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 USBviewwww.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.
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.
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!
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 USBviewwww.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.
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.
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!
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