You can use your robot to send real-time video images, and this could be a very interesting DIY robotic application. In this article, we make an overview of three possible ways for real-time streaming between a camera mounted on a robot and an Android device.
Depending on the budget, you can build a real-time video streaming robot using two smartphones, an IP camera and a smartphone, or using the Raspberry Pi together with Arduino plus other accessories. Regardless of the option chosen, the real-time video streaming robot can be used in a wide range of applications including here security, spying, or even to have real-time information when the robot works in the garden.
Below you can find the three possible ways that can be implemented for a live transmission between a robot and an Android device.
Smartphone devices are designed with powerful cameras that could be used for live streaming between robots and smartphones. In this case, for real application you need not one, two smartphones with Android and live streaming applications installed on the devices. One smartphone is attached to the robot, while on the second smartphone the others watch in real-time the actions of the robot. Both Android devices require Internet connection.
Applications:
Below are available two Android applications designed for live streaming between Android devices.
Using an Internet protocol camera is the second solution for real-time streaming and requires an IP camera Android compatible. IP cameras are designed to transmit video images to a router or to a single-board computer like Raspberry Pi. Another Android device or a computer can be connected to the router and display video images.
Below are available a series of IP cameras that can be integrated in robots and tutorials that show you how an IP camera can be interfaced to display images.
IP Cameras
PlugnView IC-3115W Network Camera – Color
BIPnet Single Board Computer With Robot Vision System
iViewHD 2MP IP Camera
Canon Network Camera VB-C300 PTZ
Tutorials:
Using Raspberry Pi is the third option to display real-time video images on Android devices. Raspberry Pi is the best option for video and image manipulations compared with any Arduino boards due to low performances, or at least until the Arduino Tre will be available on the market.
Raspberry Pi has enough power for HD video and image manipulation, and can be connected to the Arduino board. Connected to Raspberry Pi, Arduino can be used as a control unit while Raspberry Pi processes video images. Raspberry Pi features include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi wireless technologies and this is the shortcut to display images directly on the Android device.
Video images are displayed at high FPS and are in colors.
Tutorials:
Below are available a series of tutorials that show you how to use Raspberry Pi and Raspberry Pi Camera in order to display video images on Android devices.