Wireless Gimbaled Camera: Blimp Deployment

Bottom line: Wiimote used to control gimbaled camera platform mounted on helium blimp

Context: Proof of concept for RF modem command and data handling, audio-video wireless transmission

Highlights: If you can see it, enjoy the views of Westwood and UCLA from above the Court of Sciences

Apologies: The video cable from the camera was damaged during the set-up/deployment, so the video cuts out intermittently. Also, I borrowed a TV tuner without figuring out how to get decent recordings. Sorry.

Some Wireless Details:
--Wiimote sends data to laptop via bluetooth connection
--Wiimote data processed using WiiYourself library (wiiyourself.gl.tter.org) and translated into commands
--Commands transmitted from PC to Arduino Diecimila (arduino.cc) via SparkFun RF modems (sparkfun.com)
--Arduino issues commands to gimbal platform using pulse width modulation
--Blimp controlled by RC transmitter/receiver pair

Some Hardware Details:
--Blimp is ~14 ft long, ~5 ft wide, ~250 cu ft volume
--Video system procured through RangeVideo (www.rangevideo.com)
--Camera used: KX171
--Video transmitter: 100 mW, 900 MHz
--Gimbal platform: LynxMotion pan & tilt kit

Location: UCLA Court of Sciences, Engineering Week 2008

Shout-outs: Thank you to Jon, Matt, Shatto, and Ann for their support. Thank you also to UCLA AIAA (aiaa.seas.ucla.edu) for giving me the resources needed to reach this stage of the project.

BG Music: "Leisurely Brows" // Age of Empires 3 Soundtrack // Ensemble Studios

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• DIY
• electronics
• arduino
• wiimote
• control
• camera
• blimp
• ucla
• aiaa