Raspberry Pi Action Camera #piday #raspberrypi @Raspberry_Pi
Conor Yamada wanted a cheaper, open source action camera, so he made one with Araspberry Pi. via connoryamada
Motivation
I was fortunate enough to acquire a GoPro at a discount a few months ago. I used the camera to record runs on the mountain, document some of my work, and, most importantly, for bike rides. Not only is it a great tool for capturing scenery on long-distance trips, it’s also an important piece of safety equipment as a cyclist. Cameras like the GoPro, Sony Action Cam, and the Fly6 are all relatively expensive and, perhaps, not as accessible as they should be. I wanted to design a cheaper, open-source, and biking-centric action camera.
Design
The design of the action camera had to be based on off-the-shelf components. If you have access to a 3D printer and soldering iron, you can build this project. With that in mind, I started with the Raspberry Pi A+, the newer, low-power version of the Model A. Having the A+ as the platform meant having access to hundreds of parts designed to work with Raspberry Pis; the most important being the camera module. A quick Google search told me it possible to build so I took it from there. The first prototype I built used an open-source case and was just to make sure the camera would actually work.
From there, my design goals were simple:
1. Long battery life
2. Wireless communication
3. Simple, durable enclosure
The first goal meant having a large battery. The hour to hour and a half battery life of the GoPro wouldn’t cut it for longer, multi-hour rides. The second meant having both Bluetooth and WiFi so that additional hardware wasn’t needed to interface with the camera. The last goal also played a big role in determining the first two. While designing holes/slots to make every port available outside the case would have made things more convenient, it would also have reduced the structural integrity and water/dust resistance. The parts I used can be found below:
• Raspberry Pi A+
• Raspberry Pi Camera Board
• Edimax WiFi USB Adapter
• Wireless Bluetooth to Serial Slave
• 32GB Micro SD
• 2000mAh LiPo
• LiPo Charger/Booster
• Momentary Pushbutton Switch
• 1/2″,1/4″ 2-56 Machine Screws/Nuts
• Rocker Switch
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Each Friday is PiDay here at Adafruit! Be sure to check out our posts, tutorials and new Raspberry Pi related products. Adafruit has the largest and best selection of Raspberry Pi accessories and all the code & tutorials to get you up and running in no time!