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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.

  • I'm having a bit of a problem getting my hcam set up properly. I have my settings set to what is in the first post, I'm getting a good ball streak on the "preview capture" but what shows up in the top right window is sparce. I tried adjusting the shutter and gain up and down, but I was completely guessing and it didn't seem to help. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
    Attached Files

    Comment


    • Perhaps fixing the first issue will solve this, but the hcam seems to be picking up the club fairly often as well.
      Attached Files

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      • You are close. Go look at the first post again. Settings are not like mine.

        Comment


        • Thanks Zmax. I changed the grayscale ball settings to match yours and the results are much better now. Two more questions:

          1. I'm guessing I'll need to put black tape on top of my white driver?
          2. Do you know if there is a way to change the usb controller associated with a device? My laptop only has 2 usb ports. I have a usb hub hooked up to one of them (vcam and sensor mat) and the hcam to the other usb port. When both cameras are connected the vcam goes bananas. If not, then I have a spare desktop that I can use instead.

          Thanks again.
          Attached Files

          Comment


          • I am trying to setup my cameras...just started with the v-cam. when i go into the camera stream and change to the 640x480 it never saves when i preview it. i went into the settings (alt e) and manually changed the height and width. this caused the camera to split screen. what i mean is when i would preview (it was 640x480) it would be fine for a second and then it was like the camera was looking through a pair of bug eyed binoculars (when you look through them each eye is looking a different direction) . i tried changing the default to the 640x480 and this still happened. also i am using zmax's recommended lenses any suggestions?

            Comment


            • Try a different USB port. Each camera must be on its own USB controller.

              Comment


              • Originally posted by Zmax View Post
                Try a different USB port. Each camera must be on its own USB controller.
                Does it matter that this doesnt happen when I change the interface settings back to the default?

                Comment


                • Default is 320X240, which requires less bandwidth on the USB port than 640X480.

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                  • Thx. That worked. I still had to manually change the resolution in the alt E settings. I hit about 20 balls with a 6 iron and the red line matched up everytime. Does it matter that my leg shows up brightly in the image since I didnt have a misread?

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                    • no, don't matter

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                      • I hope this helps someone.

                        I got my hcam working well when I set it up with my wedges, irons and driver, but I didn't think to test it with my silver crowned 3 wood and hybrids. The software does a great job ignoring the club on driver hits, but the hcam picked up the club about 50% of the time on those clubs no matter what settings I changed. I think it's b/c these clubs are smaller than the driver. I ended up putting electrical tape on the crown covered with packing tape to keep it on. Not ideal once the season starts, but I'm way happier with the accuracy.

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                        • One other question. I just noticed that the cameras will register fine for a few shots, but then not register at all after switching clubs until I restart the interface. Then it'll work fine again for a few shots, until I switch clubs again. Anyone ever had this?

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                          • I've narrowed my problem down to the vcam. Does anyone know if the camera for the vcam is the same as the camera for the hcam? If they are, I'd like to try swapping them out to see if it fixes my problem.

                            Comment


                            • they are the same.

                              Comment


                              • I have just recently installed an Hcam. It is tuned pretty good and picks up the ball streak most everytime. Are there any settings in the pgs file or anywhere else that should be changed (other than use hcam) to properly utilize the Hcam? I have included the pgs file.

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