A couple of weeks ago, I was asked to see if I could build a camera like the one in this link... See Camera Here The normal application for such a device is used for mapping and street view applications. And Google usually spends somewhere in the area of $40,000 for their camera, and with a budget of only around $500.00 I needed to figure out if this was something I could duplicate.

The idea of course is not mine, the guy that made his was kind enough to give some details to follow. But wait, why is a School of Forestry making such a camera, and what it the application? Good question. It seems that with the 360 degree ( actual 568) the forestry researchers can go out into the field, and take a full pan picture and get an instant forestry inventory of stands and with some software and a lot of math, they can use it for all kinds of information.

I don't pretend to really know all of the information, but it is exciting to be able to make this camera and to hopefully see it in action.

Parts:

8 Microsoft Web cameras
2 USB hubs
1 Satellite Receiver
Misc materials for housing the parts

I will post some pictures later today, as I am just now finishing the final touches on the laminate edge. I will also resurrect this thread at a later date to add any positive or negative results.

Hmmmmm I wonder if I could mount this thing on the KLX and get paid for off road Google trail information?

 

That's cool, Deej. (Really.)
I hear there are some great job opportunities opening-up in Afghanistan for KDX recon riders...........go to the UN/ISAF website and click on "have own equipment." That will by-pass the interview process and connect you directly with Expedia. (DOT- COMMMMM.) It's all down hill (and up-hill, and down-hill) from there.
Good luck! Post some pics!!!

Sorry; slow day........

 

Hahahaha nice!

 

USB hubs





First couple of Cameras, you have to offset them in order for them to be centered when the lens opens.


all 8 mounted up


Top on with GPS Receiver mounted




Gratuitous KLX picture.


Already ran into a glitch, it seems that I misread the specs on the USB Hubs, I wanted the kind that don't need to be powered, and these require power.

Also I need Windows Vista Service pack 2 of which I need to get my Admin guys to find and download since its not showing up when I do a scan for updates.

So for now that's all I can do, until I get the right hubs, and the software to run the cameras. Stay tuned for further updates....LOL

 

You know what took the longest to do? It was the octagon laminate edges on the top and bottom,.....baaaaaaaaaaarutal, I couldn't find my router, so I had to cut with a box knife and sand the whole edge by hand.

 

That is really neato. I want to see the end result.

 

Saw the Google street view car running around town a few weeks ago, who knows in a year or so I might be in street view

 

Update: So apparently we are going to try and get the University to invest in the idea of the forestry application of this camera, and then we could get royalties. Kind of like Ultra Sound machines and Hepatitis vaccinations. They both came from the University of Washington, and a small fee for every one sold is returned to the University. If we move forward there will be big money to develop a finished production model. Early retirement here I come. LOL

Here is a current picture from Wednesday, I got to finally see how this thing works.

That's Jeff, a real braniac, and a top researcher. I'm going to see if he can send a couple of pictures.

 

Looks like its coming along. I used a 5 camera mapping rig for aerial survey that cost about 250k on a low estimate. For the street mapping you can use the lower resolution cameras to save some cash but the big price tag comes with GPS accuracy, the more accurate you need the position the more you gotta spend on it. Plus we had to have some components special made. The little black box that brings the cameras GPS and other gizmos into the computer was said to be worth over 100k by itself. But with off the shelf plug and play equipment you should be able to bring it in under 500.

Let us know how it turns out.