OMAP3530 VPU

This page describes experiments carried out to create an embedded video processing unit based on the OMAP3530 application processor from Texas Instruments using Gumstix Overo COMs. This is one branch of the Embedded Video Processing and Radio Unit project. Logbook is on the talk page.

Obejctives

 * Capture video from one or more cameras
 * Compress and multiplex the videos with telemetry into a single transport stream suitable for transmission over the air
 * Process incoming telcommands

First flight on amateur rocket
The objectives of this flight are:
 * 1) To test the Gumstix Overo Fire under high acceleration (TBD g)
 * 2) To capture images and/or video during the flight

We learned about an opportunity to fly onboard an amateur rocket (up to 3 km high). Flight will take place on October 3, 2010. Time is very short so we will be focusing on getting the Gumstix Overo Fire up and running, and have it record video during the flight. No real time video downlink.

Configuration
OS version: Angstrom 2010.7-test-20100909

Desktop Image
root@overo:~# df -h Filesystem               Size      Used Available Use% Mounted on  /dev/root                 1.8G    595.2M      1.1G  35% / devtmpfs               245.0M    188.0K    244.8M   0% /dev tmpfs                   40.0K         0     40.0K   0% /mnt/.splash none                   245.0M    188.0K    244.8M   0% /dev /dev/mmcblk0p2           1.8G    595.2M      1.1G  35% /media/mmcblk0p2 /dev/mmcblk0p1          38.6M      3.2M     35.3M   8% /media/mmcblk0p1 tmpfs                  245.0M      1.5M    243.5M   1% /var/volatile tmpfs                  245.0M         0    245.0M   0% /dev/shm tmpfs                  245.0M         0    245.0M   0% /media/ram root@overo:~# free -k total      used       free     shared    buffers     cached Mem:       501752     103500     398252          0       7784      59172 -/+ buffers/cache:     36544     465208 Swap:           0          0          0

Console image
root@overo:~# df -h Filesystem               Size      Used Available Use% Mounted on  /dev/root                 1.8G    154.7M      1.5G   9% / devtmpfs               118.1M    188.0K    117.9M   0% /dev none                   118.1M    188.0K    117.9M   0% /dev /dev/mmcblk0p2           1.8G    154.7M      1.5G   9% /media/mmcblk0p2 /dev/mmcblk0p1          38.6M      3.2M     35.3M   8% /media/mmcblk0p1 tmpfs                  118.1M    344.0K    117.8M   0% /var/volatile tmpfs                  118.1M         0    118.1M   0% /dev/shm tmpfs                  118.1M         0    118.1M   0% /media/ram root@overo:~# free -k total      used       free     shared    buffers     cached Mem:       241856      45052     196804          0       3900      26996 -/+ buffers/cache:     14156     227700 Swap:           0          0          0

Resources

 * Overo: Setup and Programming on Gumstix developer site
 * I/O, connectors & cabling
 * WiFi and BT SoC specs (local copy).
 * Setting up Wifi on Gumstix Overo Fire
 * PIXHAWK – Many useful BeagleBoard and Gumstix Overo COM related things. In particular, they seem to use similar cameras to those I got with the Leopard board, see http://pixhawk.ethz.ch/wiki/pixhawk_camera_competition
 * Minimal, quick booting Gumstix image and other resources
 * SAKOMAN:
 * Beta r10 Gnome image - download
 * Beta r11 Gnome image - download
 * Preparing a bootable SD/microSD card
 * Changing the display resolution
 * http://specialcomp.com/index.htm – Nice acrylic cases
 * OMAP Power Management – Embedded Linux Wiki.

Blogs

 * 2010.09.06: Gumstix Overo Fire on a rocket
 * 2010.09.12: Gumstix Overo Fire booting from microSD card
 * 2010.09.13: Kernel panic, accidental downgrade and working webcam
 * 2010.09.18: Gumstix Overo Fire status and re-scoping the project

Videos

 * 2010.09.12: Gumstix Overo Fire booting from microSD
 * 2010.09.14: OpenGL Demos on Gumstix Overo Fire

Complete YouTube playlist

Photos

 * Picasa gallery