Romit2 VPU

From MyLabWiki

The Romit2 VPU is a video capturing and processing unit originally developed for the Romit2 cubesat. It is based on the Gumstix Overo Water computer board powered by an OMAP3530.

Contents 1 Overview 2 Camera 3 Video processor 4 Software Components 5 Test campaigns 5.1 Temperature testing 5.2 Vacuum testing 5.3 Vibration testing 5.4 High altitude balloon flight 6 References 6.1 Blogs 6.2 Videos 6.3 Pictures

Overview

Functional specifications:

• Capture video and still images
  • Video resolutions (TBC):
    • 1280x720 at ? fps
    • 640x480 at 5, 10 and 15fps
    • 320x240 at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 fps
  • Still image resolutions (TBD):
    • 2592x1944
• Encode video using H.264 codec
• Encode images using JPG or PNG codec
• Multiplex video and image data with telemetry data
• Support both continuous video streaming as well as pre-programmed recording for later download
• Command interface to allow adjusting camera and video processing parameters

Interface specification:

• I2C control interface to microcontroller
• McBSP data interface to 2.4 GHz transmitter
• Power supply: 3.3 V
• Logic level: 1.8 V

Performance:

• Temperature range: -25° to 80° C
• Vacuum
• Fully functional within 10 seconds after power up
• Immune against sudden loss of power

Camera

Following cameras have been evaluated:

• Caspa VL from Gumstix – Cheap camera that connects to the camera interface of the Overo. Very few parameters to adjust and unacceptable image quality.
• Logitech UVC cameras – Takes very good images and has very well supported control interface. Unfortunately, Gumstix Overo USB doesn't seem to have sufficient bandwidth to achieve sufficient framerates at VGA resolution (because Tobi uses USB ethernet adapter?).
• e-CAM32 and e-CAM50 with custom lens by e-Con Systems – Connects to the camera interface of the Overo. Takes surprisingly good images and has many adjustable parameters.

Present work continues using the e-Con cameras.

Video processor

Software Components

Romit Linux

Test campaigns

Temperature testing

Vacuum testing

Vibration testing

High altitude balloon flight

References

Blogs

• 2011.09.15: Work continues on the OMAP3 VPU
• 2011.09.21: Video encoding using the DSP is working
• 2011.10.15: The e-CAM32 and e-CAM50 cameras
• 2011.12.12: Gumstix Overo Water + eCAM32 camera demo

Videos

• 2011.12.11: eCAM32 Gumstix Demo
• 2011.12.11: Features of the eCAM32 for Gumstix Overo

Pictures

• Flickr album