Eyes in the Sky: Wireless Video Streaming
through Raspberry Pi Communications
Alex Chantharasouk, Mohamed Bhura, Tao Gong, Tom Panek
Overview
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Introduction
Design
Implementation
Evaluation
Visual Support
– Photo
– Video
• Future Work
• Conclusion
RPi mounted below helicopter
Introduction
• Inspiration: Drones in video games. Artificially
intelligent military grade devices. Autosurveying RC tank. Roomba’s.
• Purpose: To innovate a system that enables the
controlling of small-scale commercial devices
and to offer the capabilities of add-ons and
extended functions through connections with a
Raspberry Pi device.
Design
• Video - A camera mounted on vehicle
offering bird’s eye view, or other
perspectives
• Streaming - Hard coded through Python on
Raspberry Pi system
• Wireless System - SSH connection
• Android App - Programming through
Eclipse with Android SDK
Implementation
• Parts and Devices
– 49” RC helicopter
– Raspberry Pi
– Raspberry Pi camera
– 2600 mAh 5V power supply
– Android OS
• Raspberry Pi mounted to RC helicopter
• Camera attached serially to Raspberry Pi
• Video stream sent by Pi
• Android app to receive the live stream
Connection
● Local access point setup
● Raspberry Pi connected to local AP
● Video stream fed from connecting to
Raspberry Pi IP address
Access point used for testing
Visual Example (App)
Visual Example (Helicopter)
Raspberry Pi camera mounted
Live video feed from Pi camera
Power supply and helicopter electronics
Preflight checks
Video Simulation
Raspberry Pi Video Streaming
Conclusion
Our goals accomplished:
● Raspberry Pi camera is able to stream live video feed.
● Video stream onto devices are purely wireless connection.
● Raspberry Pi and camera (along with power supply) were
mounted in place in RC copter, with little disturbances to
each system.
Evaluation:
● Video stream appeared to run continuously when in air.
● Problems in shaky video feed produced by the RC copter.
● Original router set up indoor proved very limited video feed
from outdoors.
Future Work
• Thermal sensor camera
• Thermal mapping through mobile
devices
• Real-time communication and control
on RC helicopter
• Autopilot protocols on RC helicopter