1. The Camera Control System
Picture of system

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

3. Project Description
Design, build and implement a portable and user –friendly interface to remotely control a Canon EOS 1Ds Mark ll digital camera for use by a disabled individual

4. Background Camera 16.7 Megapixel Customer Avid Photographer
Recently Disabled

5. 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
Load preferred settings
Auto sleep mode

6. Design Concepts Brainstorming External Research
Identification of critical subsystems
Software
Interface Navigation
System configuration and thermal balance of electronics
Identification of non-critical subsystems
Group discussion
Pugh matrices for evaluation of alternate options
Available camera settings prioritized by customer

7. Final Design Concept

8. 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

9. Final Concept Description
Hardware
CPU
VIA 10000M Mini-ITX
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
NEC NL6448DC26-01
Hard Drive
Seagate Momentus GB
Rechargeable Battery
10-cell NiMH 12V, 4500mAhr

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

11. Control Unit Specifications
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
Survive an impact resulting from being dropped 3 ft
Internal temperatures must be between 0°C and 50°C
Average Internal Temperature:
External temperatures must be less than 40°C
Average External Temperature:
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

12. Control Unit Specifications
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.

13. Control Unit Specifications
All customer’s 1st & 2nd 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: $1,128

14. 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

15. Strengths of Final Design
Meets customer’s basic needs plus some additional desired functionality
Testing of prototype proved a robust design
Customers were overall pleased with the prototype
Safely within budget

16. Weaknesses of Final Design
Font size may not be readable to someone with poor vision
Download and upload of pictures
Lack of portability
Inability to perform all customer desired functions

17. 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 plastic for the case that does not deform over time
Refine bellows attachment method
Attach system to a mobile platform
Create submenus on GUI

18. QUESTIONS ?