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USER ID: abcde PASSWORD: abcde

CamMotion Custom Control Panel Instructions:

1. RED BUTTONS: Camera Selection - Cam #1 (top red button) has full robotic controls.
2. BLUE BUTTONS: Presets - Controls (motion, zoom, presets) DO NOT APPLY to Cams #2-6.
3. YELLOW BUTTONS: NEW CamMotion scripted sequences of commands to control Camera #1.
Please wait for sequence of commands to end before using other controls.

1. If you get a requester for username/password, use: abcde for both.
2. Camera #1 has full robotic controls for pan, tilt, zoom, focus, and presets.
3. Controls for motion, zoom, and presets DO NOT APPLY to stationary Cams #2-6.

Live webcam stream (left) and CamMotion customized control panel (right) appear above when system is online.
The CamMotion network-robotics camera control system is fully compatible with all video-streaming programs including IVista, WebCam32, WebCamXP, WindowsMediaEncoder, and PWM. We are using the Pixord ethernet video-streaming device to send the video on this page. The Pixord system provides a low-cost and high-performance video stream that is easy to view on your web page and takes the video capture/stream load off the computer. The CamMotion camera control system is running separately from a computer to provide all the flexibility that CamMotion provides using any video transmission system - password controlled access to camera motion system, timed access of individual users to the camera controls, and many more powerful features. We put a custom control panel GUI example on this page, too, to show you the possiblity to have a web-based camera system control panel with custom graphics and even your logo or your own design.

You're viewing a MultiCamMotion System with up to 6 cams.
On this demonstration system, Cam #1 can pan/tilt/zoom, and move to preset positions. Cams 2 through 6 (on this demo system) are static ordinary video cams so they won't respond to motion or 'preset' commands. MultiCamMotion systems can easily support multiple robotic cams also. This one has up to 6 cameras, but only #1 is a fully robotic motion camera on this demo system.

Cam #1 is one of our CamMotionPro pan/tilt camera systems (CamMotioPro70, the new Sony EVI-D70 camera with night-vision feature and 18X zoom). Check out the all the controls you get by using the motion, zoom, and Preset buttons (cam #1 only). A single-cam CamMotionPro system starts under $1500 and you can design the control panel to your specifications.

Pixord video server units start under $500 and include a 4-camera unit for only $699. Pixord server boxes let you transmit your video through to your web page, record video from cameras to your hard drive, and set up many flexible options of the Pixord box itself. NOW AVAILABLE FROM VIDEOBOTICS. The Pixord server is simply one way to send video through the internet or your LAN and CamMotion systems work well with this solution as well as with all other video-transmission software methods like WME, WebCam32, IVista, and other webcam video programs.

During most California daytime hours you'll see live-motion video and our customizable control panel. You must have 'Java Enabled' in your browser in order to try the CamMotion demo. Please be patient a few moments while the CamMotion demo applet loads into your system over the net. It's very simple to use, please see the instructions below. If webcam image isn't visible, please try again later or to arrange a demo. This page updated 1/1/04.

Using The CamMotion Software

If the webcam is online, the MultiCamMotion custom sample control panel should load into your system in a few moments. Of course, you must have Java applet capability in your browser, and also have it 'enabled' as well. We are now showing a test of our brand new integrated controls for camera motion (on Cam #1 only) and switching cameras. This control panel is one sample design made with our design kit that lets you, the owner, design your own GUI control panel.

This camera control panel automatically logs into the camera system to set up camera control for you. You don't need to type in any passwords or login codes. If the camera is not in use by someone already, you'll get 10 minutes of control time.

You can phone Videobotics (805 349 1104 during the hours of 10AM to 5PM, California time zone) or to arrange special access.

  1. If the controls are in use by someone else, you may reload the web page to try to gain control again in 5 or 10 minutes. Whomever is using the cam gets a 10 minute control time slot.
  2. When you are in control of the cam system, first try clicking on the Camera #1 button - that'll give you access to the camera that can be moved around and sent to its preset positions using the 'preset' buttons.
  3. Now you can click on the arrows to move the camera left, right, up, or down, zoom, or go to preset positions. The larger arrows make larger motions and the user interface is simple to understand and operate. These camera controls only work on Camera #1. They will have no effect if you are viewing Cameras 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.
  4. NOTE: The motion of the camera on your display will usually not appear instantaneous - that's merely due to the delay of the flow of the video over the internet. The motion commands move quickly and the CamMotion program instantly moves the camera here, but video moves more slowly over the net. If you were doing this over your own local network the responsiveness would be instant. If you have a wide bandwidth connection (DSL, ISDN, etc.) you may get a very snappy responsiveness in any case. We've found that, depending on your location, your view of the live video feed is from 5-20 or as much as 45-60 seconds delayed by its travel over the net to your display.
  5. Allow up to 15 to 30 seconds before clicking on another command button so you can see the results of each command before continuing. This delay is not caused by the CamMotion software - it is simply a consequence of transmitting the video itself everything over long distances using the internet. Please be patient. Remember, when the CamMotion server program here gets the command from you (which happens quickly), it DOES act instantaneously to move or zoom the camera.
  6. It is best to start with a click on the Camera 1 button (so that you select the movable, zoomable cam), then click the large RIGHT arrow (PanR10) to pan right 10 units and wait to see the picture update on your display so you can see the approximate period of delay on your net connection. Or try the Preset buttons (which combine pan, tilt, and zoom to a new location all in one command) and wait until you see the image from the camera in its new position. Note that only Camera 1 is controllable. The other cams (2-6) are 'static' cams on this demo system. Our MultiCamMotion systems provide for a mix of controllable and inexpensive static video cams like you see here.
  7. Camera #1 is positioned so that if you pan or tilt too far, you'll no longer be viewing the outdoor scene. It you see a 'blank' or solid color, move the camera back in the other direction.
  8. There's a time limit (usually 5 or 10 minutes - we set it in the CamMotion host control program here) so that others can get in to use the camera.
  9. If you're finished prior to the automatic timeout, please click on the 'Close Connection' button so that the camera server program on this end can close your session and let another person log in.
  10. This demo system is currently using our MultiCamMotion with five or six cams (up to 6 are possible): Cam #1 is a controllable robotic cam with 6 presets (you can have up to 10) and full control of pan, tilt, and zoom.
  11. We are sending the live video using Pixord Ethernet camera server over a simple DSL internet connection. The bandwidth is smaller than you might imagine, usually less than 30 kilobits/second for an image sending rate of up to 5-10 pics/second.
Remember, CamMotion systems come with PC server (direct local camera control), web-applet remote (just like this demo applet - and several other applet types as well), and a direct-remote (uses IP# login so no log-in password is required, for private access) program as well as the hardware system (up to 6 robotic cams + video switcher). Basic systems complete with robotic cam, COM port control cable, and software start at under $1500. Multicamera systems and software-only packages for owners of Sony, Canon, Elmo, Vicon, and Panasonic p/t/z cams are also available.

Full CamMotion Product Information