Blog
by Eirik Solberg
on Nov 11 2015
The FLIR VUE PRO will be shipping out in just another week or so and OEMCameras.com was one of the first to receive the FLIR VUE PRO for review.
Here’s a look at some of the great features of the VUE PRO.
Designed for professional use, FLIR Vue Pro is more than a thermal camera, it is a thermal measurement instrument and data recorder that adds tremendous value to your sUAS operations and services.
FLIR Vue Pro gives you in-flight control of two camera functions through direct PWM connections, and it’s MAVLink compatibility makes it ready for the easy image stitching required for mapping, survey, and precision agriculture applications. Plus, it’s compatible with Pix4Dmapper right out of the box.
The convenient mobile app makes pre-flight camera set-up and configuration quick and easy so you won’t have to drag a computer out to your flying site just in case you need to change a camera setting.
DIY Unmanned Aerial Vechicles for Beginners
by Eirik Solberg
on Apr 12 2013
UAV drones come in all shapes and sizes, used for a variety of purposes from recreational fun to neighborhood surveillance. Drones were only associated with uses for military and space research but now with emerging technology and cheaper materials, they are easily attainable to the general public at a very low cost.
What is an amateur UAV?
An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is an aircraft that has the capability of autonomous flight, without a pilot in control. Amateur UAVs are non-military and non-commercial. They typically fly under “recreational” exceptions to FAA regulations on UAVs, so long as the pilots/programmers keep them within tight limits on altitude and distance. Usually the UAV is controlled manually by Radio Control (RC) at take-off and landing, and switched into GPS-guided autonomous mode only at a safe altitude.
What do I need to make one?
1) An RC plane, muticopter (quadcopter/hexacopter/tricopter, etc) or helicopter. You can buy them ready to fly, including autopilot
2) An autopilot, such as APM 2.5
3) Optional: digital camera or video transmission equipment
What does DIY Drones have to offer?
The DIY Drones community has created the world’s first “universal autopilot”, ArduPilot Mega (APM). It combines sophisticated IMU-based autopilot electronics with free Arduino-based autopilot software that can turn any RC vehicle into a fully-autonomous UAV.
Content from http://www.diydrones.com
For more information on DIY drones, check out the following websites:
http://diydrones.com/forum
http://www.reddit.com/r/diydrones
http://singularityhub.com/2010/05/10/flying-drones-for-your-home-from-diy-drones-video/
Top 5 Ways to Integrate an OEM Camera
by Eirik Solberg
on May 04 2011
OEM Cameras have so many uses these days. Due to their small size, they can be mounted virtually anywhere. Here are just 5 ways in which OEM Cameras are currently being used.
1. UAV/Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Aside from being used for damage assessment (ie: during the Haiti disaster), domestic surveillance, and traffic monitoring, UAV’s with onboard cameras are being used by amateur hobbyists all over.
Check out how this one RC/Camera Hobbyist wearing a heads-up display hooked up a board camera to an RC airplane with a tracking rig to provide a solid video download.
2. Robotics Mimic the Human Eye
Remember Johnny 5? It’s just like Hollywod to imagine the future of technology. It turns out they were spot on when it came to robotics.
The relationship between board cameras and robots has grown a lot over time. The cameras are not just used to record. They help the robot to discern colors, patterns, and recognize its surroundings, in order to better interact with its environment and make decisions.
This superfast robot’s movements are remote-controlled and can mimic the exact movements of the human eye.
3. Extreme Sports Pole Camera
I don’t think anyone can disagree that helmet cams are great! — Especially when it comes to extreme sports. Cameras are so inexpensive and easy to set up these days that it’s easy for an adrenaline junkie to strap a camera on his helmet as he’s skydiving or tearing up some killer slopes in the rockies.
This skater made a make-shift pole cam and recorded himself riding down a steep road.
4. Law Enforcement/Military Bomb Squad
Cameras have always played an integral part in law enforcement and the military. Everything from domestic surveillance, military drones, street light cameras, police dash-cams, and so on.
This is a robot used for dismantling potential explosives. It has 4 cameras built and a control system with monitors and controls for the operator to remote control the robot.
5. Automotive: Google’s Self-Driving Car
Cameras are slowly making their way into cars. Currently, many cars have the reverse camera to give you a rear view as you back up.
More interesting, however, is unmanned cars. Google, among other companies, have produced unmanned vehicles that have logged thousands of miles without human assistance. The vehicles use cameras and sensors to interact with the software and make decisions based upon what it sees through the lenses.
At the TED 2011 conference in Long Beach, Google gave rare demos of its auto-driving car.