External USB camera for droid phone for prospecting

[UncleMatt]

Hi All,

I am new to the site, but have been a reader for some time. I know this is off topic from the usual posts here, but I have an idea I would like to implement and need some input. I hope this is the right area to post it.

When searching for underwater stream deposits while prospecting, an underwater viewer often comes in handy. But most are big tubes that are fairly ungainly to haul around if you are hiking an area on foot. So I came up with the idea to use a cabled mini-USB camera as a remote underwater viewer. These could also be used to peer inside crevices, or any small tight place you might need to get a look inside of, both while prospecting or any number of situations. These cameras are available all over the net very cheaply, and often have LEDs built in to augment light levels in darker situations. I already use my Samsung Charge when prospecting to create GPS tracks, for mapping, and for video/photos. If I could just add a few ounces of weight at a very small size, and be able to remotely view hard-to-see places both dry and wet, that would be a great advantage.

The problem is I have not been able to find an app that allows these USB cameras to operate using the phone as its display, or to record video or photos. I have found many other people searching for the same ability to use an external USB camera with their phone as the display device. It appears that special software is required to allow this level of functionality to the droid operating system.

If anyone has skills with Linux and/or working with altering smartphones, I would love to get your input on this. I think there is also a lot of demand for an app that could pull this off...

[UncleMatt]

http://brain.cc.kogakuin.ac.jp/research/usb-e.html

This guy is the only person I could find online who got as far as he did. Anyone familiar with this stuff?

I also have to point out the app probably needs to run on both gingerbread and ice cream sandwich platforms for android if at all possible...

[bklein]

Came across this in a search:
http://www.newspycam.com/Mini_Wirele...4_4986636.aspx

I'm surprised the USB microscope guys don't seem to be targeting direct cellphone apps yet.

You also could buy the iphone quadcopter and use the camera temporarily for your purpose...

Something called "Cheese" may run usb cams on Linux. Think Rasberry PI I guess....
Or use a netbook.

Barry

[UncleMatt]

Came across this in a search:
http://www.newspycam.com/Mini_Wirele...4_4986636.aspx

I'm surprised the USB microscope guys don't seem to be targeting direct cellphone apps yet.

You also could buy the iphone quadcopter and use the camera temporarily for your purpose...

Something called "Cheese" may run usb cams on Linux. Think Rasberry PI I guess....
Or use a netbook.

Barry

I was surprised as well. I will check out your leads on this. Note, iphone for quad copter is not submersible as far as I know. Also, a tablet defeats the purpose of keeping things as small and light as possible. My phone has a high def display that is all I need.

On a tangent, I have often considered using a quadcopter to scan cliffsides for vein outcroppings...

[UncleMatt]

Barry, I checked out wireless camera link, and love the little camera there, but its not an underwater capable device.

However, it does bring up the fact you could use a wireless camera, with perhaps an antenna lead that would stay above water for better reception. That way you could have a long probe device, perhaps a telescoping affair, to mount your camera on so you could stick it way underwater (or way back in a crack or drift ). The antenna lead would stay on the probe shaft and lead out to where a signal can get to it easier.

[UncleMatt]

Well, I was hoping for more interest on this, but will post any progress I make in the future. Hope some here develop an interest in this. An app based on this concept would sell like hotcakes! Not just prospectors would use it either, it has many uses in many fields.

[Vortxrex]

You could skip the phone & just make a dedicated HD display. Underwater you can really see gold well as long as the water is clear. What kind of output does the HD camera use? HDMI or 3 composite?. I have quite a bit of experience gold dredging & you can usually see where the biggest pieces of gold are coming from (lots of times it is on top of a clay layer & not on bedrock).

I think if you are in an area where nuggets are found, and the right types of bedrock are exposed you could make some nice finds

[Altra]

Although, not as fun as inventing one.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Underwater-F...item19d2dda021

[UncleMatt]

Yes, you could use a dedicated display such as in your link, but again that adds weight of separate display and its batteries. I was hoping to find a way to make use of the high def screen I am already carrying on my smart phone. I did find this page, which appears to show how to accomplish this task:

http://tldp.org/HOWTO/html_single/Webcam-HOWTO/

I have some reading to do...

[bklein]

Barry, I checked out wireless camera link, and love the little camera there, but its not an underwater capable device.

However, it does bring up the fact you could use a wireless camera, with perhaps an antenna lead that would stay above water for better reception. That way you could have a long probe device, perhaps a telescoping affair, to mount your camera on so you could stick it way underwater (or way back in a crack or drift ). The antenna lead would stay on the probe shaft and lead out to where a signal can get to it easier.

Yeah, I wasn't too concerned about the underwater aspect of your project as I was thinking if you were using an iphone you were willing to stick something down into the water while the iphone was safe and dry. So sure, you'd have to hack these things a bit such that the antenna is above water level.

There are things used in plumbing where they send a video cam through a pipe to look for a leak or clog. Just found this one on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/15M-SEWER-PI...item3a763bbf39
So then get yourself a netbook and you're set.
Here's one with a built in monitor:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SEWER-WATERP...item19bb56553a


Barry

[UncleMatt]

I am aiming for a small submersible camera and cable that weigh next to nothing and take up very little space. I prospect in areas where I must hike in for many miles at elevations often above 10,000 above sea level. Under those circumstances you aren't really looking to add yet another display or additional weight to what you are already carrying.

[UncleMatt]

Well, I was under the impression linux was used on android, but apparently there are differences in the code. I have found a number of people who are willing to design this code for me for a few hundred dollars. Call me lazy, but I would rather do that and get this operational out in the field quicker. I will report back with results when/if I get everything lined up on this. If anyone has first hand experience with an app developer and would like to refer them to me, let me know.

Next challenge is powering the camera device. Many of the camera units available also have LEDs for low light conditions, and I think the phone would be challenged to provide enough juice for camera and lighting functions both. I am looking for a small submersible camera setup that has its own battery on board, or perhaps the battery could be mounted on the probe shaft in line with the USB cable. Of course, if a wireless camera is used, it will need a different setup.

[UncleMatt]

http://www.tubetape.net/servlet/the-...istant,/Detail


Here is a good camera for this, though it would require a redesign of the rear cap to accomodate a waterproof pass-through for a micro-usb cable, and a software patch to allow the video/images to go straight to the smartphone. Also has onboard battery, so smartphone does not need to power it.


But $230...

A less expensive option would be welcome, so if you see somethng better, post it.

[UncleMatt]

http://www.tubetape.net/servlet/the-...-bullet/Detail

Ooops, here is the 1080p fully submersible video camera I meant to post, and its $339! Yikes!

[UncleMatt]

I just came across this youtube video that shows a guy using a small usb network adapter to make the camera above totally wireless

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAyJYzSg7Mo

I wonder if you had this camera on the end of a metal shaft and underwater if the shaft would carry the radio signal out to the air above to a wireless receiver? Any opinions on that?

Now if I can just find a way to link the network adapter signal to my Android Samsung Charge running 2.3.6 Gingerbread, I will be making serious progress.