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[GarethNelson]

I'm wondering if anyone knows of any cheap spy camera type things that would work as something that can be strapped onto Pleo's head. The idea is to actually do analysis of the video footage in realtime from a wirelessly connected desktop PC.

[Crewella]

Not sure of the quality, but you can get those little keychain ones from China for under a tenner on the auction sites, or the ones that fit onto sunglasses.  Would they be any good?

[GarethNelson]

You'd also need a frame grabber or something to connect to the computer

[gucci_boi7782]

Are you performing the camera surgery??!!

[GarethNelson]

Emphasis on "strapped onto Pleo's head"

Why would I risk poor Rexxy's life on this? (My god, i'm doing it - talking like it's a real pet)

[gucci_boi7782]

Emphasis on "strapped onto Pleo's head"

Why would I risk poor Rexxy's life on this? (My god, i'm doing it - talking like it's a real pet)

lol...so what is the actual idea of the video camera? will you be seeing what pleo sees? or making pleos vision better? not sure i entirely understand...and yes, it happens to all of us, they do become our pets!

[RedwoodsMama]

  You know I have already thought of that, but one that is easier to do then post it on their head. I will have to upload the photo, but I just bought one of these and am waiting for it to come to me in the mail first.
                  RedwoodsMama and TEam Nova

[GarethNelson]

I'm thinking of just seeing what pleo sees, not directly interfacing the camera with pleo, but of course once this is setup i'll use the USB interface to tell the pleo what to do.

So, it'll go something like this:

Camera on pleo's head > Desktop PC
Pleo's other sensors > USB cable or bluetooth module > Desktop PC

Desktop PC's analysis > pleo commands over USB cable > Pleo moves

[barrettgazzy]

  if you were doing this and using the actual camera that pleo has built in his nose i would see this idea being worthwhile but just strapping a camera to his head .... Why ? i do not get it .....
  its not an idea that is actually making any use out of pleo as such , you can easily strap a camera to anything a r.c car for example and these ideas im sure have been tried before .
  Maybe i have completely missed the point here  ? 

[GarethNelson]

The point is to control pleo by using the visual data from the camera. The builtin camera is no good for any kind of realtime analysis that would be suitable for 3D navigation (because you can't grab frames fast enough), but something else that can mount on the head would be.

You could do this with an RC car, but they don't have skin sensors and aren't as cute and cool as a pleo, nor are they easily controllable from computer, nor do they have joints (which make for more interesting control problems).

[ScribbleMonkey]

I'm not sure about the UK. but I've seen little hobbyist cameras a bit like this

http://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Micro-Spy-Camera-Complete-Package/dp/B000JCN6SW

You might even try one of those pet cam type things.

[Crewella]

I was wondering if they would do - you can pick up a 'pet's eye view' camera for about £25.  I want one - I've always wondered where Rottie the tomcat goes of an evening!

[gucci_boi7782]

I'm thinking of just seeing what pleo sees, not directly interfacing the camera with pleo, but of course once this is setup i'll use the USB interface to tell the pleo what to do.

So, it'll go something like this:

Camera on pleo's head > Desktop PC
Pleo's other sensors > USB cable or bluetooth module > Desktop PC

Desktop PC's analysis > pleo commands over USB cable > Pleo moves

[img width= height=]http://shongjog.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/facebook-like-button.jpg[/img]

[RedwoodsMama]

 This is what I just bought , a pets eye view camera, and I am going to try it with my cat and with Pleos, I think with Pleos it may be just floor tiles, similiar things, but with my cats it will be intersting to see the mischeif they get into like Crewella said!
                   RedwoodsMama and Team Nova

[Crewella]

Let us know how you get on with it RWM, I'd be interested!