ArduEye Shield (for Arduino)
ArduEye is a 100% IR&D funded project to develop a vision sensor for Arduino processors. These “shields” are essentially breakout boards for our vision chips that, in addition to serving as a versatile breakout board, have holes aligned in a way that they may be mounted on or plugged into an Arduino board. So far we have tested this board with a full-sized Arduino Duemilanove, an Arduino Pro, and an Arduino Pro Mini.
At the current time we are now shipping ArduEye shields with Tam2 (16×16) and Tam4 (4×32) vision chips. We will be releasing these boards with other Centeye vision chips in the near future.
What we have developed, and are (finally) making available, is an Arduino-compatible shield (named “Rox1″) containing one of our Tam series image sensor chips. This shield can be connected to an Arduino board (we have tested it with both a Duemilanove and an Arduino Pro Mini) to form a true minimalist programmable vision sensor (e.g. “smart camera”). Alternatively, you can use the shield as a breakout board for the image sensor chip and to connect it with any processor you please.
Instructions and source code for the two ArduEye variations may found in the Embedded Eye forums at these locations:
Instructions and source code for using ArduEye Tam4 (4×32 array) version to compute one dimensional optical flow.
Instructions and source code for using ArduEye Tam2 (16×16 array) version for computing two dimensional visual odometry.
This board is available with or without a small lens mounted on the chip.
The Tam series of chips is our simplest image sensor- They are available in two resolutions- the Tam2 at 16×16 pixels, and the Tam4 at 4×32 pixels. The Tam4 chip uses rectangular pixels with an 8×1 aspect ratio, and is particular suited for processing imagery along one axis. The interface with a Tam chip is simple- aside from Ground and Power, you need to provide it with two digital signals (Clock and Reset) and read out the analog pixel signal (Analog). When you pulse the Reset signal, you clear a counter on the chip, which selects the first row and column of the pixel array for output. The analog value may be digitized with any ADC, including one that resides within a microcontroller. Every time you pulse the Clock signal, the counter advances and the next pixel is read out to the Analog line. Subsequent pulses of the Clock line read out the rest of the pixel array row-wise. That is it.
We have selected the Arduino environment for this particular shield because Arduinos are inexpensive, easy to use, and include a development environment ideal for debugging and hacking. To help you get started, we will also provide “open source” code that can be compiled on an Arduino to operate the image sensor, grab an image, compensate for fixed pattern noise, and compute optical flow in one direction.
We are making the Tam4 and Tam2 board available for $50 apiece, with or without lens. (If you don’t want the lens attached, we will include it separately.) You will receive: An Arduino-compatible shield with a Tam2 (16×16) or Tam4 (4×32) image sensor chip attached, a micro lens (mounted or unmounted), and a five-element pin-header. The pin-header may be broken up and soldered to the board if you wish to connect the board to an Arduino, or you may chose not to solder the header if you wish to use the board with another processor. NOTE: You must supply the Arduino board- they are readily available from a number of vendors for a reasonable amount.
(What we ship: Rox1 Arduino-compatible shield with Tam2 or Tam4 chip, with or without lens, and 5-element pin header. Arduino processor board is not included- you must supply it. U.S. Quarter shown for size comparison.)
International customers: Different shipping rates will apply, and we do not yet ship to all countries. You will be responsible for paying any and all import duties on the full value of the shipment. It is our policy to strictly adhere to US export laws. Please email us at sales@centeye.com with any questions.