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  • Protee : How to setup machine vision cameras

    Protee : How to setup machine vision cameras

    This post will explain how to install and setup the machine vision cameras for LA and H-cam. This will be a work in progress and I will add to this post when I find time. They are also working on a new ball detection method so the procedure will change slightly.

    This link explains how to install the PTgrey camera drivers.
    csc.protee-united.com/entries/21114743-I...ision-camera-drivers

    Installing the drivers basically consist of installing the Flycapture 2.2. You can download it from Ptgrey.com or it can be found on the Protee install directory.

    USBview utility:
    Each camera will require an active USB 2.0 extension(16ft max) plus a USB to mini cable(12ft max). I would not go any longer than the two combined. Each camera should be connected to USB ports that are on separate controllers. You can use USBview
    www.ftdichip.com/Support/Utilities.htmto view the USB controllers and USB devices.

    H-CAM mounts:
    http://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum/...-housing-ideas


    LENSES:
    http://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum/...-camera-lenses

    Changing out the ProTee lens:
    First, see if you can just unscrew the old lens out. If you can't(don't force it), you'll have to remove the tiny set screw. Easiest way is to remove the camera shell first by removing the 4 screws at the corners. Then remove the set screw from the lens holder. Install the camera shell back on and screw in the new lens, hand tighten. Don't put the set screw back in. Just keep in a safe place in case you need it in the future. Adjust the two knobs for focus and you're done.


    Lights:
    You can use the ProTee lights or do it yourself. Here's a DIY lights thread:

    http://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum/...-lights-system

    The sensor mat light should use a 60-75w halogen spot bulb, while the 2nd light should be 60-75w flood(40-45* beam). The wattage depends on the mounted height of the lights.

    The sensor mat light should be mounted directly above the tee location, and not the center of the sensor mat. The 2nd light should be mounted directly above the putting sensor. The beam from the second light should overlap the sensor mat beam just a little, but not too much. Trust me on this one. See my H-cam picture.


    Mounting the Vcam:
    The V-cam can be mounted left or right, 6-7 ft from the sim room's center line and about 1 ft ahead of the sensor mat. It does not have to be exact(PT5). What's important is that it needs to be as low to the floor as possible and pointing slightly up, maybe 5-10*, and pointing perpendicular to the center line. Put a ball on a tee. Adjust the camera's position so that the ball is sitting on top of the red box in the camera. Use the horizontal line to align the camera. You want the horizontal line to be parallel with the floor or sensor mat.

    Note: If mounting the V-cam on the left, set the image to flip, save and exit out completely and restart the interface for the changes to take affect.

    Mounting the H-cam:

    H-cam is mounted on the target line between the putting sensor and the main sensor. Exact distance will depend on the mounting height. Set the H-cam method to PT1 and resolution to 640X480 if using my lens, then use the view in the camera to find the mounting location. Ball must be in the red square.

    PT camera methods:

    # Investigation methods Vertical Camera:
    # PT1= Find first point from the right bottom corner, investigating vertical lines (default)
    # PT2= Find first point from the left top corner, investigating horizontal lines
    # PT3= Investigate at an angle of ~45 degrees, perpendicular on this line
    # PT4= Analyse picture by finding the longest line, use tee-box and one point on this line
    # PT5= Analyse picture by finding the longest line, without using the tee-box (preferred)

    # Investigation methods Horizontal Camera:
    # PT1= Find first point from the right bottom corner, investigating vertical lines
    # PT4= Analyse picture by finding the longest line, use tee-box and one point on this line (default)
    # PT5= Analyse picture by finding the longest line, without using the tee-box (preferred)

    When setting up the cameras for the first time, it best to set all PT methods to PT1's. Then use my recommended settings below. Please see the recommended interfacesettings section on how to change settings. http://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum/...rface-settings

    Investigate_V_cam_method_wedges=PT5
    Investigate_V_cam_method_non_wedges=PT5
    Investigate_H_cam_method=PT1
    Investigate_V_cam_method_driver=PT5
    Investigate_H_cam_method_driver=PT1

    Vertical Cam Setup: csc.protee-united.com/entries/22330292-V...-Launch-Camera-Setup

    Changing camera resolutions:
    To change the resolution using the camera stream, set "Left" to 56. "Top" to 0.

    "Width" to 640. "Height" to 480. Apply, OK.

    Then click on "Preview" and make sure the resolution changed.

    If you can match mine, image wise and settings wise, it should work pretty good.
    Click image for larger version

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    H-cam setup is very similar to the Vcam setup above.

    If you can match mine, image wise and settings wise, it should work pretty good.
    Click image for larger version

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    1) In the H-cam setup window, select the ball path camera(via serial #) from the drop down list.

    2) Set the H-cam's resolution to 640X480. See instructions above.

    3) Set all settings to match mine in the above picture for both screens. In the "camera device" window(little box on the left in the picture above), shutter speed is 14 and frame rate is 40 fps. Set everything else to zero, including gain. Make sure to uncheck "auto" for everything. When making changes to the frame rate or resolution, you must click "preview" for the changes to take affect.

