Servo Controlled Bullet Cam

[slomove]

Just thought I should share some info about my latest gadget....remote controlled bullet cam.

 

Besides the wish to take video sometimes to the rear (or maybe the side?) a main motivation to do this was to turn the camera out of bug's way when not recording. I guess I have had more video ruined by bug smear than good footage (and you find out only when you get home after a long blat).

 

YouTube Video

 

This is a normal R/C servo with an additional 1/4" bearing for more stability built into a shaped plastic tube as extension of the rollbar:

 

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/642792575_RollbarVideoRobot1.jpg

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1347316637_RollbarVideoRobot2.jpg

 

The removable control box is held by a very strong magnet (scavenged from a hard disk) to the tranny tunnel and contains the LANC for the camcorder and a PWM controller for the camera servo. When the LANC switches off the camcorder, the camera automatically turns backward.

 

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/523811516_VideoControlBox.jpg

 

Finally, a power and junction box on the firewall of the boot contains voltage regulators for the camcorder (8.2V) and the servo (5V) as well as connects everything:

 

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1536095029_VideoPowerBox.jpg

 

Unfortunately nothing to buy off the shelf (and no, I don't have any schematics or drawings...) but maybe an idea for others to use.

 

Gert