Hacking Cameras - Arduino VISCA Controller for Pan, Tilt, Zoom and more!

I've never been happy with the quality of the video recording looking down on onto my desk. So, in this video I explore using an old Cisco video conferencing camera that supports the VISCA protocol.

We control it with an Arduino including, adding a joystick for pan and tilt movement, as well as an LCD display to help set and adjust various other settings.

Hopefully this will improve the quality of camera footage in later videos. This isn't really meant as a build tutorial but there's some interesting things to learn regardless.

Since making this video I've also obtained a 1080p12xS2 model. Whilst it has a much higher zoom, I don't feel like the picture quality is as good. Maybe it's the older firmware in it. Either way I've updated the source code to support both. I've also included PDF manuals which now explain the wiring!

If you'd like to help me continue making videos, then pop over to Patreon, or send me a 'tip' via PayPal! 👉 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RobSmithDev 👉 Paypal: https://paypal.me/RobSmithDev 👉 Discord: https://discord.gg/MKZ6HA6ZWE 👉 Check out https://retro.directory

Arduino Source code: https://robsmithdev.co.uk/youtube/visca.zip If you want the 3D models (although I can't imagine why you would!) please contact me using one of the methods above.

📖 Chapters (00:00) The Problem (01:38) A Potential Solution (02:27) Tear it Apart! (03:04) Probing for Data Lines (04:31) RS232 vs Serial TTL and How to Convert (05:49) Hacking the Camera (07:48) What is the VISCA Protocol? (08:11) Hello World for a Camera (09:43) Extra Parts (10:13) How Analogue Joysticks Work and How To Use Them with an Arduino (11:09) Using a 16x2 LCD Panel and Programming Custom Characters (12:38) Using Custom Characters to Create Progress Bars (13:10) Using TinkerCAD to Design the Enclosure (13:23) The Final Schematic (13:47) Assembling the Arduino Controller (17:20) Opps, it doesn't work! (18:40) Final Testing

🔗 Links • Big Clive Dot Com: https://www.youtube.com/@bigclivedotcom • LCD Library: https://github.com/johnrickman/LiquidCrystal_I2C • Logitech StreamCam: https://amzn.to/3LDIVsE

• M3 x 6mm Carbon Steel Phillips Pan Head Machine Screws: https://amzn.to/3Nl4lNs • X/Y Joystick: https://amzn.to/3LE79nK • Push Buttons: https://amzn.to/41TWFXe • I2C 1602 LCD Display Module: https://amzn.to/44g2cZM • Arduino Nano: https://amzn.to/3oJpiHE • Shaft/Rotary Encoder: https://amzn.to/3LioW2h • MAX3232 Breakout Boards: https://amzn.to/3oH1eFl • Black PLA Printer Filament: https://amzn.to/424sk7O

🎧 Music Used: • Rain - Remastered, by Dom Raven

• "Spikey" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

• "Broken Reality" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

• "Blown Away" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

• "The Lift hi" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

• "Inspired" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

• "Shiny Tech" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

• "Half Mystery" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

• "Winner Winner" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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#visca #arduino #electronicscreators ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrk2uldBfYI