Videobotics CamMotion Information FAQ

• What is CamMotion?
• What applications do CamMotion Systems address?
• What is a CamMotion System?
• What cameras and devices can CamMotion control over the net?
• Is CamMotion a webcam?
• Can I use my own camera?
• How does CamMotion control a camera or device?
• How do CamMotion Systems connect to my PC?
• Are CamMotion camera systems 'network cameras'?
• How far away can I place a CamMotion device from the PC?
• Can I place my CamMotion camera system indoors? Outdoors?
• Is the CamMotion software the same for all devices?
• Can I create custom applications?
• What Operating System can I use?
• Can I try a CamMotion camera system?

• What is CamMotion?

  
  CamMotion is a software system for controlling robotic cameras and other devices over the internet. The CamMotion software adds network interactivity to many popular devices including pan/tilt/zoom cameras, pan/tilt robotic motion devices, video switchers, and VCRs. The whole point of CamMotion is to provide internet (TCP/IP network) remote control of a wide variety of cameras and devices so that they can be operated interactively from remote locations. CamMotion *adds* network control capability to these cameras and devices. If it connects to a PC COM port, we can control it over a network.

• What applications do CamMotion Systems address?

  
  CamMotion systems are ideal for network-enabling many ordinary applications. Use CamMotion camera systems as viewer-interactive webcams. With CamMotion,
  • an industrial observation video camera becomes a network-controllable industrial observation camera
  • a video switch becomes a network-controllable interactive video switch
  • a computer-controlled telescope becomes a network-remote-controllable telescope
  • a computer-controlled electric relay board becomes network-interactive

  Applications our customers have implemented with CamMotion systems include:

  • chemical engineering and computer observation systems let engineers observe equipment in a lab or server room
  • high performance video streaming using Windows Media and Real for commercial web sites
  • art gallery business web site lets viewers move the cam to see what's in the gallery
  • custom building-lobby visitor-interactive video sculpture
  • network and internet classroom educational projects
  • precision alignment of wireless network antenna systems by remote control
  • train layout multiple webcam switching systems (hobby-scale train layout)
  • security observation systems
  • civil engineering interactive observation of building construction
  • baseball team commercial site (ticket sales) promoted with cam showing construction of new stadium
  • remote-control videography systems
  • wireless network-controllable public safety remote observation and airborne cameras
  • surf cams that support commercial web advertising by retaining web-site visitors with interactive cams
  • interactive trade-show booth cams
  • and more...
  The whole idea behind CamMotion is to take a computer-controllable camera or device and make it controllable over your network or the internet.

• What is a CamMotion System?

  
  A CamMotion system typically consists of the CamMotion software and a camera or robotic motion device. That gives you a complete internet-remote-interactive system. There are many options from which you can choose - they're shown here:
  CamMotion Systems
  Each CamMotion *system* inludes a computer-controllable device or camera plus the software required to interactively control it over a network or the internet. The CamMotion software is also available separately for those who already own the devices. When a CamMotion camera or device is used with our software package, you can interactively control it over your network or the internet.

• What cameras and devices can CamMotion control?

  
  The list is long and getting longer. CamMotion works with:
  • Sony EVI-D30/31 and EVI-G20/21 robotic pan/tilt/zoom cameras
  • Canon VC-C1, VC-C3, and VC-D4 robotic pan/tilt/zoom cameras
  • Panasonic KX-DP702 and WV-CS854 robotic pan/tilt zoom cameras
  • Hitachi VK-C77U video cameras with robotic zoom/focus lenses
  • Sony camcorder zoom/focus/record functions
  • Videolarm outdoor pressurized/heater-blower camera housings with built-in pan/tilt systems
  • Meade ETX-60AT and ETX-70AT robotic pan/tilt telescopes
  • DP PTU 46-17.5 and 4670 robotic pan/tilt devices - with optional lens control for Sony Camcorders
  • Bescor MP-101 pan/tilt devices - with lens control for Sony Camcorders
  • Extron SW6 six-input video switchers
  • NCD Asel16 16-input video switchers
  • NCD R8 eight-relay electric relay boards
  More detailed information about CamMotion systems and software for these devices is here:
  CamMotion Camera Systems
  CamMotion Robotic Device Systems
  

• Is a CamMotion System a webcam?

  
  We offer complete webcam kits for our most popular cams: CamMotionPro30 and CamMotionProKX and some others. CamMotion Pro30 and ProKX webcam kits include all the components you need:
  • CamMotion Pro30 or ProKX Camera with power supply
  • CamMotion Windows software (CDROM with illustrated printed manual)
  • Computer COM port cable - connects the PC to the camera pan/tilt/zoom controls
  • Video cable - connects to the video port of the camera
  • Winnov VideumAV video capture card - brings the video into your PC
  • Personal WebMedia webcam program - sends the camera video out to the internet
  • sample web pages and CamMotion web-page pan/tilt/zoom control panels

  Many other CamMotion camera-based systems make great interactive webcams when you use them with a webcam program such as our favorite, Personal WebMedia. A CamMotion webcam system can be interactively controlled (e.g. moved around and zoomed in, etc.) by a person viewing it on a web page.

