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What is NXTCam
NXTCam is a real-time image processing engine. Think of
it as a vision sub-system with on-board processor and a
protocol interface that is accessible through a standard
NXT sensor port. This interface provides high-level,
post-processed information of the image NXTCam sees.
The processed information contains the bounding box
coordinates of the objects of interest in view of NXTCam,
in line tracking mode, this information contains
coordinates of line segments.
NXTCam does not send the image itself to NXT, however connecting NXTCam to a
PC with USB cable, and using a Viewer and Configuration software, you can see the
image on the PC.
NXTCam-v4 is compatible with NXTCam-v3 software and libraries.
NXTCam Specs
Track up to 8 different colorful objects at 30 frames/second
Configure the NXTCam using USB interface on Windows XP, Windows Vista.
Supports two tracking modes: Object tracking and Line tracking.
Provide real-time tracked object statistics (number of objects, color of
objects, bounding box coordinates or line coordinates) through a standard
NXT sensor port.
Tracked image resolution of 88 x 144 pixels at 30 frames/second
Perform full-resolution (176 x 144) pixels color image dumps to PC via USB
port.
Maximum power consumption (42 mA at 4.7 V)
Uses NXT compatible I2C protocol for communications.
Supports Auto Detecting Parallel Architecture (ADPA) for NXT sensor bus.
This means that NXTCam can coexist with LEGO or third party digital
sensor on the same NXT port. ADPA support enables user to employ several
sensors on the same port without the need of external sensor multiplexer,
reducing the overall size without compromising the functionality.
What you will need before using NXTCam
Connector Cables
mindsensors.com
NXTCam v4 User Guide
1/14

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Summary of Contents for Mindsensors NXTCam v4

  • Page 1 NXTCam v4 User Guide What is NXTCam NXTCam is a real-time image processing engine. Think of it as a vision sub-system with on-board processor and a protocol interface that is accessible through a standard NXT sensor port. This interface provides high-level, post-processed information of the image NXTCam sees.
  • Page 2 Mac OS X v10.4.10 (PowerPC G4)  Download the drivers and installation instructions from following location: http://www.mindsensors.com/NXTCam_Driver_Installation.htm Viewer and Configuration Software To see the picture that’s in the field of view of NXTCam, capture that picture for analysis and configure the Colormaps for onboard processing, you will need to install and use Viewer and Configuration software on your PC.
  • Page 3: Connecting Nxtcam

    NXTCam is supported for use in NXT-G using a custom block. Download the block from following URL: http://www.mindsensors.com/NXTCam_NXT-G_Block.htm This block provides functionality for tracking objects based on the Colormaps downloaded on NXTCam. Follow the installation instructions provided at this URL to install the block.
  • Page 4: Configuring Nxtcam Colormaps Using Nxtcamview

    The NXTCam is shipped with a default Colormap to track a light source (white light). Download a test program or write a test program, and try tracking a light source. Objects of interest Below are screen dumps of NXTCamView software, showing objects of interests and their tracking information. mindsensors.com 4/14...
  • Page 5 The top left window in the picture below shows the field of view of NXTCam. The objects of interest from this view are the red and blue pens. In the object tracking mode, the bounding box coordinates are returned, as shown: mindsensors.com 5/14...
  • Page 6 "CTRL" key or "SHIFT-CTRL" keys while clicking. 8. Upload the color ranges into the NXTCam. 9. Test your colors in the Tracking window to see what object blobs are returned. 10. Disconnect NXTCamView from your NXTCam. mindsensors.com 6/14...
  • Page 7: Tips On Using Nxtcam In Your Environment

    NXTCam, the object appears to be a mix of dark and light shades. In choosing color for your colormap, try to select the lighter shade of your object’s colors. If with lighter shades you have trouble tracking darker shades, then select complete range of colors. mindsensors.com 7/14...
  • Page 8: Troubleshooting Nxtcam Communication

    Please note down your new address for future reference. Alternately, you can download device scan and address change programs from following URLs, and change them to suit your needs: RobotC: http://www.mindsensors.com/index.php? module=documents&JAS_DocumentManager_op=viewDocument&JAS_Document_id= NXC: http://www.mindsensors.com/index.php? module=documents&JAS_DocumentManager_op=viewDocument&JAS_Document_id= Troubleshooting NXTCam communication...
  • Page 9 You should get a response from NXTCam as ‘NXTcam V n.n’ (where n.n is your NXTcam version number) Troubleshooting ‘Time-out’ error While using NXTCam-v4 on PC (with NXTCamView), if you get ‘Search Error: The operation has timed out’, NXTCam-v4 AVR firmware may be corrupted. mindsensors.com 9/14...
  • Page 10: Reference Information

    NXTCam is based on AVRcam, and is Open Source using GNU license. We encourage you to improve the source code and features and inform us the changes for inclusion in future releases. Visit following URL for Advanced Programming Resources and related docs. http://www.mindsensors.com/index.php? module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=129 I2C Operations Pins used: SDA(1), GND(2), SCL(3), +5V(4)
  • Page 11 NXTCam. While using NXT-G block, most of the essential commands are enumerated in ‘Operation’. Colormap Reference More information about Colormap Structure and how they are constructed is available in document: NXTCam-v3-Colormap-Reference.pdf at following URL: http://www.mindsensors.com/index.php? module=documents&JAS_DocumentManager_op=viewDocument&JAS_Document_id= mindsensors.com 11/14...
  • Page 12 In case of line tracking mode, these are coordinates of beginning and end points of the line. This repeats for all 8 objects. Please note that object position and coordinate are overwritten if new object is detected, otherwise previous value is retained. mindsensors.com 12/14...
  • Page 13: Color Map Data Red

    If you need to read Colormap data from NXTCam engine, then follow this: Run command ‘G’ Read registers 0x80 – 0xAF. If you need to write Colormap data to NXTCam engine, then follow this: Write your color map data in registers 0x80 – 0xAF, Run command ‘S’ mindsensors.com 13/14...
  • Page 14 Color map data Green 15 0xA0 Color map data Blue 0 Color map data Blue 0 0xA1 Color map data Blue 1 Color map data Blue 1 ..... ………………………………………………. …………………………………… 0xAF Color map data Blue 15 Color map data Blue 15 mindsensors.com 14/14...

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