1. https://edge.rit.edu/edge/P14542/public/Home
Vertical XY Camera Rig
P14542
Problem
The Metropolitan needs to create high resolution prints of Croome Court pictured below. These prints cant be taken in one photo so a series of small pictures are taken and stitched together to create one high resolution photo. They currently have no way of moving a camera and lighting throughout the 25 foot wide and 18 foot tall room.
Objective
The objective of this project is to create a system capable of positioning a camera smoothly and accurately to capture a series of images . The system needs to be capable of doing this with a horizontal traverse capability of at least 25 feet and vertical traverse of at least 18 feet. This design would also be very simple to use, require minimal maintenance, and work consistently with little job to job configuration.
Background
Currently the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) is in possession of a stationary over head rig which is utilized to photograph larger mobile artwork. This system is mounted to the ceiling and using a system of rails in which the camera is mounted to a dynamic mount. This mount is then operated using a garage door mechanism by manually pulling on the chains to move the camera to the proper position. The camera takes very small pictures within nine square foot range which are then later stitched together using a stitching algorithm, to make it in the end look like it was all captured in one image. This system also has mounting for the lighting used in photography which allow the same lighting throughout every small picture taken to assist with the stitching at the end. This system however, is only useful for smaller, mobile artwork which can be brought to the overhead mounted unit. There is a need for the museum to capture much larger stationary artwork.
Customer: Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET)
Guide: Susan Farnand
Team Members: Dan Kearney (EE), Sam Brown (ME), Brandon Strangman (IE), Matt Misiaszek (ME),
Kyle Bradstreet (ME), Zach Sostack (ME)
Customer Needs
Absolutely cannot damage the artwork
Support the weight of camera and lights
Must be mobile and able to fit through doorways
Aesthetically appealing
Have capability of manual control
Maintain the same distance from artwork during vertical and horizontal travel
Croome Court
Current System
Selected Concept
In order to meet the customer requirements a motorized system was created based around a winch driven material lift. The rig rides along a rail system for horizontal traverse and a telescoping mast provides the vertical traverse. There is a pan and tilt mount for a camera along with framing to mount lighting. The system is capable of running automatically or manually depending on the users need.
Mechanical Systems
Horizontal Traverse
Frame with a v-groove wheel drive system
Motor driven
Caster jack trailer wheels for travel off the rails
Rail System
6 ft, 3ft, and 1ft sections of v-groove track
29 ft of track built
Two end pieces with dock bumpers to prevent over traveling
Adjustable foot blocks for leveling
Vertical Traverse
Motor driven material lift
Capable of traveling 22 ft tall
Mechanical traverse limit to prevent over traveling
Camera/Light Mounting
Motor driven active pan and tilt camera mount
Vertical and horizontal framing for light mounting
Electrical Systems
Two DC motors
Two Arduino microcontrollers, one at the base one which travels with the mast
Limit switched located around rig to cut power to system if activated
Encoders for position measurement
Remote control to the pan and tilt system through microcontroller
V-Groove Wheels
6 ft Track Piece
Material Lift
Gear Motor
Microcontroller
Results