• Where can I get more information on setting up a webcam?

  
  We've provided an extensive webcam Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page here:
  Our Webcam FAQ Page
  

• Can I use my own camera?

  
  Of course. CamMotionPTU and CamMotionPTB are pan/tilt systems that can *add* interactive network control of pan and tilt to almost any camera (or any other object you care to mount on them - laser alignment devices, antennas, etc.). If you are use a Sony Camcorder, we have options to let the CamMotion system also provide interactive network control of focus and zoom - and even turning the tape-recording function on and off!

• How does CamMotion control a camera or device?

  
  CamMotion devices and cameras inherently have the ability to be controlled by a computer. The control takes place through a connection to a computer's COM port. CamMotion software programs have built-in knowledge of the codes required to control the various cameras and devices listed above. CamMotion software also has built-in knowledge about how to transmit the control codes over a network or the internet.

• How do CamMotion systems connect to my PC?

  
  
  • Cameras need two connections: a connection to control the device through the computer COM port and another connection to bring the camera video into your computer (into a video capture device). The video processing and webcam program are, strictly speaking, separate from the CamMotion system. Videobotics carries suitable video capture cards and webcam programs to make a complete network-interactive webcam system.
  • Other robotic devices such as pan/tilt unit, video switcher, or relay-board, connect to a PC COM port.

• Are CamMotion Camera Systems 'network cameras'?

  
  CamMotion cameras are different from so-called 'network cameras'. 'Network cameras' connect to the PC by an 'ethernet' connection. Some 'network cameras' or 'network video servers' have a built-in webserver and have their own fixed-design control panels and video display formats; some even require proprietary viewing software. Most 'network cameras' lack pan/tilt/zoom features. CamMotion camera systems are more flexible and usually have more features at lower cost.
  • CamMotion camera systems do not require ethernet connections, fixed IP addressing, routers, or hubs
  • CamMotion camera systems reduce cost by using your existing PC as the 'video server'
  • CamMotion camera systems can easily achieve high frame rates on your network
  • CamMotion camera systems have internet-controlled pan/tilt/zoom, not usually found on 'network cams'
  • CamMotion camera systems do not require custom installed viewing or control software
  • CamMotion camera systems use real video (the kind you can record on a VCR)
  • CamMotion camera systems easily work with large-audience streaming systems including WME and Real
  • CamMotion camera systems can even work with dial-up internet connections
  • CamMotion camera systems have flexible video web pages, control panels, and timed access to controls
  • CamMotion camera systems easily work in custom and combined applications (videography, capture, etc.)
  • CamMotion systems can integrate pan/tilt devices, telescopes, relay boards, and video switches in addition to cameras.

• How far away can I place a CamMotion camera system from the PC?

  
  Most cameras (like CamMotionPro30 and CamMotionProKX ) work up to 50-100 feet away from the PC 'out of the box' or up to 500 feet with modestly priced extension devices. We also have cameras that are specifically designed to operate over much larger distances - up to thousands of feet from the PC. Long distances can be costly. There are two considerations for positioning cameras:
  1. Connecting to the camera's pan/tilt/zoom control system
  2. Connecting to the camera's video output
  
  Please call if you are considering a long distance positioning.

• Can I put my CamMotion camera system indoors? Outdoors?

  
  Our most popular systems, CamMotionPro30 and CamMotionProKX , are most appropriately used indoors. We also have cameras that are specifically designed to operate outdoors and we can adapt most of the CamMotion systems to work outdoors. Outdoor camera systems cost more than indoor systems because the camera electronics and optics must be protected from environmental factors like heat, cold, and dust.
  Please call if you are considering an outdoor CamMotion camera system. We have specialist firms who can help you with complete installation and setup services for outdoor CamMotion camera systems.

• Is the CamMotion software the same for all devices?

  
  The networking capabilities are almost identical in all versions of CamMotion software. The camera and device control features are partly customized for particular types of cameras and pan/tilt devices. Underlying the CamMotion software is a common set of camera and motion control commands that are universal so that our software operates the same over a network when you use a Sony EVI-D30 or a Panasonic KX-DP702. Extended network command sets are provided for some advanced devices. For more complete information about the CamMotion software please visit here:
  CamMotion Software Information
  

• Can I create custom applications?

  
  Yes. A number of our customers utilize the underlying CamMotion network command system to create their own applications in Java, Rebol, Visual Basic, and more. CamMotion camera systems come with a custom GUI control panel design kit so you can design your own look, feel, logo, or other unique Java applet web-page control panel. For more complete information about the CamMotion software please visit here:
  CamMotion Software Information
  

• What Windows OS can I use?

  
  Windows 95, 98, NT4 or 2000. Call for information about porting to other OS systems.

• Can I try a CamMotion camera system?

  
  Yes, of course. A number of our systems are viewable on line. You can try cam systems in the USA, Netherlands, and Japan here:
  Try A CamMotion Live Interactive Cam System page
  

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