WiFi IP camera

While I haven't posted for a while, there was some fervent activity for a bit. My hackerspace comrade tjhowse found that there are cheap WiFi cameras you can get with an ARM processor and embedded ucLinux, which are in fact quite hackable. They also have pan-tilt stepper motors, but they have been geared way down so they are incredibly slow. Finally, they have decent IR leds so they can see in the dark; they are designed as controllable IP security cameras after all.

The innocent Wifi camera before being hacked.

The default web UI is quite decent.

I won't go into detail right now but the photo album is here and here are some threads on the topic:

http://groups.google.com/group/hackerspace_brisbane/browse_thread/thread/f5eae6b6d9922e00

http://groups.google.com/group/hackerspace_brisbane/browse_thread/thread/7336980c0f887d25

Added wires for serial connection and power.

Ultimately though, I found that:

• The latency is actually quite low on a non-congested wireless network - as little as 35ms, which is quite adequate. 
• The latency spikes a bit sometimes, not sure if this is congestion or CPU problems on the system
• It is hard to connect up the Arduino over serial reliably, though I have basically solved that. 
• It is great to have clear video without interference and static
• However, the video is too slow. Framerate is uneven and low, and there is a significant delay - no good for what should be a fast-paced reflexive game. Not sure if this is due to CPU power, the capture device, or network problems.

So it was fun hacking it, and in fact I might keep it for data comms. Maybe remove the camera and just run the base board. That will require hacking the firmware, but that's a solved problem.

I was able to run the camera off the car's battery, through the Arduino's regulator! The reg got hot quickly though.