Hardware; Introduction; General Description - Libelium Waspmote Technical Manual

Hardware

2. Hardware

2.1. Introduction

The new Video Camera Sensor board in conjunction with the 3G module for Waspmote allows to take photos (VGA - 640x480)
and record videos (QVGA - 320x240) and send them to the Cloud by using high speed WCDMA and HSPA cellular networks in the
same way as Smartphones do. This makes possible sensor nodes send not only discrete sensor information such as temperature
or humidity (which can be encoded using just a single number) but also complex streams of information such as photos and
videos. This new feature allows developers the creation of new Smart Security applications.
The 3G module offers speed rates of 7.2Mbps in download mode and 5.5Mbps when uploading to the Cloud photos and videos
taken by the Video Camera Sensor board, which makes possible to create a distributed photo/video network where hundreds
of small sensor nodes send at the same time the information captured.
The new Video Camera Sensor board includes 22 high power infrared (IR) LED's to implement the night vision mode - allowing
Waspmote take pictures and record videos in total darkness-. This mode is activated automatically changing the IR filter under
the lens by using the luminosity information given by two sensors integrated on the board, a LDR sensor to capture the visible
light (400-600nm) and an infrared sensor to measure the IR levels (600-1000nm).
Each Waspmote sensor node may integrate at the same time a medium/long range radio such as 802.15.4 / ZigBee / 868MHz
/ 900MHz / Sigfox/ Bluetooth / WiFi / LoRa/ and one long range 3G radio. This way we can minimize costs by using the mobile
network just when really needed.
The 3G module comes with an internal SD Card of 2GB (extended up to 32GB) which is used to store the photos and videos
taken by the Video Camera Sensor Board without the need of being handled by the node MCU. This ensures we get real speed
ranges (7.2Mbps download and 5.5Mbps upload) as the communication is direct between the SD and the 3G module.
The 3G module counts also with an internal GPS that enables the location of the device outdoors and indoors combining
standard NMEA frames with mobile cell ID triangulation using both assisted-mobile (A-GPS) and mobile-based (S-GPS) modes.
By using the information given by the GPS we can add meta information to the multimedia files setting the geolocation of
where the pictures and videos are taken.

2.2. General Description

The Video Camera Sensor Board allows to Waspmote to take pictures and record video along with the Waspmote 3G/GPRS
board. The board includes 22 IR LEDs, divided in two blocks controlled each one by transistors, to give extra illumination and
record with few light or in the night. To eliminate the IR distortion when the board is used with natural light, the board has a
filter exchanger with a IR light filter.
The board has two sockets for a LDR and a IR photodiode. With the information of these sensors the users can select the proper
filter and, if is necessary, to use the IR LEDs.
The Video Camera Sensor Board also includes a presence sensor (PIR), to generate an interruption on Waspmote and take a
picture or record a video when a person passes by, this feature is specially designed for security and surveillance applications.
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