Open source 'Pan Tilt Zoom' for Zoneminder?

[Winston]

Given the extortionate prices for decent PTZ
Ethernet cameras, this seems like a natural project
for you talented EE types.

* 'Point and Shoot' HD cameras are now in the ~U$ 100 range.
* Microcontroller boards are cheap and plentiful
* Servos are cheap and easy to get

My Google-fu has been helpless to reveal an open
source Ethernet Pan-Tilt-Zoom camera design.

Your thoughts please?

--Winston<-- Please don't suggest Foscam.
http://www.foscam.com/pro.aspx?TypeId=1
I returned the garbage they shipped.

 

[Winston]

Base it on RC-style servos and the electro-mechanical part of it is well
within the capabilities of a good hobbyist. I don't know if there's an
Ethernet Pan/Tilt standard, and if so how hard it would be to conform to
-- but assuming that either there's none or that the one out there is
easy, the Ethernet part should be reasonable, too, given a board or
processor with a pre-installed Ethernet dingus.

Get cracking!

Thanks Tim!

--Winston

 

[Winston]

Several of my recent video chip designs are in these products...

http://www.pixim.com/

But had nothing to do with pan and tilt, just video amplification,
sync separation, day/night filters and UTC data back and forth during
the VBI... that data _was_ used for pan, tilt, zoom and focus, but
those motor drivers came from other sources.

They all look very profe$$ional.

--Winston

 

[Winston]

Jim Thompson wrote:

(...)

It occurs to me that you could do hobby-level stuff with comparators
(such as LM339) for sync separation _and_ data. Look up Coaxitron
Protocol and UTC to see how they piggy-back the data inside the VBI
(vertical blanking interval).

Yeahbut, Power Over Ethernet would give one all the necessary
functionality without too much sweat, at least for cameras
shielded from temperature extremes.

--Winston

 

[Martin Riddle]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/150749349731 is a kit of the mecahnical parts
to
use a pair of small servos. It is under $15.

The Panasonic line of security cameras are reasonably priced. Even for
the Pan and tilt ones.
<http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...=100010040 50001009&IsNodeId=1&name=Panasonic>

Cheers

 

[Winston]

That would be helpful but I'm looking for the whole
DIY open source project, the way linuxcnc.org is for CNC for example.

The Panasonic line of security cameras are reasonably priced. Even for
the Pan and tilt ones.
<http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...=100010040 50001009&IsNodeId=1&name=Panasonic>

Their cheapest PTZ is U$800 !

Must be a *tiny* market.

--Winston<-- Thanks, though. I like newegg.

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

That would be helpful but I'm looking for the whole
DIY open source project, the way linuxcnc.org is for CNC for example.


Their cheapest PTZ is U$800 !

Must be a *tiny* market.

--Winston<-- Thanks, though. I like newegg.

I'm not impressed with the Cisco one.


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

 

[Winston]

Spehro Pefhany wrote:

(...)

I'm not impressed with the Cisco one.

For that kind of cash, one would expect very good resolution
and aiming capability. Odd, that.

--Winston