    4) Once all settings are set, mount the H-cam as high as you can and just forward of the sensor mat. It should be pointing straight down perpendicular to the floor. Put the tee location in the center of the red box. Use the vertical and horizontal lines to align the camera. Perfect alignment = accurate measurements.

    My settings will get you going. Depending on your floor's reflective property and lighting conditions, you might have to make a few adjustments. If you adjust the shutter and/or gain to match the look of what I have above, you should be good. Test some swings with Driver, wood, iron, and wedge. Must select the club for each type of test. If the software is detecting the club instead of the ball streak, adjust the minimum greyscale for that type of club until the software can detect the ball streak without failure.

    You must also click "save" as you exit the setup screens for the changes to be saved.


    Solution for those that loses camera settings on power down/reboot:
    csc.protee-united.com/entries/23152196-F...r-down-or-disconnect

    Enjoy!
    Last edited by Maverick; 11-16-2014, 09:14 PM.

  • We recommend using 320x240 with PT4. Your VCam image and setup looks very good!

    Comment


    • My son just got some aeroburner hybrid and woods. The white head is messing with the hcam. It is picking up the clubhead instead of the ball so his shots are 33* left. I have messed with the gain, shutter and Frame rate and cannot seem to get something to work. Any ideas? All was working well until the white heads came along.

      I went back to reread this thread. I changed the camera to 640x480. set shutter to 14 and fps to 40 and gain to zero.... no help. I upped the greyscale per VanceV to help.... Did not work. I am really stuck on this.
      Last edited by Boerdoc; 11-02-2015, 03:15 AM. Reason: Rereading the thread gave me other ideas to try but they did not help.

      Comment


      • Originally posted by boerdoc View Post
        My son just got some aeroburner hybrid and woods. The white head is messing with the hcam. It is picking up the clubhead instead of the ball so his shots are 33* left. I have messed with the gain, shutter and Frame rate and cannot seem to get something to work. Any ideas? All was working well until the white heads came along.

        I went back to reread this thread. I changed the camera to 640x480. set shutter to 14 and fps to 40 and gain to zero.... no help. I upped the greyscale per VanceV to help.... Did not work. I am really stuck on this.
        You have the PT method set to PT4. Changing it to PT1 will take care of the problem. It's a bit less accurate than PT4, but has much less misreads.

        Comment


        • Originally posted by Richard_Askren View Post

          You have the PT method set to PT4. Changing it to PT1 will take care of the problem. It's a bit less accurate than PT4, but has much less misreads.

          Thanks, I will try that tonight. Any other setting recommendations, raster, fps, shutter, gain, greyscale to adjust to help as well?

          Comment


          • White heads are a nightmare for camera based systems. Part of the detection routine is to find white moving objects.

            If you always get these sort of images then indeed PT1 might work better for you.

            Comment


            • Well, I tried many settings and the one that worked 8 times in a row was this. Setting the method to PT1. A little bit of greyscale, 108,... shutter at 32,.... fps at 32. And 320x240 camera resolution. Every situation is different. This is what worked for me. The next thing I have to do is get my camera straightened out as I see on the captures that it is not aligned correctly. I could probably do that with some settings but I want to correct the hardware first and only use the software as a last resort.

              Comment


              • hey guys having problems with Vcam reading my club instead of ball and giving me extreme launch angles with driver and wood. I will post a screen pic when someone tells me how. is there a setting that im missing? and when I tee up the ball like I do in real life the system wont read the swing thanks for your help

                Comment


                • Post some screenshots http://golfsimulatorforum.com/help#c...content_photos

                  Comment


                  • Moving my questions to this thread as it seams in topic.
                    Am not getting the red box around ball in the preview like I had before a reinstall/recovery of windows. It is also not registering ball path. If anymore pics would help lmk.
                    Thanks!






                    Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

                    Comment


                    • ProTee United
                      ProTee United commented
                      Editing a comment
                      Red box not showing is not an issue. The Red box sometimes turns Grey. Same for the Red line. This is because the cams switch to grey scale mode.
                      By looking at this pic the ball is in the grey box, so all should work. Close all these windows and hit shots in the main interface screen. If it does not show any launch data in there, then you need to check if the sensors are working correctly first. Cameras will not trigger when the sensors are not working correctly.

                  • First make sure the sensor mat is picking up the shots. It should say "Ball launched" and it should show shot data in the main interface screen after every shot.
                    Here is some documentation on how to check the sensors:


                    Comment


                    • Played several rounds yesterday so the mat has to be working fine. In preview screen it says ball launched in the upper right of window for what I am guessing is the carry distance.
                      How does one log in as administrator? I have read this before and have not seen instructions for that. Have hit alt-e if that is what you are referring to.

                      Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

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                      • Comment


                        • thanks bubba here are the screen shots

                          Comment


                          • Try turning the shutter speed up a bit and retest. If not increase the min grey scale for irons only.

                            Comment


                            • thanks bubba I will do that tomorrow when I go out to practice, what would you consider a bit for the shudder speed?

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