Experiments
Statement
Discussion
Subscribe
Products
Press
Links
Subscribe to Mailing List
Physical System
The system
consists of seven basic components:
(1)
Mounting base – This is a structural metal base to support the
system. It rests on the floor and
is approximately 1 meter in height. It
also consists of an aluminum housing to enclose various electrical components
and other hardware. A flat panel screen is attached to one side of the base (not
the top). This is situated in the center of a room or open space to
afford the best vantage of people and objects.
(2)
A/V equipped internet-connected computer – This computer is
responsible for handing all of the remote audio and video capture, processing,
and transmission. This is a 800MHz+ PIII machine with capture hardware.
(3)
Routing internet-connected computer – This computer monitors the
network traffic and aids in tracking network statistics and generating firing
logs and reports for local viewers.
(4)
Custom control and tracking software – Various software written
in C++, assembly, and Java for controlling the custom hardware on the system.
This software is contained in items 2 and 3.
(5)
Industrial grade pan/tilt mechanism – Two high-torque geared
servo motors mounted atop item 1 control rapid panning and tilting of items 6
and 7. Range is approximately
+/-45deg tilt and +/- 180deg pan.
(6)
Auto-focus zoom camera – This is a Sony camera with
auto-focus, auto-iris, and controllable zoom.
It is mounted such that it acts as an aiming system down the barrel of
item 7. The output signal is S-VHS
format and can be operated in low lighting conditions.
Various video overlays and crosshairs are overlaid on the resulting video
signal.
(7)
Shockwave vortex gun – See link.