LabVIEW Platform for Domestic Applications - Video Camera

[dp_wave]

Hello!

I’m looking into the possibility of using LabVIEW for some domestic type applications. For example, I’d like to automate the movement of a domestic type video camera. The movement would be realized with a type of low power motor with SCPI compatibility. A couple of questions to be asked:

1)      Do these types of low-powered motors exist that can support SCPI commands over a physical layer such as USB? If not, do some type of converters exist?

2)      Can a commercial grade video camera be sufficient?

3)      I would suspect that this type of application would address the Motion & Vision functions of LabVIEW?

4)      Does any supported NI documentation exist for this specific application?

Thank you in advance for your time & efforts!

[risheeb]

Hi,

Thank you for posting on the National Instruments discussion forums.

Regarding the questions you have about your application:

1)  Typically, motors require a separate drive to interpret commands received through a USB or serial port and convert these to signals of the type needed by the motor.  I am not familiar with any motor which integrates the necessary hardware to do this, but it may exist.

2)  Most consumer cameras are not compatible with our IMAQ for IEEE 1394 or IMAQdx drivers because they output data in a compressed format.  T

3)  If you do have a supported camera, the IMAQdx drivers will allow you to interface with the camera.  To interface with the camera in LabVIEW, you will also need the Vision Development Module.  More information on the VDM can be found here:

https://www.ni.com/en-us/shop/product/vision-development-module.html

In regards to the motion portion of your application, NI-Motion will allow you to interface between one of our motion cards and a motion drive.  If you will be communicating with your motor through a USB or serial port, you will use the VISA functions in LabVIEW.

4)  The IMAQdx drivers include shipping examples which demonstrate how to interface with your camera in LabVIEW.  These should serve as a good starting point for your application.

I hope this helps you get started with your application.  Please reply if you have any follow-up questions.  Thanks.


Rishee B.
Applications Engineer
National Instruments

[dp_wave]

Risheeb,

Thank you for information!