camera’s memory card Camera battery indicator displayed on screen Software reconnects to camera on wake up Add system battery power indicator Use a different type of plastic for the case Attach system to a mobile platform Create submenus on GUI

QUESTIONS?